The Universiade Village (UV) is not only the largest and the most modern student campus in Russia, but also one of the most closed areas. It is difficult for somebody to get there from outside. If you want to know how life is organized in the UV, read the story of Aliya Badigova, a 2nd year student of the Higher School of ITIS and the Chairperson of the Student Council of Building No.18 (ITIS House) of the Universiade Village.
What do we have in the Universiade Village?
I was born and raised in the city of Dimitrovgrad, Ulyanovsk Region. Since childhood, I liked programming, and I wanted to study in IT-related sphere, or rather the Higher School of ITIS KFU. Now I am a second year student at ITIS and I have never regretted it.
As a nonresident student, I live in the Universiade Village and I can say that it’s interesting here, and the great thing is that everyone can contribute to what is going on inside and create something of their own.
What is the Universiade Village and what is there inside?
The Universiade Village is a student campus of Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University (Houses 1-21) and the Volga Region State Academy of Physical Culture, Sports and Tourism (Houses 22-30). The complex is designed to accommodate more than 14,500 people. This is the largest student campus in Russia.
The UV has everything necessary for life: there is a pharmacy and a first-aid post in case if somebody feels badly, and the police control points keep the order (along the perimeter of the entire territory of the complex, as well as inside of each house). There are laundries where you can wash everything from t-shirts to blankets. There is a sports equipment rental shop, with the lowest possible prices (they provide bicycles, scooters, skates in the summer, skis in the winter, and all those are for 30 rubles only!) There is also a local supermarket, a hairdresser, a psychologist, a canteen, a cafe (by the way, with food delivery to the house!), a post office and even an atelier. Plus, scenic paths for walking and jogging, outdoor sports grounds, a fountain and gazebos.
Entertainments in the UV
Life is constantly in full swing here, and every first-year student can find a hobby class. In the Universiade Village, the student government system, as well as dozens of clubs, work well. For example, there is the ‘Pandorika’ table games club, the ‘Dum’ intellectual games club, the KVN league of the Universiade Village, the ‘Infinity’ theater studio, the ‘UvillDance’ dance group, UV Media, the international language club and many others!
In addition, the UV has its own art-space, the anti-café ‘ComeIn’ with events that can be organized by anybody. Stand Up-evenings, computer games competitions, language clubs, dance evenings, game libraries have become traditional.
How to integrate into the life of the UV
It’s understandable that many first-year students leaving their homes for the dormitory experience stress. The leadership of the Universiade Village and students’ activist group help new students to join in by constantly organizing various events: from the guitar concerts to the most popular student race in Russia, ‘Running Lights’. The most dramatic events of the Village are the ‘Day of Knowledge’ concert, the ‘First-year student initiation ceremony’ quest, the ‘World Mosaic’ culture festival, the ‘International Cuisine‘ competition, the ‘Best room of the Universiade Village’ competition, the opening ceremony of the New Year tree, ‘Maslenitsa’, competitions in football, volleyball, streetball and hockey. Also, each house has its own activities. In our House 18 we have jogging and dancing exercises, guitar playing, intellectual games, quests for Valentine's Day and Halloween, and much more.
ITIS Students’ House
Places in the Village are guaranteed for all nonresident first-year students, regardless of the form of their studies (financed by the state or tuition-paid.) Students of the Higher School of ITIS have been living in the House 18 for two years. Accommodation of the 2-4-year students is based on the rating, which is the sum of the average grade score, points for participating in campus events and points for the student’s activities in the life of the institute. That is, if you have an active position and study well, you can keep living in the UV. Those who do not get enough points move to other dormitories.
Most often first-year students are accommodated in rooms for 4 people. Activists who take part in the life of the institute and the Universiade Village Students Association are usually accommodated in rooms for 1, 2 or 3 people.
The room has all the necessary furniture (a bed, a personal closet, a bookshelf and a bedside table, a shared desk, chairs), a kitchen with a stove and a fridge, and a bathroom.
Each student is provided with a full bed set: linen, blanket, pillow, rug. Linen is changed every week for free. You need not wait in line at the shower, buy a fridge or wash your own bed linen yourself! The cost of living is only 525 rubles per month.
What to do if you face any problems in the UV?
An ITIS student can contact Pavel Dmitrievich, a youth worker (you can find him in the House 18), as well as me at any time of the day. We help our students with various issues and are open to suggestions.
How to become part of the UV active group?
Public, which has all the information about the Universiade Village
If you have any ideas and suggestions, email us!