Cooperation with the Polytechnic University of Cartagena
In 2021, PetrSU signed an agreement on cooperation with the Spanish Language and Cultural Foundation of Cartagena (FUNCARELE), which implements its programs with the support of the Polytechnic University of Cartagena, Spain. The agreement is aimed at establishment of official relations as well as initiation of joint educational and other mutually beneficial events.
Under the agreement, starting from October 2021, students and a teacher of the Institute of Foreign Languages have been remotely studying the Spanish language as an elective course. Two 4th year students of the Institute studying on the program “Teacher Education. English and German Languages” Anastasia Nikiforova and Kamilla Arushanova have been invited to study for a semester at the Polytechnic University of Cartagena (UPCT), where they study foreign languages and other courses.
Anastasia Nikiforova has chosen courses in business and tourism and additionally enrolled in language classes in the Spanish and German languages. She believes that foreign languages are closely connected to business and tourism, and studying in Cartagena was an amazing opportunity to use these languages in practice, learn more about culture and history, immerse into the life of the country, meet local people and hear interesting stories.
“Courses are in the English and/or Spanish languages and are held with the support of Erasmus+ program (KA107). Classes at the university are held in friendly and congenial manner. No one is in a hurry here. And everyone enjoys spending time on the Mediterranean seaside. I think many have heard about “siesta”, in Cartagena it lasts from 14 till 17. During siesta, all public places are closed, local people take a nap, while students, as a rule, do their homework.
At the end of March and June exams are in full swing. In spring, students take interim, or so called partial exams, and in June they receive their final grades. In the Mediterranean area verbal grades are associated with numbers from 1 to 10. Grade insuficiente (unsatisfactory) corresponds to numbers 1, 2, 3, and 4 (in some cases “four” is the minimum grade to pass). For suficiente (satisfactory) – 5. Bien (satisfactory/good) is number 6. Notable (good) – 7 and 8. And sobresaliente (excellent) is 9 and 10.
It should be noted that many teachers endorse the Continuous Evaluation system, so if students dutifully attend lectures (2 hours a week) and seminars (1 hour) they can get at least grade 5. For this reason, exams do not make or break students’ academic record, since the course is already completed and the exam is a festive occasion and a chance to improve your grade. It is in students’ interest to improve their grades since the best students of a group do not pay for their tuition the next semester, or receive a significant discount,” told Anastasia.
The academic mobility scholarship covers the costs of food and accommodation and even visits to museums and historical places. Local student union organizes weekly events for international students: hiking, yoga, surfing, board, games. No time to get bored.
At the end of June, the academic mobility program comes to an end. Anastasia Nikiforova thanks everyone for help in making a dream come true, namely our Directorate for International Affairs and Spanish partners.
