On January 20-27, a series of meetings of the working group on the selection of candidates from Tanzania for study at Russian educational institutions under the state quota were held in-person and remotely. The selection process was organized by the representative office of Rossotrudnichestvo – the Russian Center of Science and Culture in Dar es Salaam. The experts involved included staff from the Rossotrudnichestvo and representatives from universities across various regions of Russia. The assessment was conducted based on unified criteria: motivation for pursuing education specifically in Russia, knowledge of the Russian education system, familiarity with Russian culture and traditions, language proficiency, professional achievements, and future plans.
Liudmila Bevziuk, Head of the International Cooperation Office, who has extensive experience working with international students, represented OSPU in the working group meetings.
"During the interview, we assess the applicant's readiness to master the higher education program, as well as the thoughtfulness of their choice and their ability to clearly explain the reasons for deciding to study in Russia — a country with a different climate, mentality, lifestyle, and language. Furthermore, it is important to understand whether the candidate has considered how they will apply the acquired knowledge and experience upon returning to their homeland. Many candidates are already on the territory of the Russian Federation and are applying to continue their studies at the next level, which speaks to the high trust in Russian education, the value of the professional competencies they have gained, as well as the warm impression of the responsiveness and hospitality of the local people," noted Liudmila.
The selection process considered the needs of the sending country for specialists in key economic sectors. For Tanzania, the priority fields of study have been identified as energy, agriculture, information technology, healthcare, and pedagogical education.
"In addition to the document review and evaluation of personal achievements, the interview is a very important stage. It provides an opportunity for the working group members to communicate personally and individually with all the applicants who have submitted their applications and attended the interview. We assess how motivated the person is, whether they understand the specifics of Russia, and how seriously they are committed. We can also offer candidates initial advice on how best to prepare for their trip to Russia, for studying and living in our country. And, most importantly, we can do all of this in a personalized manner," said Alexander Evstigneev, Head of the Rossotrudnichestvo representative office in Tanzania.
The selection campaign generated significant interest: over 800 Tanzanian citizens applied for study under the quota of the Government of the Russian Federation. The next stage will be the review of the recommended applicants' profiles by the universities. The program offers the opportunity to study at a preparatory department to facilitate sociocultural adaptation, master academic Russian, and develop the necessary competencies for higher education in the chosen field.
Cooperation between Omsk State Pedagogical University and Rossotrudnichestvo is developing across multiple areas. Currently, students from Mongolia, Germany, Kazakhstan, and Somalia who have received quotas for education are successfully pursuing academic programs at the university. Recently, with the support of the Russian House in Ulaanbaatar, the representative office of Rossotrudnichestvo in Mongolia, online courses in professional Russian language for employees of the Mongolian Border Service were held at OSPU. This significantly expands the formats of interaction in the sphere of educational and humanitarian diplomacy.
