Study in Russia
View(s):
Mrs Anastasia Khokhlova
The Russian Cultural Centre to Sri Lanka was founded in the year 1973, and since then have been enabling Sri Lankans and Russian expatriates to stay in touch with the Russian culture while offering a variety of services including to those who want to pursue their higher studies in the Russian Federation.
In discussion with the Directress of the Russian Cultural Centre in Sri Lanka, Mrs Anastasia Khokhlova, who provides more detail about the services that are available.
Hello, let us begin with a brief introduction about yourself and your role in this organisation.
Hello, my name is Anastasia Khokhlova and I have been the First Secretary to the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Sri Lanka, and also the Directress to the Russian Cultural Centre for around three years now.
What kind of services are offered by your organisation?
Our organisation is directly affiliated to the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Sri Lanka, and we provide services for any Sri Lankan who is keen to learn the Russian language or be educated about the cultural and economic affairs along with various other factors about Russia. In addition to that, we also organise Russian dance, musical and cultural events during different times of the year and conduct Russian language courses and Russian dance programmes during weekdays and weekends for school-aged students who would like to partake in them.
Are the Russian language courses taught by Russian lecturers to the students who want to learn the language?
Yes, indeed. In that case it is easier for the students to learn. We also have a number of staff members who have completed their higher education in Russia, so it is an added advantage that we are able to get their support when their services are required at our organisation.
I was informed that there is a society created amongst those individuals who has studied in Russia where monthly meetings are also held?
Yes, you are correct. We also organise annual meetings for those who have returned to Sri Lanka for employment after completing their studies in Russia. It is a specialty that various programmes have been conducted for them over the past months, such as alumni gatherings and more. In comparison to the graduates who return to Sri Lanka after completing their higher studies in other countries, there is a good connection among the Russian university graduates in Sri Lanka. We also provide guidance to students who are intending on pursuing their higher education in Russia, in terms of helping them select the ideal university for them, inclusive of a number of other services.
What kind of a graduate base from Russia is currently located in Sri Lanka?
Sri Lankan graduates of Russian universities who are currently in Sri Lanka provide a great service to the country as most of them are involved in high profile occupations and positions in certain organisations. More specifically, these individuals are engaged in the field of medical sciences as they are currently employed in both private and government hospitals in Sri Lanka. We also meet many graduates employed in the fields of engineering, computing, aeronautical engineering, management and various other disciplines.
It is very important to Sri Lanka that such Russian graduates return back to their motherland for employment, overall to minimise the brain drain that has taken to effect since recent times.
You mentioned that your organisation is able to support potential students who would like to start their higher education in Russia. How can they get involved?
Yes, you can obtain all the necessary information and services by contacting the Moslanka Office which is attached to our organisation.
The Moslanka Investment Company was established in 1991 and since then it has been guiding and supporting students worldwide towards achieving their higher education goals in Russia. It is a highly reputed organisation in Russia, where they have already assisted over 10,000 students from around 50 countries throughout the world to select their universities, mainly in the medical sciences field, along with numerous other areas of study.
A branch of the Moslanka Investment is based in Moscow, so Sri Lankan students can get the support of well-versed Sri Lankans and Russians until they complete their education in Russia. As the main branch of the Moslanka Investment is situated within the premises of the Russian Cultural Centre in Sri Lanka, you can visit them to get information about Russian state universities and the courses available for you. So, if you are interested in pursuing your higher studies in Russia, you can get the necessary information from the Moslanka Office.
Are courses in Russian universities only delivered in the Russian language?
No, the students are able to follow their courses in either the Russian or English language if all the eligibility criteria is met for their course and university admission. Those who want to follow their courses in the Russian language would need to learn the Russian language before their first year of study, whereas the students who want to learn in English can follow the complete course in the English language with ease.
What areas of study is demanded the most by Sri Lankan students in Russia?
There is a major demand for courses in the medical field in Russia, and there is a large number of Sri Lankan doctors currently employed here, who have followed their degrees in Russia. Also, as I mentioned before, we can also find individuals who are engaged in the fields of computer science, aeronautical engineering, management and even pharmacology and electronic engineering in Sri Lanka, along with some students who are following Russian language courses in Russia.
Lastly, if someone wants to contact your organisation in order to pursue their higher studies in Russia, how can they get in touch with you?
Yes, they are always welcome to visit the Moslanka Office which is based in the Russian Cultural Centre, in Sri Lanka and they will get the guidance and support necessary to select the course and university that would be ideal for them to enrol in to, in Russia.
You may contact the Moslanka on 0766 38 38 34 to make an appointment.