The Volga State University of Physical Culture, Sports and Tourism was visited by members of the Committee of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of Russia on Tourism and Tourism Infrastructure Development today.  

The delegation headed by the Chairman of the Committee Sangaji Tarbaev arrived in Tatarstan to study the development of tourism in the regions located in the Volga River basin and its tributaries, as well as the organization of passenger transportation by river transport. The experience of regional authorities in this area will be considered on the example of Tatarstan and Chuvashia. 

During the meeting, the Rector of the Volga Region University Rafis Burganov acquainted the guests with the capabilities and material and technical equipment of the university, and also spoke in detail about the structure, staffing, educational activities and the results of interaction with various structures for the development of tourism in general.

The rector said that for this period, the university has produced more than 700 graduates for the tourism industry and the hospitality sector with high academic performance, annually more than 50% of graduates receive a diploma with honors. A high percentage of graduates (75%) are employed, some of them (24%) continue their studies at the magistracy.

"Today, 262 students are studying at the Institute of Hotel Management and Tourism. Our University is a specialized competence center for the Regional Championship of Young professionals of Worldskills Russia in the competencies "Tour operator activity" and "Travel agency activity". We already have silver in the 2021 National Final in the competence of "Tour Operator activity" in our piggy bank. The teachers are experts of Worldskills Russia in the competencies "Tour operator activity" and "Travel Agency activity".

Working meetings on the promotion of leadership projects and support of the Agency's initiatives in the region, the development of industrial and ecological tourism in the Republic of Tatarstan are organized at the University site. The head of the Department, Maria Vesloguzova, is a public representative of the Agency for Strategic Initiatives. Both students and teachers of the university are participants of professional platforms, such as the Workshop "Tourism Business", "Landmarks of the Future", HORECA, specialized exhibitions," Rafis Burganov noted.

He also said that despite the difficult external situation, the university continues to interact with a number of foreign partners in organizing internships for students. A number of agreements have been signed with companies to conduct internships and internships abroad in Turkey (TUI) and Italy (Inter-Air).

"Foreign business trips are also possible because the university pays great attention to the formation of language competence among students and improving the professional skills of teachers. For several years now, some of the specialized disciplines in the areas of service, tourism, and hospitality have been taught in English. More than 30% of graduates defend their final qualification papers in English," the rector stressed.

"It is worth noting that the Volga Region University has more than 3,800 students studying in 39 areas of training. Even in the severe pandemic year 2020, the University hosted 172 sports, youth, and tourism events, accommodating and feeding 52,000 people, in 2021 there were already 244 of these events, and 65,800 guests, and only in the 1st half of 2022 we hosted 323 events and 63550 guests. All this creates unique conditions for the training of practice-oriented specialists for the tour industry," Rafis Burganov said in conclusion.

Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Tourism and Tourism Infrastructure Development Sangaji Tarbayev, in turn, noted that he was glad to be at the Volga Region University.

"We are glad that we were able to stop by for at least an hour, but I promise to come again in detail. We will look at your university in full, see your students, discuss the methodology with your teaching staff, because the issues that you raised during your speech are as relevant as possible.

We are dealing with the issue of staffing at the system level. It is obvious to all of us that the issue of personnel training is an urgent problem that cannot be solved quickly. We should already invest in applicants, spend 5-6 years, go through all the stages of education. As part of the work in this direction, we will hold a round table with the Committee in early September. We invite you!", - Sangaji Tarbayev noted.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Chairmen of the State Duma Committee on Tourism and Tourism Infrastructure Development Sergey Krivonosov and Tatiana Lobach, State Duma Deputy Tatyana Larionova, Chairman of the State Committee on Tourism of the Republic of Tatarstan Sergey Ivanov, members of the relevant committees of the Lower house of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation.

Photo - Pavel Zheleznyak
Video - Evgenia Osipova 

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