"My Belgorod" event marathon has started at Shukhov Belgorod State Technological University.

"My Belgorod" event marathon was opened at Belgorod State Technological University named after V.G. Shukhov. It was organized by the World Peoples Assembly, Association of Foreign Alumni and Students of Universities of Belgorod Oblast, and Belgorod State Technological University named after V.G. Shukhov.

The event brought together students, lecturers, alumni, university representatives, government officials, the diplomatic corps, international organizations, and public associations.

The marathon program included an open-dialogue panel discussion with experts, government officials, the university community, international students, and alumni. Cultural and educational venues will include exhibitions, presentations by language and cultural centers, master classes, and a concert program. Special attention will be paid to the discussion of issues related to the education, adaptation, and employment of international students, as well as the development of international academic ties.

Among the marathon distinguished guests of the marathon were Ahmed Mansour, President of the Association of Foreign Alumni and Students of the Belgorod oblast; Walid Hamed Shiltagh, Ambassador of the League of Arab States to the Russian Federation; Agatha Viensak, public figure; Ali Goutali, former Ambassador of Tunisia to the Russian Federation; Khoury Mudalal Mtanyus, Director of the RUSSAR Charitable Foundation; Svetlana Kuznetsova, Chairperson of the All-Russian Public Movement "We Are Russians"; Allaham Yaser Seyfiddin, Advisor to the Secretary-General of the World Peoples Assembly; Stanislav Olenin, Deputy Head of the Department of International Education and Partnership of the World Peoples Assembly; and Maxim Sidorov, Head of the Department of Historical Memory Preservation of the World Peoples Assembly.

On the first day of the marathon, Sergei Glagolev, Acting Rector Belgorod State Technological University named after V.G. Shukhov, met with the marathon participants.

The parties discussed prospects for cooperation between the university and international partners, the development of educational and humanitarian projects, and the role of the international academic community in strengthening ties between the states.

Walid Hamid Shiltagh, Ambassador of the League of Arab States to the Russian Federation, noted the importance of educational cooperation and training of international students at Russian universities.

"I came to beautiful city of Belgorod to strengthen relations between the League of Arab States and Russia. I thank Russia for its support. I used to study in the USSR. My goal is high-quality education for students, including those studying at BSTU, so that they maintain friendship with Russia, thus becoming goodwill ambassadors," emphasized Walid Hamed Shiltagh.

In turn, Sergei Glagolev drew attention to the growing international presence of the university and the contribution of its graduates to the development of international relations.

"I am proud to note that the number of international students at BSTU named after V.G. Shukhov is steadily growing from year to year. We value each of you for your talent, persistence, and desire to gain knowledge within our walls. Today, we pay special attention to our alumni—both Russian and international friends who graduated from our university. You are our pride, living proof that the knowledge gained at BSTU benefits people around the world. Your successes inspire current students to new achievements," noted Sergei Glagolev.

 Former Tunisian Ambassador to the Russian Federation Ali Goutali spoke about the development of Russian-Tunisian cooperation in education.

"Belgorod is a wonderful city, and BSTU named after V.G. Shukhov is a prestigious university. Many students from Tunisia study in Russia and at this university. This year marks 70 years of diplomatic relations between our countries. Cooperation continues, including the area of engineering education," Ali Goutali emphasized.

The opening ceremony was followed by a panel discussion with the participation of international students and graduates, representatives of regional government, the expert community, and Belgorod universities.

Opening the discussion platform, Sergei Glagolev welcomed the marathon participants and emphasized the importance of the event as a venue for a cross-cultural dialogue.

"It is a special pleasure to see our friends from Arab countries among the marathon participants. Today, the Serbian Resource Center, the Center for the Chinese Language and Culture, and the Center for the Arabic Language and Culture are also presenting their exhibitions. Your presence is the best proof that Belgorod is an open, welcoming, and truly international city," noted the acting rector.

During the discussion, the participants touched upon the issues of attracting international students, their education, adaptation and accommodation, graduate employment, and interaction with them. They also discussed the development of international academic cooperation, strengthening partnerships between universities and countries, the role of graduates in promoting Russian education abroad, and the implementation of joint humanitarian and educational projects.

Following the discussion program, marathon participants joined an environmental event on the university campus. An alley of blue spruce trees was planted there, symbolizing unity, friendship among nations, and inter-ethnic concord. The event was attended by the acting rector Sergei Glagolev, Vice-Rector for International Affairs Ruslan Lesovik, representatives of the diplomatic corps, public organizations, international associations, as well as international graduates and students. The new alley became a living symbol of strengthening humanitarian and cultural ties between people from different countries.

The first day of the "My Belgorod" event marathon finished with a gala concert, bringing together representatives of various cultures, diplomats, public figures, students, and creative groups. The main theme of the evening was cultural diversity, mutual respect, and friendship between peoples.