The 19th World Festival of Youth and Students ended in Sochi. For Russia, it was the third in a row and the first in the post-Soviet period. About 20 thousand young people from 180 countries - representatives of public organizations, teachers and politicians, took part in the forum. The festival's educational program was one of most extensive - every day there were a few panel discussions with experts, workshops, meetings and master classes. Overcrowded audiences and queues for public speaking became one of the festival's main features.
Speaking at the panel discussion titled 'Universities in the era of global challenges', the rector of Moscow State University Viktor Sadovnichy proposed to create an international association of rectors of universities for establishing communication between different universities in the world. Earlier there were higher education associations in the world and Europe, but now their activities have come to naught. Sadovnichy said that the accessibility and quality of education, including the university, is one of the most important and urgent topics. "Youth advocates that education is qualitative, accessible and global, so that all young people can fully orient themselves in modern science, economics and social opportunities," the rector of Moscow State University stated.
The chairman of the State Duma Committee on Education and Science, Vyacheslav Nikonov, speaking at the panel discussion, expressed the opinion that the world is ruled by ideas and dreams: "Social dreams are realized, as a rule, through the political sphere. Preserving the academic clarity, pursuing the goal of mastering knowledge in all their diversity, be those people who have ideas, including political ones, because the future depends on it".
At the session titled 'Export of educational services: problems and solutions', the initiatives of the Russian Ministry of Education and Science in the field of developing export potential of Russian universities, best practices of Russian universities and projects for their promotion abroad were discussed.
Another important topic discussed at the master classes and panel discussions was the issue of personnel training and the competence of specialists that will be in demand on the labor market.
The importance of the festival's programs is evidenced by the fact that the Russian president addressed its closing ceremony. "Future starts here and now! Future is you. I am sure that leaving the Russian Federation you will leave a part of your heart here. But Russia will always stay in your hearts. We believe in you," Vladimir Putin said.
One of the main places at the festival was occupied by the sites of students from the Caucasus and Transcaucasia. The stands of Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia were daily visited by a large number of participants who wanted to learn about traditions and customs of the peoples of the Caucasus.
