We will learn the lessons of the 2020 admission campaign
— How has the NSU international student recruitment campaign of 2020 been? Have you achieved your target numbers?
Novosibirsk State University has completed its admission cam- paign, which has been 100% online in 2020. Every year, the NSU receives applications from international students for undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate studies as well as specialist degree studies and residency. This year the university team has managed to increase the number of international students by 13% (as of October 1, 2020) despite instability and uncertainty of the environment. Moreover, it is worth mentioning that:
1) We have received students from 5 new countries (currently we have students from 55 countries);
2) Admission to our foundation program is still open.

— We have been required to make many things from scratch. Which of the recent developments would you like to take with you in 2021?
Opportunities for submitting documents online as well as sitting admission tests online have significantly streamlined the admission process this year. This has particularly supported international students from the CIS countries and beyond as they could not come and submit their documents on time due to the pandemic-related circumstances. International online student fairs and conferences have become things that have facilitated the further promotion of our university. In future, we will pay special attention to the effective use of promotion tools integrated with our CRM system.
Novosibirsk State University
— What has been the reaction of the first-year international students to the need to start studying online? How has NSU responded to this situation in terms of delivering classes?
Generally, the majority of international students responded with an understanding of the current circumstances. From our end, we have tried to do our best to ensure that students could start classes on time. We have actively interacted with all departments, organized online-meetings with students and addressed all their questions and doubts regarding distance learning. We have tried to streamline our workflow so that no student feels lost. However, we are observing a new trend when international students quit online classes or postpone their studies for next year.

— Mr. Sagaydak, you also work as a director of Novosibirsk Interuniversity Center of International Education — NICE. Please name tasks that have been set for NICE for 2021.
The main task for our regional university association on international education is to develop beneficial relations between Siberian and international universities. Other tasks are concentrated on the improvement of cross-sectoral interaction of all stakeholders in order to increase the number of international students in Novosibirsk universities.

— What would you like to wish to all the colleagues from international departments for 2021?
I wish everyone to keep patience and energy for new ideas and solving complex tasks, especially in the current circumstances related to the pandemic.
Eugeny I. Sagaydak, Head of Education Export Department at Novosibirsk State University (NSU), Director of Novosibirsk Interuniversity Center for International Education, Permanent participant of Education Export Club, Member of Interobrazovanie Expert Club under the Russian Ministry of Science and Higher Education.

BIO
Eugeny has spent his life at Novosibirsk State University — first as a student and graduate, and then as a Director of International Relations Department and Education Export Department. Mr. Sagaidak also serves as a Head of Novosibirsk Interuniversity Center for International Education.
Author: Head of Education Export Department at Novosibirsk State University (NSU), Director of Novosibirsk Interuniversity Center for International Education, Permanent participant of Education Export Club, Member of Interobrazovanie Expert Club under the Russian Ministry of Science and Higher Education.