On February 25, 2026, a Youth international forum dedicated to the International Mother Tongue Day was held at Gagarin State Technical University.
The forum was held with the support of the Regional Government and the Federal Agency for Ethnic Affairs within the framework of the state program "Implementation of the State National Policy". The dialogue of cultures, preservation of linguistic diversity and strengthening the unity of the peoples of Russia were the main topics of the forum.
The event brought together more than 500 Saratov university students from 30 countries, representatives of executive authorities, scientific and expert community, national cultural and religious organizations of the region and became an authoritative discussion platform for discussing issues of preserving linguistic diversity and strengthening interethnic unity.
Vavilov University was represented at the forum by a delegation consisting of Irina Sharova, a teacher of Russian as a foreign language, and Ekaterina Ryazantseva, a leading specialist at the Institute of International Relations. The students of the preparatory department Efu Kyakuvi Elton Jay from Togo and Essungu Essaka Yael Nicholas from Cameroon, made informative presentations on Saratov and Russia.
Efu Kyakuvi Elton Jay dedicated his speech to one of the gastronomic symbols of the region - the famous Saratov kalach, telling the history of its origin, unique recipe and cultural significance for the region. Essungu Essaka Yael Nicholas, a student from Cameroon, shared his personal impressions of Russia, noting the hospitality of Saratov residents and the richness of Russian traditions.
The forum became a vivid example of a productive intercultural dialogue between students and teachers of two leading universities in Saratov. The participants stressed the importance of such meetings for the successful adaptation of foreign students and the promotion of the cultural heritage of the region among the youth.
