Today, on the 19th of August, a round table, devoted to the visit of a group of German students from the University of Regensburg (Germany) in the framework of the international program “Tandem”, was organised in the conference hall of the main building of Kazan Federal University.
The visit was arranged by the German Centre for Education, Science and Culture supported by the External Relations Office of KFU and a KFU partner – the University of Regensburg (Bavaria, Germany).
The essence of this event is simple. The program participants – students of all departments and specialities of the both Universities – work in pairs (tandems). There are 9 German-Russian tandems formed of 18 participants representing both parties. Each of them works on two topics which can be absolutely different, but must always have a direct relation to the tandem member’s country and search-and-study activity (interviews, polls, visits). According to results of visits tandems write essays which are published in a book in two languages. A group from Regensburg will stay in Kazan from August 18 to August 25, 2013. During this period participants from Kazan must help their German colleagues to do a mini-study (organise visits to necessary organisations, help with interpretation). The Kazan group of the program participants, in its turn, will pay a visit to Regensburg from October 06 to October 13, 2013, where it will receive assistance from its colleagues, as well.
During the period of their participation in this international arrangement students get acquainted with European countries, enrich their knowledge of regional geography, develop intercultural competence, gain experience of communication in a foreign language, establish personal and business contacts in foreign countries, find new friends and acquaintances.
Topics for German participants are diverse: during the week they must examine mass memorial places of Kazan, perception of autonomy of the Republic of Tatarstan by the population, construction programs connected with the Universiade-2013 held in Kazan and a construction permit obtaining procedure, German culture in Kazan, Kazan as a pearl of architecture uniting the Orient and the Occident, psychological education in Kazan etc.
A massive cultural program is envisaged by “Tandem” program for the groups from both countries. Regensburg is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. In Kazan German students will have a sightseeing city tour, visit the Kremlin, Museum of History of KFU, Museum of Fine Arts, a jazz concert organised in the framework of the 7th International Festival of Improvisational Music, as well as Sviyazhsk.