A contest to determine them was held at the University for the first time.

All international students were eligible for the competition. Applications were made during 1st November – 10th December. The participants had to talk about their homeland in a presentation, a short film, or other visual manner, and only in the Russian language.

The best presentations were shown at the Universiade Village on 18th December. The first place eventually went to Nikolija Milicevic from Serbia (the Institute of International Relations, History and Oriental Studies). She made a very touching short film about her country, war and peace, interreligious dialogue, and other important topics, and accompanied it with a report. The runner-up was Toacegnitche Sessi Alexis from Benin (the Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology).  And the third position was captured by Manuel Alejandro Bernal Alvarez, Ms. Milicevic’s colleague at IIRHOS; he is a Colombian national. The winners received certificates for free courses at IIRHOS’s Universum Plus Center specializing in languages and tourism.

Director of Universum Plus Olga Donetskaya explained that student ambassadors are honorary representatives of their respective nations. They are public diplomats spreading knowledge about their countries and arranging new friendly contacts.

The competition will become citywide next year, and a second nomination – for students from Russian regions other than Tatarstan – will be introduced.