On the 8th of September in the State of Terengganu an important ceremonial event took place to signify the end of pre-university preparations for entrants from this state as well as their impending departure for studies in Russian tertiary institutions.

In this north-eastern state of Malaysia, the faculty for pre-university preparations “Russia – Medicine” by the TATI (Terengganu Advanced Technical Institute) University College, has been ongoing for already two years. 70 natives of Terengganu had completed this course in 2011. This is part of the main batch of Malaysian youths who travel yearly to Russia to receive tertiary education (around 700 people).

All of them had completed secondary school and college with distinction, and were chosen by the state of Terengganu to be scholarship holders. These young Malaysians will be studying at the First Moscow State Medical University and Volgograd State Medical University.

Upon recommendation and with direct assistance from the RCSC, the Russian language has been included in the faculty’s program of required subjects. The program was supported by language lessons, as well as lectures and presentations on Russia’s culture, history and contemporary life.

The ceremony was organized and held at the chief minister’s, the honorable Dato’ Seri Haji Ahmad bin Said’s, residence. Around 500 people congregated at the event: students, their parents and close relatives, senior officials of the state administration and local parliament, and the local political elites. The chief minister handed out grants by the state to the scholarship holders. In his speech he thanked the Russian authorities and the RCSC for their contribution in realizing such an important social project for his state.

The director of the RCSC M. Popov handed the entrants their certificates for completing the program in Russian language studies. In his opening words he wished them successful studies in Russia and a healthy acquaintance with its cultural and historical legacy.

During the group photo session, the chief minister joked that there are so many scholarship holders from Terengganu that they can’t fit into the camera’s frame. The administration, however, does not plan to stop at their recent achievement: the state plans to send at least 100 students for studies in Russia next year.