The International School of Student Tourism opened in Issyk-Kul

The grand opening of the International School of Student Tourism took place at the educational and health complex KRSU «Zhashtyk» on the shores of Lake Issyk-Kul. This year its key theme was ecotourism — sustainable development of territories, environmental responsibility, preservation of natural and cultural heritage.The school participants included 16 students from Russian universities and 30 students from higher educational institutions of the Kyrgyz Republic. Over the course of several days, they will have to undergo an educational and project program, take part in environmental initiatives, get acquainted with the natural and cultural attractions of the Issyk-Kul region and develop their own proposals in the field of sustainable tourism.On behalf of the rector of KRSU Sergei Volkov, the participants were greeted by the vice-rector for youth and information policy of KRSU Stanislav Kulikov. He noted that the university is consistently developing youth programs and strives to make maximum use of the summer period for educational, sports and project formats.«Student tourism — is not just an opportunity to see new places. This is an important part of personal development, an opportunity to get acquainted with the history, culture and nature of another country, find like-minded people and gain new experience. It is especially important for us that today students from Russia and Kyrgyzstan meet in „Zhashtyk“. I am sure that this school will become for participants not only an educational platform, but also the beginning of new joint projects and friendship», — emphasized Stanislav Kulikov.Particular attention in the school program is paid to environmental issues of Issyk-Kul. The head of the Issyk-Kul regional department of the Ministry of Natural Resources, Ecology and Technical Supervision of the Kyrgyz Republic, Kilychbek Tentimishev, noted the importance of involving young people in environmental activities.«Ecology — this is our common future, and this future largely depends on young people. It is important for us not only to talk about the environmental work that is being carried out today in Issyk-Kul, but also to involve students in environmental volunteering, joint projects and real initiatives to preserve the unique nature of the region», — noted Kilychbek Tentimishev.Deputy Head of the Center for International Cooperation of the North Caucasus Federal University Anastasia Alekseenko emphasized that the international school gives participants the opportunity not only to travel, but also to create a joint product.«We have a week ahead of us, in which travel, collaboration, creativity and new acquaintances will be combined. Participants will have to create a project that will remain after completing the school and can be further developed. It is precisely these formats that form a real international student community», — said Anastasia Alekseenko.Pavel Gultyaev, curator of educational projects at the Rossotrudnichestvo representative office in Kyrgyzstan, noted the educational component of student tourism and its importance for strengthening humanitarian ties.«Student tourism — is much more than a trip. This is an opportunity to gain new knowledge, get acquainted with a different culture, acquire competencies and connections that can be useful in the future for both the participants themselves and their countries. It is through such projects that mutual understanding between young people is formed», — noted Pavel Gultyaev.The head of the department of international youth cooperation and tourism of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, Konstantin Malyshev, called the school at KRSU an important stage in international youth cooperation.«Such meetings create a special environment in which friendships, ideas and joint initiatives are born. The International School on Issyk-Kul —this is an important stage in the development of Russian-Kyrgyz youth cooperation and at the same time an opportunity for participants to see how KRSU is developing today and what new directions are emerging at the university», — emphasized Konstantin Malyshev.Svetlana Nekhorosheva, head of the youth and student tourism program «Studentourism» of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, noted that the participants will have to work together on a new tourism product.«We want every international school to leave behind a specific outcome. Here, in Issyk-Kul, participants will create new ideas and routes that in the future can become part of the student tourism program. This is an opportunity not just to travel, but to create a space for future travel and international youth cooperation», — said Svetlana Nekhorosheva.As part of the program, participants will get acquainted with the capabilities of the program «Student Tourism», determine the parameters of the final project «Green checklist», take part in project work «Eco-routes of the future», visit the open-air museum «Rukh Ordo», do «Scientific safari» along Issyk-Kul, visit the Grigorievsky and Semenovsky gorges.Also planned are a historical and environmental lecture and an environmental outdoor event, preparation of a video interview and podcast «Eco-route 2026», a role-playing game «Coastal recreation», an event «Clean Coast» and planting a friendship tree.The International School of Student Tourism is taking place in the UOC «Zhashtyk» from August 11 to 16 and is aimed at developing youth cooperation, environmental education and new formats of educational tourism between Russia and Kyrgyzstan.