Input needed for Moscow Educational Exchange Symposium

[Renee Stillings | Alinga]

Dear Colleagues,

I will be participating on March 25 in the symposium "Preparing for the Next Decade of U.S. Exchanges with Russia," hosted by the US Embassy in Moscow. Specifically I will participate in the working group "Bringing more Americans to Russia." 

Some of you may have been contacted already in this regard by some of the other participating individuals/organizations, but in case you have not, I would like to ask your input on several questions that will be addressed during this symposium, since you are on the frontline of working with many who realistically will be or should be traveling to Russia. I will summarize all of your input for purposes of this symposium and will also post this summary as well as a summary of the results of this symposium to the list.

Here is the list of questions. Feel free to add comments that do not necessarily fall within their limited bounds and at this point as concerns numbers, approximations are even fine.

1. What percentage of your students have visited Russia (or have committed to programs/travel currently) and in what format - organized study, vacation or other travel to visit friends.

2. What percentage plan to visit Russia and in what format - organized study, vacation or other travel to visit friends?

3. Do you organize your own study abroad program to Russia and on what frequency?

4. Do you approve studies on outside study programs to Russia, either by "direct enrollment" by the student into a Russian university, or via other US-based study abroad organizations (including other US university programs)?

5. In your opinion, what are the main obstacles (perceived and real) preventing students from traveling to Russia, in general, and as concerns study abroad? Please note any issues such as lack of appropriate programming, costs, perceived safety or other concerns, the press, lack of information.

6. What would attract more American students (at all levels) to Russia, in general and for study? Here I mean actions and programs that can be implemented and/or supported by various parties such as Russian or US government, Russian or US universities - not general macroeconomic and political trends.

7. What types of programs/opportunities would significantly increase the number of visitors? Language, other specialized topics (taught in English), educational tourism, internships, volunteer programs?

9. Where do students go to obtain information about study opportunities in Russia? Does anyone actually contact the Russian Embassy in the US?

10. How problematic is credit transfer and what can the Russian universities do to facilitate this?

11. Have you (or others in your university) ever attempted direct cooperation for exchange/program purposes with a Russian university? What are/were the main difficulties - especially any that may have caused you to discontinue any such efforts.

I welcome any and all comments from educators and from students at all levels. With this information, I think this workgroup can reach some real results and have a better chance of implementing some change.

Please send all replies off-list to renee at sras.org or onlist if you think in that format it might generate some of the interesting discussion we all look forward to on this list and perhaps generate more valuable input!

Thank you!!

Renee Stillings 
Director
The School of Russian and Asian Studies



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