The goal of the educational program is to introduce participants to the world of in-demand professions and to support their professional self-determination through:

• Visits to the faculties of Manipal University, Dubai

• Specially organized activities focused on daily analysis of the information received

(Transfer of program goals from the previous teacher-mentor)

 

January 7, 2023

Diary by Vladimir Kukharev.

Today is our second day in Dubai.

Today is Christmas — our Orthodox holiday — and we all exchanged warm congratulations and wishes in the morning.

In the afternoon, we went to a class on the specialty “Media and Communications.” We were divided into groups, and the classes took place in different rooms in rotation: a sound recording studio, where we recorded Sofia’s beautiful performance of the Russian national anthem; an editing room; a photography studio, where we captured several group shots; and finally, a video production studio. In the last one, the participants and I decided to reveal the university’s main slogan — “Our Future is Here” — and after some thought, we recorded our ideas on camera.

While in the role of Manipal students, we came to the conclusion that practice is the key process of any educational program. Many of the participants enjoyed getting to know this field of activity, because knowledge about it can be useful to any specialist who wants to keep up with the times.

 

 

It is worth noting the professionalism of the teachers. During the introductory presentation, they immediately made it clear that they are well-versed in current trends and tendencies in media — because that is the foundation of this field: working with what is happening here and now.

In the afternoon, due to a heavy downpour, our plans had to change. Instead of going to the beach, we headed to the “Mall of the Emirates.” Despite the change in weather conditions, we managed to have a wonderful time at the mall. There were many stores there (which are currently closed in the Russian Federation, so everyone immediately rushed to familiar counters and departments).

After that, our team made it to “Atlantis The Pointe” — a picturesque location on Palm Island with over 80 restaurants, shops, and entertainment attractions. The most memorable part was the singing fountain show.

After a wonderful lunch, an incredible desert safari awaited each of us. We traveled to the desert in jeeps with five people per vehicle. Each of us experienced unforgettable emotions as the golden sand became a real obstacle course. During our journey, we saw camels and desert vegetation several times. At one of the stops, many of the participants tried riding a camel — one of the inhabitants of the desert. At the end of the trip, we attended a spectacular show and enjoyed Arabian cuisine.

The adventure left no one indifferent, including me! Interacting with people of a different culture, respecting the traditions and customs of another country — all of this is a manifestation of cultural ethics and allows us to broaden our horizons. I look forward to new adventures with my team.

P.S. Many thanks to all the guys for helping with the filming!

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January 9, 2023

Diary prepared by the team: Arina Vishnevskaya, Milla Studenets, and Valeria Vodyanitskaya.

Today is our 4th day in Dubai.

The day turned out to be very eventful. As usual, it began with planning the day and morning career guidance sessions with our teachers after breakfast.

At the Faculty of Commerce and Business, we received assignments that initially confused us. There were relay races with hoops, building towers from cups against time, and others. At first, we didn’t understand how this related to business and assumed the tasks were aimed at developing team spirit. Later, after a joint discussion, we realized that in business, you need to communicate with many different people (from different professions and cultures) at the same time. Therefore, this lesson teaches time management, networking, and most importantly, a holistic view of life and individual spheres.

After lunch, we had an unforgettable excursion to the Museum of the Future, which allowed us to travel through time and journey to the year 2071.

On a spaceship, we traveled into space and saw the incredible possibilities of technology (artificial intelligence being one of them) and cosmic energies that could be used for the benefit of humanity.

Our journey was like a scientific exploration, where we studied ecology and nature using the example of the tropical rainforests of the Amazon basin and the Leticia region in Colombia — the “Storehouse of our Life.”

The “Al Waha” Wellness Institute was dedicated to the things essential for our health: the right atmosphere, relaxing music, subtle aromas, and pleasant, comfortable furniture. Many of the participants particularly liked the relaxation room, where you can unwind, catch your breath, and reflect on pressing matters.

Tomorrow begins today, and already today, global technological challenges are on the agenda: “How to cool the planet?” “How to feed all the people?” and others.

Our space journey concluded with reflections on important statements:

1. “We may not live for hundreds of years, but our creative legacy will remain long after we are gone.”

2. “Innovation is not intellectual luxury. It is the secret to the evolution and rejuvenation of peoples and nations.”

3. “The future belongs to those who can imagine it, design it, and execute it. You don’t need to wait for it — you need to create it.”

This inspires us, because we are creating our future today.

January 10, 2023

Diary by Viktoria Kartashova.

Today is our fifth day in Dubai.

The day began with a meeting with the President of the Lingva Center — Lyudmila Zhuravleva. Lyudmila Vitalievna is the head of the department that organizes educational expeditions around the world. It is important for her to personally verify that the program is being conducted according to the stated standards. She kindly welcomed us and wished us success in our education.

After the introduction, we went to the Career Services Department. The fact that this department exists at the university and guarantees 100% employment was a pleasant surprise for me. We had an interesting time building the tallest tower using available materials: plasticine, wooden sticks, and so on. Then we were told about how to build a successful business career and develop one’s own initiatives, as well as the importance of resources in choosing a future profession.

In our English lesson, we tried ourselves in the role of a psychologist — we had a challenging task: working with our inner selves.

January 10, 2023 (continued)

In the afternoon, we went to see the Dubai Frame. It consists of two connected glass towers, each 150 meters high. Between these towers is a glass bridge. Walking across it, we experienced an adrenaline rush. The structure looks impressive: the golden arch sparkles and shimmers under Dubai’s sun. The concept of this building is that on one side, you see modern Dubai, and on the other — the old city with its history. Only by understanding your past can you build your future. Everyone was absolutely delighted!

Our wonderful day ended with a cultural meeting on “Dubai Culture and Professional Challenges” with Vera — sister of Tatyana Aleksandrovna and a Lingva graduate who now lives and works in a Russian company in Dubai. She shared her knowledge and experience with us.

We found the following facts interesting:

1. The city has both local and international schools. Classes are conducted in Arabic and English.

2. Ramadan — the month of mandatory fasting for Muslims — is one of the five pillars of Islam. During the month of Ramadan, devout Muslims abstain from eating, drinking, and smoking during the daytime.

3. Dubai is a city of contrasts — it offers opportunities for the development of potential for both local and foreign professionals.

We were also given 3 tips on how to choose a profession:

1. Take specialized professional courses and have supporting certificates.

2. Know foreign languages — preferably at least two.

3. Develop professional skills.

As a conclusion, I want to emphasize that the path to a professional calling lies through the combination of what you are able to do; what people need; and most importantly — what ignites your passion.

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January 11, 2023

Diary by Rodion Vinokurov.

Today is the sixth day of our stay in Dubai.

We attended a class dedicated to the “Engineering and IT” faculty. We were given a general overview of the goals of engineering, as well as its various branches. Under the careful guidance of our instructors, we constructed a real table lamp powered by a solar panel.

This task illustrated one of the main principles of the international education system: practice is the most important part of professional education — the foundation of everything.

After career guidance, we had an English lesson, where we talked about the art of debate and developed our ability to argue our position by engaging in polemics with an interlocutor from the perspective of a character whose brief description was given to us. The main task was to reach an agreement with a person holding an opposing viewpoint on various life situations.

Dubai Mall — the largest shopping center in the world, covering an area of about 1.2 square kilometers — became another object of our exploration. This is truly a grand complex, memorable for its diversity of stores and departments. However, there is another side to this: such gigantism carries the risk of getting lost among countless storefronts and products. And this is not hyperbole: today, we really spent a lot of time searching for the stores we were interested in, and afterward — for each other. We learned a valuable lesson that reminded us of the importance of time management: in such large-scale shopping centers with limited time, you should only go with a specific purchase in mind at a specific store, rather than trying to find something to do by aimlessly wandering.

At the end of our visit to the Mall, we enjoyed the show of the dancing fountains, set against the backdrop of Dubai’s skyscrapers, including the Burj Khalifa — the tallest structure ever built on Earth. The evening view of illuminated concrete and steel giants, accompanied by the spectacle of water splashes and jets, is a sight that astonishes anyone who has never been to such metropolises — and it is the city’s calling card.

In the evening, we gathered for our now-traditional reflection session. The agenda did not include discussions of purchases or impressions from the shopping center.

The reason was that yesterday, a group of other Russian-speaking participants who had been here longer than us left the university. During our time together, each of us had developed different relationships with some of them. There were also conflict situations. I won’t describe everything in detail, because what matters here is not how the contradictions arose and escalated, but rather what each of us realized in retrospect about all the situations. In essence, our relationships were the topic of our conversation. Everyone shared their understanding of what had happened. Among the direct participants in the conflicts, there was full consensus in adopting the Dialogue of Cultures methodology proposed by our teachers: you need to be able to identify yourself and your opponent, try to apply empathy skills to better perceive the goals and intentions of the other side, and seek a compromise that satisfies the interests of everyone involved.

We understand that the methodology may not always produce the expected result. In such a case, the wisest decision would be to ask for help from other people interested in a peaceful resolution of the situation, because, as a rule, only by uniting their ideas and capabilities can people truly achieve what they want.

Of course, among us there were also those who were not involved in the conflicts — those who expressed indifference to what was happening. One might recall the principle that “the absence of a position is also a position,” but all these situations were purely local and mostly personal in nature, so there is no need to try to accuse these people of immorality or cowardice.

Overall, our stay is going excellently — everyone is experiencing a wave of positive emotions. This is a wonderful place — truly a city of the future. And I am confident that Dubai will only continue to grow in popularity, both as a tourist destination and as a hub for the best minds of humanity.

P.S. Thanks to everyone who is sharing these wonderful days with me!

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Diary by Elizaveta Kravchenko.

Today is our eighth day in Dubai.

After breakfast, we went to explore the “Biotechnologies” faculty. We visited laboratories, just like real scientists. We were given detailed information about the impact of nutrition on the human body, macro- and microelements, and then we conducted an experiment. We realized that biology is a very promising field of science. For example, you can save the world not only from viruses but also from hunger. For this purpose, the following areas are offered: “Nutrition and Dietetics” and “Food Processing Industry.”

We were also introduced to the basics of human genetics and touched upon the topic of mutations. The faculty session ended with observing the development of cancer cells, after which we moved on to the next class.

Next, the “Robotics and 3D Modeling” faculty was presented to us. We attended a lecture featuring various types of robots and learned about the importance of artificial intelligence in modern life. Already now, computer systems could manage corporations quite effectively, involving humans only for solving non-standard tasks for which there is no template yet. However, artificial intelligence carries certain risks — the disappearance of a number of professions, the disconnection of people, and perhaps even the loss of natural human skills.

After the classes, we were awarded certificates for completing the training at Manipal University. We thanked the teachers and also recorded video messages of gratitude to the university.

Then we headed to Dubai Marina. This is a prestigious residential area, known for its sandy beach and entertainment complex with restaurants featuring open terraces. A drone show was planned for the evening, but unfortunately, it was canceled due to weather conditions. This didn’t stop us from having a good time and relaxing. We walked along the beach, visited local shops in the residential area, and bought souvenirs.

We’ll be heading home soon, so we’re enjoying every day and trying to learn a lesson from each one.

Today’s lesson: carefully plan your day, taking weather conditions into account. Set goals.

January 14, 2023 — Day 9

Diary by: Arseniy Pivkin, Georgiy Korabelnikov, and Anton Smirnov.

The day was incredibly eventful, and we divided it into several thematic blocks:

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Faculty of Robotics (highlighted by us as special)

Today, on our 9th day in Dubai, we visited the most branded faculty — Robotics. We were explained the possibilities of programming, the types of robots that exist, and the purposes for which people use them. We all agreed that the future belongs to technology — under responsible human management.

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Certificate Ceremony (highlighted by the group)

Today was our final academic day, which ended with the awarding of certificates from Manipal University, granting the right to receive education at the university with a discount. We took photos with the rector of the university and the director of the student placement department. Many participants said they now feel confident — both in the language and in their skills — and that they will be able to pursue higher education abroad.

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La Mer Beach

La Mer Beach is a cozy, comfortable beach that helped us relax after an intense week of studying. It was great to lie under the warm sun on the beach, sunbathe, and even swim in the sea.

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Outlet Village

We now know many of Dubai’s malls — how they differ and how they attract customers (fountain shows, laser shows, festivals, and others). Now we also understand the concept of outlet centers. Outlet Village features branded stores offering items from the previous season.

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Reflection

Some thoughts from the participants:

“Today, what I remembered most were the classes at the Biotechnology faculty. It was incredibly interesting to see real cancer cells through a microscope. I’ve never been interested in medicine before, but today I realized that it’s very complex but fascinating. The award ceremony gave me a lot of emotions — everyone was in a great mood, received their certificates, and took photos with the rector.”

“Today we finished exploring the various faculties at the university. Before this educational trip to the UAE, I considered business as my future career field. After the Business and Management faculty, I studied this direction in more detail and became convinced of my choice.

My stay in Dubai also taught me stress tolerance in emergency situations. When I had a problem with my medication, I didn’t panic but immediately started looking for solutions. Thanks to my teachers, I was able to resolve this issue competently and quickly.”

 

Parent Reviews of Lingva Educational Trips

 

 

January 15, 2023 — Day 10

Diary by: Georgy Markin
Video by: Alena Korabelnikova

And so, our final day of the educational expedition in Dubai has come to an end. We didn’t wake up very early, as we were allowed to sleep in a bit before the night flight — which pleased everyone. Right after waking up, we went to breakfast. Personally, I always enjoyed eating in the student cafeteria, because everything was prepared with care.

After a delicious breakfast, we were introduced to the opportunities for higher education at world universities — for example, in Italy, China, and Turkey.

Facts that surprised me:

• When applying to a public Italian university and studying successfully, you can receive a scholarship of up to €6,000;

• Universities offer a wide range of specializations, from doctor to architect;

• The Italian education system includes schooling up to the 12th grade, so graduates of Russian schools need to complete a Foundation Year. This does not extend the overall time to master a profession, as a Bachelor’s degree in Europe is 3 years.

The Chinese higher education system is very diverse. You can find almost any specialization and learn the Chinese language, which, in my opinion, is very promising. Today, I learned an interesting story about a man who decided to retrain at a Chinese university and pursue a specialization that didn’t yet exist in Russian universities. After his first year, the pandemic began, and he returned home. Meanwhile, in his country, they were looking for a professional in that exact field. The man responded to the offer, warning that he was still a student. Despite this, he was offered a job at a large company, where today he holds a managerial position. Therefore, it is IMPORTANT to choose a profession that will be in demand in the labor market.

In Turkey, you can study not only in Turkish but also in English.

After lunch, we all went to watch a movie. The main idea of the film was that Dubai is one of the most popular and famous cities in the world. It is called the “city of the future.” However, in Dubai, there are also poor people struggling to make a living, as well as wealthy people — all with different values and making different moral choices. Not everything that glitters is gold — many people don’t think about this.

After the movie, we were given free time to sleep before the flight, pack our things, and, if we wanted, play sports games.

In the evening, we headed to the airport. You can’t imagine how it looks — illuminated, majestic, and automated. After all the official procedures, we boarded the plane, and we are now writing this reflection for you, dear parents, from the plane at an altitude of 10,972 meters!

We all want to express our huge gratitude to you for sending us to this bustling city, for giving us the opportunity to explore different professions, to reflect, and to decide who we want to be in the future.

Special thanks to all the staff of Manipal University for their help and hospitality. To our teachers — for their interest in us, for the insightful conversations, and for their caring attitude. I also want to give a special thank you to our English teacher for the questions she posed — questions that I still need to find answers to.