20 thousand freshmen gathered near the Kazan Family Center, although the weather was not the best.

Rector Ilshat Gafurov, representing the academia of the city, said, “We spend this joint Knowledge Day together with all the city’s freshmen for the second year in a row. Thus we want to show our unity, and we want you to make friends with each other, no matter where you study. Let this big student family remain in your memory for the rest of your life”.

President of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov then took the floor, “We are proud of our Republic and our capital city. Much has been done lately for our economy, and, most importantly, our higher school is transforming. We are proud of our universities and are sure that your knowledge and your expertise obtained here will help you become competitive. We need your knowledge because that’s our future”.

A concert then followed. The university life for thousands of young men and women started after Gaudeamus was sung and all the local universities’ flags were brought to the stage. KFU freshman Bulat Kuramshin said a student oath.