ISLAMABAD, October 16: Russian Cultural and Education Attaché Gleb Shubin has highlighted the vast potential for academic cooperation and cultural exchanges between Pakistan and Russia, saying educational partnerships can strengthen mutual understanding and further deepen friendly relations between the two countries.He was speaking at a certificate distribution ceremony at Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU), where he attended as the chief guest and distributed certificates among participants who successfully completed a one-month beginner-level Russian language course.Addressing the ceremony, Shubin congratulated the participants and emphasized that learning each other’s languages and understanding different cultures, academic traditions and social values could bring the people of Pakistan and Russia closer together.
He expressed hope that such initiatives would continue to promote cultural understanding and strengthen bilateral ties.Under the leadership of Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. Nasir Mahmood, AIOU has been pursuing various initiatives to promote international academic collaboration, expand foreign language education and provide students with opportunities to engage with global educational systems.Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Zahid Majeed, Director of International Collaboration and Exchange at AIOU, said the university was committed to equipping Pakistani students with foreign language skills and enhancing their understanding of international cultures and educational traditions.He said the Russian language course had reached its eleventh batch, while the next batch was scheduled to begin in November. He added that the programme would continue in the future.Dr. Majeed also highlighted the university’s collaboration with Türkiye’s Yunus Emre Institute and the Japan-Pakistan Advancement Centre, which offer students opportunities to learn Turkish and Japanese languages and explore the respective cultures.He further announced plans to establish Chinese and German language centres at the university, aimed at broadening language education and strengthening AIOU’s international academic partnerships.
Professor Dr. Anton Dolgov and Dr. Roman Porozov of Russia’s Ural State Pedagogical University also shared their experiences of teaching Russian in Pakistan. They emphasized that foreign language learning facilitates direct communication, promotes cultural awareness and builds mutual trust among people from different countries.The ceremony concluded with the distribution of certificates by chief guest Gleb Shubin and other distinguished guests among the successful participants, marking another step towards promoting educational and cultural cooperation between Pakistan and Russia.
