At the World Youth Festival Assembly in Nizhny Novgorod, as part of the case study session “From Language to Cooperation: New Formats for International Initiatives”, representatives from Russia, Pakistan, Serbia, Afghanistan, the Republic of Belarus, and other countries, under the guidance of leading experts, proposed ways to promote the Russian language abroad.
Anton Serikov, CEO of the Mashuk Knowledge Center and Deputy General Director of the Russian “Znanie” (Knowledge) Society, noted that teachers, lecturers, and mentors no longer have a monopoly on knowledge.
"At the present time, the education system is rapidly changing due to the digitization of educational processes, the emergence of cutting-edge online platforms, and tutoring practices. In order to prepare teachers not only from Russia but also from other countries to respond to the present day’s challenges, we are working with partners to hold special educational events for teachers of Russian as a foreign language. One of the latest such programs was held in this June, bringing together over 100 teachers from more than 20 countries. Foreign guests had the opportunity to communicate with native speakers, share their experiences, and get acquainted with our best practices in educaion and rich Russian culture and history. I am confident that such programs serve as a guide to our multinational culture for foreign colleagues and provide an understanding of the Russian cultural code," Anton Serikov emphasized.
Barbara Lachhein, Chair of the German-Russian Society of Essen, spoke about the development of Russian studies in Europe over the past three decades, the influence of artificial intelligence on intercultural communication processes, and the potential of the Russian language in the global arena.
Daniil Sin, Head of International Cooperation at the Pushkin State Russian Language Institute, shared the Pushkin Institute's experience and spoke about the Russian language as a factor in educational diplomacy and international integration. He noted that according to the Pushkin Institute's study “The Russian Language Index in the World,” foreigners' motivation to learn Russian is changing. “Whereas academic and classical cultural interest used to dominate, pragmatism now often comes to the fore: business, careers in international companies, IT, tourism. Language is perceived as a tool for achieving specific development goals,” Daniil Sin says.
He also expressed his gratitude to his colleagues from the Mashuk Knowledge Center for the opportunity to collaborate in selecting volunteers to participate in the Russian Language Ambassadors in the World program.
"Contemporary education should offer not just knowledge in a vacuum, but also practice. Fundamental and practical knowledge cannot be opposed; they are like two wings on a bird. We must build a clear and flexible trajectory for each student. In addition, there is a demand for broad erudition today. It is necessary for today's leaders to understand culture, poetry, literature, history, and philosophy," the expert concludes.
During the case study session, the participants of the Assembly divided into several teams to develop joint projects for promoting the Russian language abroad. The young people proposed establishing an International Friendship Day with the aim of long-term cooperation, creating an educational online game for learning Russian, replicating a number of Russian volunteer practices, and launching a seasonal project entitled “Vacation in Russian style,” which will allow anyone interested to learn about Russian culture, traditions, and customs.
The general partners of the WYF Assembly-2025 are the Russian Music Union, JSC Russian Railways, and Phygital Games. The general information partner is the international television channel RT, and the general media partner is ANO Dialog Regions. The partner for the excursion and regional programs is the More Than Trip program. The strategic partner is VK Tech. Co. The following have also joined the partnership program: “New Generation” program arranged by the Federal Agency for Affairs of the Commonwealth of Independent States, Compatriots Residing Abroad and International Humanitarian Cooperation (Rossotrudnichestvo), the Movement of the First, the presidential platform “Russia – Country of Opportunities”, Sovcombank, the Avito Tech. Co., State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom, Russian “Znanie” (Knowledge) Society, the Film Studio Soyuzmultfilm, the Government of the Krasnoyarsk Territory, the Central Bank of Russia, program for young entrepreneurs “Rosmolodezh.Undertake” and the Mashuk Knowledge Center. Information support for the event is provided by Rossiyskaya Gazeta, Argumenty i Fakty publishing house, the African Initiative and the Window to Russia project of ANO “TV-Novosti”.
The organizer of the World Youth Festival Assembly is the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs (Rosmolodezh), the co-organizer of the event is the Government of the Nizhny Novgorod Region and the event operator is the World Youth Festival Directorate. The Festival pursues the goals of the Youth and Children national project.
Overview:
In accordance with the instructions of the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin on preserving and developing the legacy of the World Youth Festival, which took place on the Sirius Federal Territory in 2024 and united 20,000 young people from 190 countries of the world, festival events on the territory of the Russian Federation will be held annually. The next World Youth Festival for 20,000 participants will be held in 2030. In 2026, there will be a smaller event, an International Youth Festival with 10,000 participants. In between, the World Youth Festival’s themed Assemblies will be held annually for 2,000 participants. The World Youth Festival Directorate continues its work aimed at strengthening international youth cooperation.
