Rossotrudnichestvo’s doing sincere efforts to build educational and cultural bridges between Russia and India through its various initiatives, especially the scholarship program, which opens doors for Indian students to pursue a high-quality education in Russia. Through these efforts, the organization hopes to strengthen the bonds of cooperation and mutual understanding between the two nations. To know explore these opportunities, Recently, Prof.S.S.Dogra-Bureau Chief-Delhi for Himalini Magazine, Nepal interacted with Victor Gorelykh who is presently Head of the Department of Education at Rossotrudnichestvo in New Delhi, India. Excerpts:
Q. Could you tell us about your educational background?
A. I hold a degree in History and International Relations and have completed a doctoral program in the Philosophy of Culture. My academic interests span across History, Politics, Diplomacy, as well as Philosophy and Religion. This combination of fields has provided me with a well-rounded perspective, especially in understanding cultural dynamics.
Q. What has your experience in India been like so far?
A. I’ve been in India for the past two years, a country I have long admired. My academic journey included research papers and a thesis focused on Indian history, yet my early career took me to various African nations for the first eight years. Now, I am thrilled to be here, immersing myself in the country of my own choice. I’ve traveled widely to places such as Varanasi, Rishikesh, Haridwar, Dehradun, Agra, Jaipur, Goa, Chennai, Puducherry, and Mahabalipuram, exploring the diverse culture and meeting new people at every step.
Q. What is your current role, and what are your responsibilities?
A. I head the Department of Education at the Representative Office of Rossotrudnichestvo in India. Rossotrudnichestvo is the Russian federal agency dedicated to international humanitarian cooperation. Here in India, our representative office oversees five Russian Houses located in New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, and Trivandrum. My primary responsibility is to foster cultural and educational collaboration between Russia and India.
Q. What major activities does Rossotrudnichestvo undertake in Delhi?
A. Our main focus is on promoting the Russian language and culture, facilitating educational and scientific cooperation, and organizing social and charitable initiatives. Another significant aspect of our work is providing scholarships for Indian students, enabling them to pursue higher education in Russia.
Q. Are there any specific scholarships available for Indian students and educators in Russia?
A. Yes, every year, we offer 200 scholarships to Indian citizens. These scholarships cover all study-related expenses, including tuition and admission fees. The scholarships span a variety of disciplines, such as Medicine, Pharmacy, Engineering, Architecture, Agriculture, Management, Economics, Humanities, Social Sciences, Mathematics, Space Science, Aviation, Sports, and Arts.
A portion of these programs, especially in Medicine, is English-taught. Students have the flexibility to choose from undergraduate, master’s, medical residency, and Ph.D. programs across Russia, from Kaliningrad in the west to Vladivostok in the Far East, including major cities like Moscow and Saint Petersburg.
For students who need to learn Russian, we offer a preparatory year of language study, enabling them to acclimate before starting their chosen courses. All applications for the Russian Government’s scholarships are processed via our centralized platform at education-in-russia.com, making the application process convenient and efficient.
Q. When is the current application period for these scholarships?
A. This year’s application period began on October 7, 2024, and will remain open until January 15, 2025. Interested applicants can submit their applications online without needing to submit documents in person or contact our office directly.
(Prof.S.S.Dogra)
Bureau Chief-Delhi for Himalini Magazine-Nepal
Member: The Foreign Correspondent’s Club of South Asia & Founder-Creatives World Media Academy
