#StudentTourism-2024: Velikiy Novgorod, Ancient and Modern

As part of the federal program «STUDTOURISM», a delegation of students from the Institute of Management and Information Technologies at St. Petersburg State University of Trade and Economics visited one of the oldest cities in Russia.

The group was led by Associate Professor Roman Lugovskoyfrom the Department of Management and State and Municipal Administration. Veliky Novgorod is one of the most important historical and spiritual centers of our country. It is here that the path «From the Varangians to the Greeks» passed and our statehood was formed. The legendary Lake Ilmen and the Volkhov River are just part of the unique natural and cultural landscape of Novgorod land.

The travel program enabled university students to familiarize themselves with this beautiful corner of our homeland, its history, and legends. 

The student group from the city on the Neva began its journey with a sightseeing tour of Veliky Novgorod. The students visited the oldest cathedral in Russia - St. Sophia Cathedral, walked around the territory of the Novgorod Kremlin, and learned about the monuments of the ancient city. During the four-hour tour, they discovered many historical facts about the city and the formation of Rus. The St. Petersburg delegation expresses its gratitude for the wonderful tour to the company «Russkiy Mir» and Kirill Morozov. 

The second day of the trip was dedicated to getting acquainted with Novgorod State University named after Yaroslav the Wise and an excursion to the innovative scientific and technological center «Intellectual Electronics - Valdai». The ISTC «Valdai» is an integral part of Veliky Novgorod, created at the initiative of Novgorod University and at the request of the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, in 2021. The Valdai project aims to develop the electronics industry and is located in two buildings with an area of over 19 thousand square meters. The students got acquainted with the equipment at «Valdai», the microelectronics center, and the classrooms of «School 21» – a project by Sberbank that offers the opportunity to receive a world-class education in the IT field for free. The students had plenty of questions and impressions; this is something that needs to be seen with their own eyes! 

After this exciting intellectual and emotional excursion, The St. Petersburg delegation returned to ancient Novgorod for a water excursion to «Rurik's Hill», and then visited the Yuriev Monastery and the Museum of Russian Wooden Architecture «Vitoslavlitsy». The monuments of wooden architecture feature 18 exhibitions dedicated to the life of Novgorod peasants, traditional crafts, wedding rituals, and the celebrations of the folk calendar. 

The third day turned out to be rainy, but the group managed to visit the oldest building of Novgorod University, which the rector, Yuri Sergeyevich Borovikov, considers the main and most important one. The «old building» houses the Humanitarian Institute and historic churches. Alexander Gennadievich Zelenkin organized a tour with university archaeologists at the university's archaeology museum. Novgorod students still participate in archaeological excavations, uncovering relics and helping to resolve scientific and historical disputes. The building also houses a harmonica museum. 

It is worth noting that here, as everywhere, history and innovation coexist. Thus, the students of Novgorod, with the support of the university, have created a cyber squad that interacts with law enforcement agencies to effectively prevent child suicides and even combat drug trafficking and distribution. 

The fourth day of the trip was equally eventful. At the invitation of Novgorod University, the UMTE delegation attended the «Gastronomy Summer» festival, which is held with the support of the Governor of Novgorod Oblast and Novgorod University.

Students from Nizhny Novgorod, originally from Sudan, introduced the guests of the festival to their country's culture, traditions, cuisine, and dances. 

The final highlight of the trip to Novgorod was a water excursion to holy sites. 

Importantly, during the trip, the guests from St. Petersburg discussed with their colleagues from Novgorod State University the directions for further collaboration between our universities. 

We would like to thank the leadership of Novgorod State University named after Yaroslav the Wise for their hospitality and interesting excursions, especially the head of the university's youth policy department – Gennady Zelenkin. 

Note: We remind you that UMTE has been participating for the third year in the All-Russian program of youth and student tourism «STUDTOURISM», implemented under the auspices of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation. 

In the years 2022-2023, our students visited the capital of Tatarstan and Kazan Federal University; the UMTE delegation was hosted by Pskov State University, and students got acquainted with the attractions and universities in Vladimir, Velikiy Novgorod, and other cities in Russia. 

This year, delegations from our university have gone to Veliky Novgorod, Kostroma, Petrozavodsk, and Vladimir.