The Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering held a meeting to discuss the activities of the International Students Council (ISC) during the spring semester of the 2025/2026 academic year.
The event was attended by Vice-Rector for Educational Activity Sergey Mikhailov, Head of the International Relations Division Shuainat Akhmadulaeva, Chairperson of the International Students Council Antonia Angelova, activists and graduates of the ISC.
Opening the meeting, Sergey Mikhailov addressed the participants with a welcoming speech. He noted that summing up the work of the International Students Council twice a year, at the end of each semester, has become a good tradition.
The Vice-Rector emphasized the importance of the ISC activities for the university environment, the adaptation of foreign students and the strengthening of intercultural dialogue at SPbGASU, and noted that the university traditionally brings together a large number of foreign students.
Antonia Angelova, the chairperson of the ISC, presented a report on the ISC activities. During the spring semester of the 2025/2026 academic year, the ISC implemented 25 events aimed at supporting international students, developing student initiatives, strengthening communication between students, and engaging them in the cultural, educational, and social life of the university.
One of the key areas of work was the Russian Conversation Club (RCC). Twelve club meetings were held over the semester, where international students developed conversational skills, overcame language barriers, and learned about the peculiarities of Russian speech and communication culture.
Sergey Mikhailov noted the importance of language support for international students and the growing importance of Russian language proficiency in the educational process. Following the discussion, it was proposed to take the Russian Conversation Club to a new level by expanding its format and strengthening its role as a key tool for the academic and social integration of international students. The spring semester minutes list regular RCC meetings as one of the ISC's core activities.
Furthermore, during the semester, the ISC conducted five environmental campaigns as part of the "SIOmka" project, including a wastepaper collection drive (February-June 2026). The environmental program served as an example of engaging international students in socially beneficial activities and fostering a culture of responsible resource use.
The ISC also participated in organizing and hosting a number of cultural, educational, and social events. These included Maslenitsa, a film evening for Defender of the Fatherland Day, an inter-university quiz for Cosmonautics Day, a SPbGASU annual festival, a mini-tour to the village of Losevo, and more.
The meeting concluded with an awards ceremony for the ISC activists and graduates of the SPbGASU International Student Council. Special thanks were extended to graduates: Myakhri Niyazova (bachelor's degree, Faculty of Architecture), Mekhrubon Madaminov (master's degree, Faculty of Civil Engineering), and Min Huang (master's degree, Faculty of Environmental Engineering and Municipal Services).
The graduates were prepared commemorative newspapers reflecting their contribution to the development of the Council and the international student community at SPbGASU.
The work of the International Students Council during the spring semester demonstrated that the Council plays a significant role in the educational and social life of the university and remains an important platform for the development of student initiatives, intercultural communication, and support to international students.
