Students from Turkmenistan and China held an essay competition

On February 23-24, 2026, an essay competition was held at the Center for Intercultural Communication and World Languages of the Faculty of Philology among third-year students majoring in Russian as a Foreign Language. The event took place within the framework of the course “Verbal Communication.” The organizers were Senior Lecturer Saule Temirbaevna Issaliyeva and Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences, Research Professor, and Director of the Center, Saule Bayazovna Begaliyeva.

 Students from Turkmenistan and the People’s Republic of China delivered presentations and participated as moderators and jury members in two sections. The competition was attended as guests by the Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Philology, Zhadyra Amangeldievna Bayanbayeva, and the Head of the Department of Russian Philology and World Literature, Alyona Sergeevna Demchenko.

On the first day, in the section “Fiction in My Life,” the participants delivered presentations on Russian, Turkmen, and English literature. They spoke about the works of M.V.Lomonosov, A.S.Pushkin, M.Yu.Lermontov, F.M.Dostoevsky, L.N.Tolstoy, N.V.Gogol, I.S.Turgenev, A.P.Chekhov, M.Gorky, Kerim Gurbannepesov, and Rudyard Kipling.

Each participant presented an individual presentation devoted to the analysis of a literary work by Russian and world classics. The presentations were distinguished by a high level of preparation, logical structure, depth of analysis, and a personal engagement with the literary text.

On the second day, in the section “Sustainable Development Goals,” the students spoke about the history of the SDGs and the main dimensions of sustainability in the global context. They provided an overview of the 17 goals addressing key contemporary challenges - from poverty eradication to the protection of the planet’s ecosystems - аnd discussed prospects, challenges, and barriers to progress.

The jury members noted the high level of speech culture and critical thinking demonstrated by the presenters, who showed proficiency in Russian as a Foreign Language, the ability to express their viewpoints in a well-argued manner, and an understanding of global issues through the lens of national development.

Following the results of the section sessions, the winners were determined:

1st place – Arslan Akmyradov and Ainabat Shamidova.

2nd place – Gulnara Adambayeva and Inabat Matusubova.

3rd place – Edjegul Komekova and Yanildjan Kuryazova.

According to feedback from participants and guests, the competition became a significant educational and cultural event aimed at developing intercultural communication, strengthening academic cooperation between countries, and fostering the professional and civic position of future specialists in Russian as a Foreign Language.

The event was held in a friendly, creative, and academically rich atmosphere that encouraged open dialogue, exchange of opinions, and the professional growth of students. The high potential demonstrated by all participants confirmed the relevance of such competitions aimed at promoting intercultural dialogue and respect for cultural heritage. The Department of Russian Philology and World Literature serves as an excellent platform for obtaining high-quality education, unlocking students’ creative potential, fostering a value-based perception of classical literature, and developing readiness to contribute to addressing the challenges of sustainable development.