International events: Rome hosts International Student Forum

International Student Forum, launched in Rome February 16 2011, became one of the first major public initiatives undertaken within the framework of a so-called “culture exchange year” – the Year of Russian culture and Russian language in Italy and the Year of Italian culture and Italian language in Russia.

Forum, which solemnly kicked off in Rome, brought together over 300 students from different cities of Russia, as well as 20 rectors of Russia’s universities.

Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Alexander Zhukov, the Chairman of the Organizing Committee for the Year of Russia in Italy delivered a welcoming speech addressing students and professors of universities of both countries.

The program of the two-day forum, jointly organized by the Federal Agency on the CIS, Compatriots Living Abroad and International Humanitarian Cooperation (Rossotrudnichestvo) and the Sapienza University of Rome, involves work of five sections: “History and Law”, “Innovations”, “Technology and Engineering”, “Education” and “Culture”. Above all, the action includes an Assembly of Rectors of Higher Education Institutions of Russia and Italy, and a Festival of Russian Language and Literature.