CULTURAL ATTACHÉ OF THE ITALIAN EMBASSY IN EAST KAZAKHSTAN UNIVERSITY

Edoardo Crisafulli, Director of the Italian Cultural Institute in Almaty, Cultural Attaché of the Embassy of Italy in Kazakhstan, visited East Kazakhstan University. Doctor of Linguistics, M.A., Ph.D Crisafulli Edoardo currently holds the position of Director of the Italian Cultural Institute in Almaty, which was founded in 2022 and is the first Italian Cultural Institute in Central Asia. The aim of the Institute is to promote and disseminate Italian language and culture in Kazakhstan by organising language courses, exhibitions and cultural events.

The foreign guest was welcomed at the Salvatore Quasimodo Italian Language and Culture Centre on the basis of S. Amanzholov East Kazakhstan University, where students of higher schools of the university study Italian language, get acquainted with the culture and literature of Italy.

It should be noted that in October last year the delegation of East Kazakhstan University with a working trip visited the partner universities of Italy, the University of Cassino and Southern Lazio, the University of Genoa, Link Campus University. During the negotiations agreements were signed between the universities on opening a branch of the University of Genoa, double degree educational programmes, joint scientific research, academic mobility of teaching staff and students, as well as the opening of the Salvatore Quasimodo Italian Language and Culture Centre on the basis of East Kazakhstan University – as a centre for promoting Italian culture, education and scientific achievements among young people in the Eastern region of Kazakhstan.

– I am incredibly glad to come to East Kazakhstan, especially important event was the visit to the Amanzholov University. It is pleasant that in the regional university so actively develop Italian culture. In addition, I visited several buildings and was surprised by the scale of this university. Contingent of 10 000 people and 14 educational programmes of double diploma with universities of near and far abroad – it speaks about serious approach of the head and the whole staff. It is obvious that a huge work is being done. – Edoardo Crisafulli shared.

Today S. Amanzholov East Kazakhstan University jointly with the University of Genoa and the University of Cassino and Southern Lazio, is carrying out preparatory work for the creation of a branch of foreign universities on the basis of the university. The signed agreements will allow the staff of East Kazakhstan University to undergo internships, to hold joint scientific events, conferences, to implement scientific and project activities. To date, East Kazakhstan University students have already started studying at the University of Genoa, as part of the academic mobility programme, where they will improve their Italian language skills and gain new experience and best practices of Italian universities.

– The Salvatore Quasimodo Centre at East Kazakhstan University is an important part of cultural and educational exchange between Kazakhstan and Italy, we are actively working to promote the Italian language and culture among the students of Amanzholov University, as well as we develop Kazakh culture and language within the walls of Italian universities. Thank you very much for the support of East Kazakhstan University Rector Mukhtar Adilbekovich,’ said Alessandro Figus, Professor and strategic partner.

Today Amanzholov University already implements double degree programmes on Master’s degree programmes “Sports Management”, “International Economics” with the University of Cassino and Southern Lazio, “Sustainable Tourism and Destination Management” with the University of Genoa.

– Our university is always open to dialogue and partnership, the university actively solves the problems of internationalization of education, development of the Salvatore Quasimodo Italian Language and Culture Centre, popularization of Italian language and culture. We hope that your participation in the work of the Centre will provide an opportunity to expand cooperation between Italy and Kazakhstan, and the involvement of volunteers will expand the boundaries in the study of Italian language, – said the Rector of East Kazakhstan University Mukhtar Tolegen.

At the end of the meeting, representatives of the two sides exchanged corporate presentations as a sign of respect. Then the students were read a lecture from the Director of the Italian Cultural Institute in Almaty Edoardo Crisafulli.