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Littera Language Center at PSU: Launches New Program, Invites Students

According to the goskills platform, one of the most popular tendencies of the recent year, traced among many Europeans, is acquiring new competencies. Which ones would be your choice?

The Littera Language Center at the Regional Institute for Continuing Education, PSU invites you to apply for an extra-curriculum study program “Executive Assistant and Interpreter”, and gain new competencies in English language.

Upon the completion, program graduates will receive a certificate by Perm State University, providing the qualification of an Executive Assistant and Interpreter – allowing further progress in translation, international relations or tourism.

Interested? Please, see links below the post!

The Regional Institute for Continuing Education, established in 2004, remains one of the largest centers for additional education and professional orientation in the Perm territory – providing courses for all kinds of audiences, from college and university students to civil servants and practicing professionals.

Executive Assistant and Interpreter Program: (avoid space in the link)

Application due to: 28 January at: avoid space in the link

Picture source: What Does an Executive Assistant Do?

PSU Starts Classes Offline and On-Campus, Gradually

According to an official order by PSU Rector, workshops using laboratory equipment or related software for full-time students, including college students, will be held on Perm State University campus, since 17 January. Classes in sport athletics will also be held in full-time format.

Students doing master degrees will study in a mixed mode: an individual learning format will be set for each study group, depending on course disciplines. Part-time, external and graduate students will continue their classes in an online format.

Since 24 January, first and final year undergraduate and specialty students, as well as first year college (pre-university) students are supposed to switch to full-time format. The final decision on that will be based on accordingly, upon the first stage initial feedback and epidemiological situation in the region.

Checking online individual student plans is advised.

“For quite a while, we have been planning a switch to off-line studies. I understand that many students have not been in full-time class for about two years, already. To make this transition more even, and give students enough time for preparation, we have decided to do it in several steps. I am sure that even those who had been comfortable with distance learning, will enjoy a real university vibe after getting back to campus,”

comments Dr. Dmitry Krasilnikov, PSU Rector.

Prior to off-line studies renewal, the emergency alert system has been tested at PSU. The test involved University staff and students, with a participation by law enforcement agencies and PSU Student Union representatives.

PSU Lawyer Contributes to Copyright Agreements, Internationally

What do we know about streaming media? Delivering content, avoiding breaking the law? How relevant would be the ways of its regulation to state and us, people?

Streaming is known as an alternative to file downloading, a process in which the end-user obtains the entire file for the content before watching or listening to it. The term “streaming media” can apply to media other than video and audio, such as live closed captioning, ticker tape, and real-time text, which are all considered “streaming text”. The legal question of streaming is getting extremely controversial with the development of Internet and norms of copyright, implied in international legislation.

Professor Anton Matveev, Department of Civil Law, Perm State University, has joined the international lawyers group preparing a draft Agreement on Cooperation between the Member States of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). The draft aims to protect the rights to objects of copyright and related rights in processing information and telecommunication networks. The agreement had been signed at a meeting of the Council of CIS State Leadersin November, 2021.

The agreement intends to unite efforts of the CIS member states at protecting copyright and allied rights in the Internet format;establish common approaches to related problems in the area, including unified norms of national legislations.

“One of the agreementnovelties, that we proposed, was the provision of Article 7. According to that, reporting about and (or) disclosing the public of objects of copyright and related rightsinvolves the use of such objects as part of radio and (or) television programs, transmitted via Internet resources,”

says Professor Anton Matveev, D.J.S., Faculty of Law, PSU.

“Regardless the fact that streaming becomes most required feature of the modern Internet, neither it is mentioned in our federal legislation, nor it is fixed in global international copyrightagreements – as formal and unambiguous, as it may be. Our efforts are aimed at making it clear that Internet broadcasting resides in the so-called Internet right (the right to address public audience), and not by the powers providing traditional broadcasting, or newly introduced legal authority,”

explains Professor Anton Matveev.

Back in 2016, the development of the draft Agreement had been given to the Russian State Academy of Intellectual Property (RGAIS), serving as a basis institution for CIS countries’education, professional upgrade and advanced personnel training in intellectual property. By order of the RGAIS Rector, Professor Anton Matveev from the PSU Civil Law Department has been included in the working team.

Study in Perm, Build Career in France: Motivation Advice by PSU Alumnus

Looking for opportunities besides studying in Russia? Elena Mezentseva, graduate of the Faculty of Modern Foreign Languages and Literature (2017), manager in international education at the Quartier Latin (Paris-Moscow), shares her vision of turning University years into future prospects and career.

Interviewer: How did your professional prospects grow after graduating from Perm State University?

Elena: After completing a bachelor’s degree at PSU, I continued my master’s studies at the University of Grenoble-Alpes, France, with whom our Department of Linguistics and Translation has had a long-time partnership. My home bachelor’s degree as a linguist and translator made it possible to study other related disciplines, like science du langage, langues étrangères appliquées, communication multilingue. So, I chose to do a master’s degree in langues, littératures et civilizations étrangères et régionales in études russes. Studying at PSU and the University of Grenoble-Alpes encouraged my passion for academic mobility. Not only did I regard this only as an opportunity to study abroad and host for foreign students back home, I also became interested in the logistics and preparations involved, acquiring to the adaptation of foreign students.

The academic internships in France for bachelor’s degree and mobility projects implemented in master’s degree defined my professional ambitions and outcomes. After completing my master’s degree, I started working remotely for the Quartier Latin company, assisting with training and settling in France.

Int.: Do you believe the knowledge gained at PSU became useful for your future?

Elena: Apart fromspecific knowledge of translation, theory of foreign languages and intercultural communication, the study at PSU helped me acquire general skills of critical thinking, data search and public speaking – making it possible to successfully pass a master’s course in France. Until today, I am applying these competencies at communicating with foreign students, running international business correspondence, and doing my duties as an interpreter and a translator.

As information becomes quickly irrelevant in a changing world, the knowledge gained during the University years prove to be most comprehensive and timeless.

Int.: Could you, please, share some vivid memories of your student years?

Elena: There have been plenty ofbright and memorable moments, since the very first year! These, of course, include training courses in Grenoble and Paris, which had become pivot points for me. I also recollect our University’s centennial celebration, when the campus turned into one whole festival town, full of live performances, happenings and art spaces.

Yet, perhaps, the most important event, or change was meeting my wonderful classmates, with whom we became real friends, as well as bright teachers, whose advice and guidance helps me a lot, until today!

Int.: What could you wish the future University applicants?

Elena: The student years is a unique time that gives a lot of new friends, knowledge and perspectives. Make sure you use every opportunity possible, and show your own initiative in that search, too. Do participate in exchange programs, scientific conferences, extracurricular activities, as this will allow you to meet different people, broaden your horizons and shape your goals. While still a student, try to put into practice what you have learned, as this will add value to your CV. May your student years be interesting, rewarding and exciting! And, be sure that joining the Faculty of Modern Foreign Languages and Literature, you will find yourself in a large academic family, a source for support and professional confidence, indeed!

Interview source (in Russian): Department of Linguistics and Translation, Faculty of Modern Foreign Languages and Literature, PSU

Studying in Russia? Learn History, Meet Friends, Build Collaborations!

Are you a foreign student studying in Russia? Looking for new friends or research collaborations? Interested in Russian culture and history? Students from Perm State University, as elsewhere across Russia are welcome to take part in 2nd International Winter School of History ’2022.

The Ministry of Science and Higher Education, the Russian Historical Society, the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation, the Government of the Tula Region and the Tula State University invite Russian and foreign students to participate in the 2nd International Winter School of History ‘2022.

Students of all undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate courses may take part. The School will be held from 21 to 25 March, 2022. Applications are due to 25 January, 2022.

The School will cover the following theme tracks:

  • history of Russian economy and industry;
  • history of Russian literature;
  • history of Ancient Russia and the Moscow kingdom;
  • history of the Great Patriotic War (WWII);
  • history of the Russian Empire.

The School Committee covers costs of travel, accommodation and meals for the School participants. A prerequisite for participation are: certificate of vaccination against coronavirus infection; certificate of contraindications to vaccination, or a previous illness. Applications are accepted in two categories: international students studying at Russian universities, and Russian students.

Applicants must fill out an electronic form, and send a motivation letter indicating personal information and preferred track (no more than 2,000 characters). For international students, required is a letter in Russian, for the Russian students the one in English.

Please, see related links in the comments below:

2nd International Winter School of History ’2022: https://tsu.tula.ru/winter-history-school-2
Application form: http://tsu.tula.ru/download/Formazayvky.pdf
Information Letter: http://www.psu.ru/files/docs/news/!2022/01-11_3/infopismo_Tula.pdf
Further contacts: Olga E. Shumilova, hs-tula@mail.ru, tel: +7-910-940-76-24.

PSU Student from China Researchers War Literature, Gets PhD

The Faculty of Philology at Perm State University congratulates the graduate student Song Tianyao (China) on the successful defense of her PhD thesis in Russian Literature.

According to Professor Svetlana Burdina, tutor of Song Tianyao, her research might be regarded as significant, since, for the first time and in one paper, as it tracesthe influence of Russian military prose on Chinese literature of 20-21 centuries.

Throughout her studies and research activity at PSU, Song Tianyao worked as an assistant at the Department of Theoretical and Applied Linguistics, and taught Chinese to students in Philology, Geography, Modern Foreign Languages and Literature (2018-2021). She previously graduated from Shandong University (China) in 2012, and further studied philology at Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia (Moscow).

The thesis by Song Tianyao, titled “Artistic Reception of B. Vasiliev’s Military Prose in China”, has already received recognition by scholars from Tver and Moscow, Russia – praising her level of training,decent quality of translations and excellent command of the Russian language.

“The members of the dissertation council and thesis critics have been attracted by Song Tianyao’s revelation that a prose by a particular Russian writer became a ‘prism’ for the Chinese appreciation of war – serving a source for further interpretation in literature and film scripts,”

noted Dr. Boris Kondakov, Dean of the Faculty of Philology, PSU.

The thesis defense took place at the Dissertation Council for Philological Sciences of Tver State University. The tradition of defending a PhD thesis at some other university, other than the university of initial research, is quite frequent in Russia. As elsewhere globally, departments of Russian universities specialize in particular research problems. This leads to discipline-based dissertation councils– building research collaborations and acquiring graduate’s interests across the country.

To Remind,

In autumn, 2021, 15 students from the Chengdu Institute of the Sichuan University of Foreign Languages (China) came as future teachers of the Russian language to study at PSU. Their arrival had been inspired lead by another PSU alumnus, Li Wenxu, who graduated from the Faculty of Philology, PSU in 2018.

“In their research, students from China particularly compare Russian and Chinese literature, examine the influence of the former on the latter, and study the literature of ‘eastern’ Russian emigration in 20th century,”

says Ekaterina Klyuikova, Deputy Dean for International Affairs, Faculty of Philology.

“Here at PSU, I learned to appreciate Russian military prose and rural writers. In Perm, I felt a real Russian spirit I missed to appreciate in the capital cities. The local culture brings us closer to nature and tradition,”

says Song Tianyao, PSU post-graduate in Philology.

PSU Scholars Become Guest Editors of Microorganisms Journal

Which knowledge, gained through university studies, will be required by your future employee? In most fields of natural production – like oil, gas or minerals’ extraction and processing, a company is interested in compliance with the international norms of environmental protection. Environment degradation makes it extremely useful to search for prevention or compensation of anthropogenic pollution. Cleaning the pollutants out of the biosphere remains a constant challenge for humanity.

The scholars from the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, PSU have been invited as editors for the special issue “Microbial Biodegradation and Biotransformation” by of the Microorganisms international scientific journal (ISSN 2076-2607, Web of Science, Scopus, Q2). The issue will present experimental and review articles on modern approaches to microbial destruction and transformation of xenobiotics, as well as innovative technologies for bioremediation of contaminated ecosystems.

Xenobiotics are known as ‘unnatural’ chemical substances found within organisms, artificially introduced or unexpected; they may also be present in much higher concentrations as opposed to the usual ones. Natural compounds can also become xenobiotics if they are taken up by other organism, like the uptake of natural human hormones by fish found downstream of sewage treatment plant outfalls.

In search of rational ways of biodegradation, the efforts of most researchers have been concentrated in applied microbiology.

“Such challenge makes us expand and intensify the study of microorganisms in contaminated environments, the so-called extremotolerant microorganisms or stress-tolerants. These microorganisms play the role of a primary response system to unfavorable or potentially dangerous environmental changes, and initiate their adaptive responses at the earliest stage,”

notes Dr. Irina Ivshina, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and professor at PSU.

Dr. Irina Ivshina and Dr. Elena Tyumina, researchers from the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Perm State University, will act as guest editors for the “Microbial Biodegradation and Biotransformation” special issue, section “Environmental Microbiology” by the Microorganisms Journal. Invitations to publish are being sent to leading experts and researchers from Russia, USA, Germany, France, China, Spain, Poland, Great Britain, Australia. The articles will be peer reviewed and published accordingly, the whole process taking about two weeks. Applications are welcomed until 31 July, 2022.

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging, and using its submission form, until the deadline. As already mentioned, all papers will be accepted pert arrival, peer-reviewed, and listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Microorganisms is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI’s English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Original message from guest editors and editor in chief.
Special Issue “Microbial Biodegradation and Biotransformation”.

PSU International Students Awarded by Perm Territory Governor

Dmitry Makhonin, Governor of Perm Territory has expressed official gratitude to students of Perm State University (PSU) for their courage and care, shown on 20 September, 2021, at the Permian Character award ceremony, as a recognition by the state and local citizens.   

This year, a total amount of 15 young people and 5 youth public associations were given the Permian character badge, including PSU students, who helped save peoples’ lives on 20 September, 2021. Their names and stories have been included into the Honor Book of Perm.

Students Abdulla Obaid (Iraq), Ashraf Razuk (Iraq), Ovezberdi Sabyrov (Turkmenistan) from the Faculty Chemistry; Anton Grekhov (Russia) from the Faculty of Economics; Yegor Dolgich (Russia) from PSU College for Professional Education have been awarded in the nomination “Overcoming Emergency and/or Mortal Social Danger”.

The Permian Character state and social initiative, started in 2015, aims at supporting children and youth’s social activity, demonstrating responsible civil behavior, helping those in need, encouraging positive change, helping overcome difficult life situations.

Discuss Cultures, Learn More!

Looking for new friends? Want to learn Russian, or may be discuss something in English? Eager to practice your presentation skills, or just find more about countries around the globe?

17 students from the Faculty of Modern Foreign Languages and Literature, PSU, took part in the International Online Forum “Student’s Vision of the World”. The purpose of the Forum was to create a digital space for intercultural exchange, expand the scope of student activities and develop joint international and inter-institutional projects.

The projects by PSU students have been fairly recognized and certified by the Forum committee from Omsk State Agrarian University.

The Forum received over 200 applications from students from Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Armenia, Latvia, Sierra Leone, Tajikistan, Nigeria, Estonia, Morocco and more. The projects covered a variety of broad subjects, including culture, science and sports – in the shape of essays, videos and podcasts, discussing digitalization and values of the 21st century.

Interested in the projects? Fee; inspired, see how the participants’  projects at the Forum Facebook page.

And, some more to …

…Remind, that soon prior to the Forum, the students from the Faculty of Modern Foreign Languages and Literature won the 1st prize in the International thematic discussion “Culture is the Fifth Skill”, dedicated to cross-cultural communication and nationalities across the globe.

11 teams of students in Linguistics from Russia and Belarus took part in an online discussion. The PSU team prepared a presentation on the UK, using creative approach and theatrical performance, demonstrating the British mentality, values, etiquette, traditions, verbal and non-verbal behavior.

The “Culture is the Fifth Skill” was initiated by the Francisk Skorina Gomel State University (Republic of Belarus), discussing the cultures of Japan, South Korea, Russia, Norway, Great Britain, Israel, Thailand, Australia and China.

Dive into Russia: Interview with Students from University of Oxford

The abridged version of the interview for Business-Class, 19, January, 2021

Arun Denton and Joseph Scull, students from New College, University of Oxford have shared their impressions to the Business Class (BC) News Agency – speaking of their studies in Perm, travelling around, volunteering and making friends.

BC: How did you come up with an idea of going to Perm, to study?

Arun: Joseph and I are studying Russian at the University of Oxford. In England, when doing a foreign language, you must spend a part of the 3rd year in the country of its origin. Here is where the twinning relations of our cities clicked. Some of our friends came and studied at Perm State University. They were quite happy with that, and told us about it. So, we considered it as a worthy option, and went to Perm.

BC: Were there any difficulties with preparing for the trip?

Joseph: It was all simple. We had to obtain a visa, quite a common procedure.

Arun: We too have been lucky entering Russia in mid-September. At that moment, the government canceled the mandatory two-week quarantine. So, we passed the PCR test and entered the country, experiencing no problems.

BC: Why would Russian be so interesting to you? And, when did this interest start?

Arun: When you are in school in England, at the age of 14, you have to choose a foreign language to study. So, I thought – why not Russian? Joseph and I are from different places: I am from Manchester, Joseph is from a small town of Sherborne in the south-west of the country. Yet, we were both lucky our schools had included Russian into their curriculum. The education system in England is meant to gradually decrease the number of subjects to study: first, these are 10 to 11, then 3 to 4, and finally, 1 to 2. In our case, we would tend to choose Russian language and literature.

BC: What is special about your studies here? And, how different would it be from studying in Oxford?

Joseph: Compared to Oxford, Perm State University has a lot of obligatory classes. At the University of Oxford, the main emphasis is made on independent students’ work, with individual tutorship being the core. Yet, Oxford differs from other British universities, where the system is closer to what we see here.

Arun: Now, due to the pandemic, basic disciplines are taught online, while classes of Russian are taught individually, on campus. This strategy appears to be quite effective and useful.

BC: Do you happen to communicate with other University students?

Joseph: For sure, we do. Still, due to the pandemic, as have to visit on-campus classes on our own, individually. Here in Perm, we are staying in the family of Irina, a teaching professor at the Faculty of Geography. She had introduced us to her students. We do meet often, the all guys are quite friendly and helpful.

BC: How did your parents and friends treat your idea of going to Perm?

Arun: None of them had ever heard of Perm before. In this regard, the fact of twinning relations helped a lot. Thanks to Mrs. Karen Hewitt, Professor at St Antony’s College, University of Oxford, these links have been growing for quite a while, obviously having a long story behind them.

Joseph: My parents and friends see Perm as a fairly good option. Indeed, there are many foreign students in Moscow or St. Petersburg, where you can communicate in English. Here, Arun and I, just two of us, are enjoying the opportunity of nearly a private dive into Russia.

BC: To which extent have your expectations about Russia and Perm appeared to be true?

Arun: To be honest, I had little expectations, as I knew too little about the city, although I did read about the history of Perm, too. So, we have been making our opinion of the place right on the spot.

BC: Russians are be believed to be self-reserved or reluctant for communication… Have you come across that, at all?

Arun: Maybe, on the street, people do look closed and show less emotion. Yet, as you start talking, everything changes. We usually communicate with those whom we live with, our students, or folks in a café. We are curious to hear stories, and the locals expect the same from us. Almost all people are open and happy to communicate.

BC: What have you been doing during your spare time?

Arun: We have traveled around the Perm territory, a bit. We have been to the smaller towns and places of Kudymkar, Kungur, Ilyinsky, Chermoz, Khokhlovka, and the Usvinsky pillar stones.

BC: Not that every Perm-local visits so many places, like you have done…

Joseph: We know we have been lucky. As I said, we are staying in the family of Irina and Alexander. Irina is a teaching professor at the Faculty of Geography, and Alexander performs well as a tour guide, so we did have really interesting trips around!

BC: Are there any things, which you particularly miss in Perm – like pubs, football or Scottish haggis?

Joseph: Oh, no! I am very glad that there is no haggis in Perm (laughs). In fact, we do not feel being deprived of anything here. For basic needs, our life is set perfectly well. The Russian cuisine is different from ours, but we like it. Pubs are really very important in England, but there are good bars in Perm, too. As for football, we have seen Amkar FC twice, and once Molot hockey team. So, everything is fine, and not so boring at all.

BC: You have taken part in a volunteer campaign, here in Perm, right?

Arun: Yes, together with the “Territory of Rest” Day Shelter we have participated in the “Food on the Wheels” program – providing an opportunity for those homeless and in need – to get warm lunch. We helped distribute food, first in the disctrict of Zakamsk, other side of the river, and then in the city center.

BC: How long will you be staying in Perm?

Arun: We will be going home to England for Christmas. And, in mid-January we will be coming back to the city of Pyatigorsk – to continue our studies at a local university.

BC: Any plans to re-visit Perm?

Joseph: On a whole, we have an idea of crossing Russia by train, on the Trans-Siberian Railway – that would be great! Here in Perm, we have developed a great touch with Irina and Alexander – the family we are staying with. I believe we will try to visit them, for sure.

BC: Your future occupation – will it be connected with Russia?

Arun: I have always wanted to speak Russian fluently. It would be great to work in Russia, or with it.

Joseph: After studying in Russia, we will have one more year at the University of Oxford, so, there is plenty of time for future decisions.

BC: You have mentioned you learned about Perm through twin cities relations with Oxford. To which extent, in your view, does twinning make sense?

Joseph: I’ll tell you a short story. Arun and I were at Perm School №7 – meeting with schoolchildren, talking about England. Suddenly, I noticed a poster with my hometown of Sherborne there. It turned out that this School cooperates with the Sherborne Girls School, and my sister was here as part of an exchange program – can you imagine that? Unfortunately, there are currently no such exchanges. Yet, they should be restored, since they make people communicate and learn about each others’ life and culture – here, locally, in the middle of Russia.

Arun: The links between the universities are also quite necessary and useful. Every year, students from Oxford come to Perm to study and practice. New knowledge, new contacts – all these are really important for the modern world.

News Source (original).

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