During the period of 22 to 26 April 2024 international students of Tula State University took part in the VII-th International History School at Tver State University. The event is held on the instruction of the President of the Russian Federation with the support of the “History of the Fatherland” Foundation. 

The VII-th International History School was organised by the Russian Historical Society, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, and the “History of the Fatherland” Foundation. 

The objective of the school is to develop research and project competences in foreign and Russian students, expand and deepen their views of historical events, topical approaches, methods and trends in the development of humanities and allied sciences.

100 international students from 31 countries and 50 Russian students took part in the school events. They had an opportunity not only to listen to informative lectures on various aspects of Russian history, attend round tables, discussions, master classes and excursions, but also to develop and defend their author's projects aimed at actualising and promoting the historical heritage of Russia before an authoritative expert jury. 

The school's work was organised along five thematic tracks representing various significant epochs, events and trends in Russian history:

-History of the Great Patriotic War; 

-History of Russian art;

-History of Russian science and technology;

-History of Ancient and Medieval Russia;

-Modernisation in Russian history.

In Tver TulSU was represented by four international students who passed through a complex competitive selection procedure on the basis of a motivational letter-essay in Russian. These are Umedjon Nasredinov from Tajikistan (track ‘History of Russian Art’), Mustafa Abdulhalem from Iraq (track ‘History of Russian Art’), Vu Thai Son from Vietnam (track ‘History of Ancient and Medieval Russia’) and Nguyen Chung from Vietnam (‘History of the Great Patriotic War’).

The thematic excursions were organised for the participants of the history school - visits to the Staritsa Local History Museum and the Holy Dormition Monastery (Staritsa city), the Museum of the Kalinin Front (Emmauss s.), and the Museum of V.A. Serov in the Domotkanovo estate (v. Krasnaya Nov').

Each day, under the guidance of track supervisors, students worked on their own student projects in international project teams, and on the last day of the school, before the closing ceremony, a public defense of unique historical and enlightenment ideas took place.

The fact that 4 foreign candidates from TulSU were selected to participate in the VII-th International History School after a serious competitive selection process speaks volumes - the guys showed not only a deep knowledge of the Russian language, independence of judgement, but also managed to prove their genuine interest in Russia, its past, present and future to the selection committee. It is especially gratifying that they had the honour of representing TulSU in Tver - the operator of the III International History School, which was held in Tula in May 2022. This is the fifth participation of our international students in the International History School series of events.

The school participants shared their impressions: 

Mustafa Abdulhalem: ‘It was a revelation to me that there were times in the history of Russia when Tver was “a head above” Moscow in terms of its wealth and power and really claimed to be the capital of Russia. I travel a lot in Russia and here in Tver I suddenly felt some ‘Petersburg atmosphere’. And then, on a city walking tour, I learnt that ‘Tver-town is St. Petersburg’s nook, and that's what they used to say back in the XIX-th century. This is because after the fire Tver was rebuilt in the European manner, like St. Petersburg, and Empress Catherine II called it the most beautiful city after St. Petersburg.

Umedjon Nasredinov does not hide his sincere joy of participation in the school: ‘The most important trophy of the International History School is getting to know the history of Russia, as well as making friends with other participants from different universities of this immense country. My track ‘History of Russian Art’ included wonderful lectures by professionals who conveyed to us all the energy and uniqueness of Russian culture and guided us on the excursions to museums and art galleries. Russia opened for me in a new light, with captivating beauty of culture. I am happy that I was a participant of this historical school and made many new friends’.

The students who took part in the VII-th International History School received certificates.

Olga Gladkova

Photographs presented by the participants of the event