European student vs pandemic

Kremlin relations

Today, graduates of the 11th grade across the country pass the unified state exam in specialized mathematics. Someone plans to enter higher education institutions in Russia, and someone will go to get higher education abroad. A student of the University of Groningen told us about how this difficult year was for all students, and its features. 

— Nastya, tell us where you study and on what course?

— I study in the Netherlands, in the city of Groningen. Now I am finishing my second year of study at the Faculty of International Business.

— A little more than a year ago, a pandemic began, which greatly changed our lives. How did your studies go at the height of the coronavirus? 

— My university switched to online education in April last year. Some exams were postponed for several months, some were canceled. Training is still online, some lectures take place as usual, but attendance is limited, and a distance of 2 meters is observed. 

— What were the admission rules when you were admitted and how did they change? Has the process itself changed? 

— For admission, a certain score was required in all subjects “B” in the English system. As far as I know, the admission process is the same now.

— How did you pass the final exams at school? 

— I graduated from school before the outbreak of the pandemic, so the exams were held in the usual mode, live.

— Are they similar to the Unified State Exam in Russia?

— No, the school was English, so the exams were on the Cambridge system, very different from the Unified State Exam

— How was the transfer to distance learning?

— The university was closed for a month, there were no lessons or exams. Then came a new schedule with online lessons, lectures, and tests. 

— What did you need to do to fly home?

— I passed the PCR corona test and sat in home quarantine for 2 weeks.

— Tell us about how the pairs were held live and remotely. Which is better?

— Live it was the usual lessons for groups and general lectures for all groups. All lectures are recorded online, and you can review them, and some classes are also recorded, but mostly you still need to attend an online conference during the class. Online is better, more free time, as lectures can be viewed at any time, and plus I can be at home with my family.

— Tests and exams have not been canceled. How do they pass? 

— Online with camera and microphone. After the exam, you take a questionnaire to confirm that you took the exam yourself.

— How did this academic year end for you and other students of your department?

— Just like usual, I just did everything online.