The “Russian Word” Center has a strong record of successful collaborations, reflecting both educational excellence and active community engagement. Recent examples of our international educational initiatives include:

EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND COLLABORATIONS:

• Internship program with Liceo Linguistico LS M. Grigoletti (Pordenone, Italy): During 11–13 March 2025, we welcomed 22 Italian school students, providing them with a transformative experience that combined linguistic practice, intercultural exchange, communication, and collaborative learning.
• Collaboration with Aristotle University of Thessaloniki: Between 2010 and 2014, we contributed to the “Reinforcement of Students’ Mother Tongue” program by designing and providing linguistic materials for teaching Russian to Russian-speaking students. We also collaborated with the “LingLab” laboratory of the Department of Linguistics in the School of Philology, hosting linguistic workshops. Since 2023, we have acted as a student reception agency, hosting interns from the Department of Linguistics.
• Partnership with the Municipality of Thessaloniki and Mouzenidis Group: For seven consecutive years, we offered free beginner-level Russian courses focused on the tourism industry. Participants received complimentary coursebooks and concluded the program with a creative project presentation event.
• Cooperation with University of Ioannina: Since 2020, we have organized official Russian language proficiency certification exams at levels A1 through B1, as part of the SPbU “Let’s Dive in Russian” program.
• Free Russian Language Courses: Since February 2023, in partnership with St. Petersburg State University, we have offered A1-level Russian lessons in Thessaloniki, attracting over 100 enthusiastic participants.
• Internship program with Russian New University (Moscow): We have hosted postgraduate students specializing in “Theory and Methodology in Teaching Russian as a Foreign Language.”
• Internship program with University of Macedonia (Thessaloniki): Since March 2023, this program has provided students with practical insight into the daily operations of an educational organization such as “Russian Word,” deepening their understanding of the philosophy and implementation of diverse educational and cultural initiatives.
• Community Engagement: We actively participate in volunteer activities, collaborating with organizations such as the Thessaloniki International Film Festival and the TEDx University of Macedonia event in 2023.

INTERNSHIPS:

• Aristotle University of Thessaloniki: Since 2023, we have been serving as a host organization for student internships, welcoming undergraduate students from the Department of Linguistics, School of Philology. Areas of involvement include the production of language-teaching materials, research activity, translation services, and contemporary approaches to teaching a second/foreign language.
• University of Macedonia (Thessaloniki): Since March 2023, this program has offered undergraduate students practical insight into the daily operations of a major educational organization such as Russian Word, deepening their understanding of the philosophy and implementation of various educational and cultural initiatives. Areas of involvement include administrative and secretarial support, assistance in the organization’s educational programs, communication with the partner university SPbU on academic and administrative matters, copywriting for the RW Mediacenter, translation from Russian and English into Greek (e.g., articles and announcements), project management and volunteer initiatives, as well as participation in research activities and international conferences.
• Liceo Linguistico LS M. Grigoletti (Pordenone, Italy): On 11–13 March 2025, we hosted 22 students from the Italian linguistic high school Grigoletti, offering them a unique experience combining language practice, intercultural exchange, communication, and collaborative learning.
• Russian New University (Moscow, Russia): We host postgraduate students specializing in Theory and Methodology of Teaching Russian as a Foreign Language.

EDUCATIONAL TRIPS:

• Barcelona, Spain (28/11–03/12/2024): Visit to “Escola Oficial d’Idiomes (EOI) Barcelona Drassanes,” promoting cross-cultural academic exchange.
• Stockholm, Sweden (12/12–16/12/2023): Collaboration with “Nacka Gymnasium” to acquaint students with the Swedish educational system and Russian language programs.
• Belgrade, Serbia (16/04–22/04/2022): Cooperation with the University of Belgrade’s Department of Russian Language and Literature, fostering intercultural dialogue and exchange.

ERASMUS+ INITIATIVES:

• Establishment of Youth Group “Younost+”: Our students founded this European youth group to actively participate in international projects, including Youth Exchanges and Training Courses under Erasmus+, European Solidarity Corps, and Entrepreneurship Education for Youth.
• Members of Younost+ participated in two consecutive youth exchanges hosted by DAGAL in Alta Langa. The first, “Art Reaction” (14–24 July 2023), focused on artistic collaboration, intercultural dialogue, and creative expression. The second, “DigitallizARTion” (28 September – 8 October 2023), enhanced digital creativity, teamwork, and cross-cultural understanding.
• Upcoming Training Course “Unity Bridges” (Thessaloniki, Greece): Thessaloniki will host the 10-day Erasmus+ Training Course “Unity Bridges: Empower Youth to Embrace Diversity” from 14 to 23 November 2025. The program is implemented in collaboration with Younost+ and the non-profit organization Lucky Punch (Leipzig, Germany), gathering 34 youth workers from across Europe. The initiative aims to empower those working with young people, equipping them with tools, knowledge, and inspiration to build bridges of understanding, acceptance, and cooperation.

The main mission of the Center’s educational staff is to teach Russian as a real means of communication, as a tool for production in the fields of tourism, business, and other equally important areas, as well as to create conditions for active use of the Russian language in everyday situations, in close relation to the life of contemporary Russia. This mission is implemented within the framework of the “Career Days of RW Students” with the participation of representatives from the business community of Greece and other leading organizations, such as the Holding Mouzenidis Group and others.

The Center’s teaching format is classroom lessons (language courses), the most popular form of learning a foreign language in Greece. The educational programs offered by the Center are aimed at adult learners and provide preparation for certification exams according to the requirements described in the State Standards of the Russian Federation for Russian as a Foreign Language.

It should be noted that the students of the Russian Word Center consist of three main categories:

• Greek students, who make up the majority

• Children of compatriots from the Republics of the former Soviet Union

• Foreign students residing in Greece

• Exam-oriented – includes presentation and practice of material according to the requirements described in the State Standards of the Russian Federation for Russian as a Foreign Language, taking into account the main motivations for learning the Russian language (certification in the TRKI system). Exams serve as both motivation and learning method, especially at levels A1-A2.

• Learning goal: practical (formation of a system of communicative activities allowing language use in various communication situations). This goal is achieved through communicative and intensive teaching methods.

• The professional goals of education are related to acquiring knowledge and developing skills and abilities useful for language use in the field of service and tourism.

• The most important methodological principle of teaching Russian as a Foreign Language to Greek-speaking students is the use of the special characteristics of their native language, through direct comparison of Russian language phenomena with those of Greek and highlighting the most difficult aspects.

• Short-term study: the course is divided into semesters, according to levels (A1 (4 months), A2 (4 months), B1 (8 months), B2-C2 (8 months)). The material teaching is designed for approximately 4 academic hours per week (A1, A2, B1) and 5 academic hours per week (B2- C2).

• Combined study of language, history, and culture.

• Teaching Russian as a foreign language, development, and implementation of educational materials with a language teaching approach that takes into account new approaches to learning Russian, promoting interest in the Russian language, Russian education and culture in Greece.

• Preparation for success in state certification exams in Russian as a foreign language.

• Implementation in collaboration with the Municipality of Thessaloniki, in cooperation with the Holding Mouzenidis Group (2013-2020), of a short-term program for learning Russian as a foreign language for employees in the tourism sector and businesses.

• Management of education acquisition issues at Russian universities for undergraduate, specialized, postgraduate, and doctoral programs within the international cooperation department of the Russian Word EDU-RUSSIA-RW center and the Representation Office of Saint Petersburg State University since October 2019, the main duties of which include: providing advisory support to students planning to study at Russian universities for such academic mobility programs as internships, summer schools of the Russian language, and specialized Olympiads.

• Organization of annual summer and winter schools of Russian as a Foreign Language (Institute of Humanities Technologies RosNOU (Moscow), SPbU (Saint Petersburg), Institute of Postgraduate Education SSU N.G. Chernyshevsky (Saratov)).

• Organization of cultural and educational trips to Russia (Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Saratov).

• Organization of international educational scientific and experiential seminars for Russian philologists-linguists, in collaboration with the Panhellenic Association of Teachers of Russian Language and Literature (VAPRYAL) and the International Association of Teachers of Russian Language and Literature (MAPRYAL).

• Presentation of scientific and pedagogical activities within the framework of major annual events, such as the International Publishers’ Exhibition, the Foreign Languages Forum, the Multilingualism Festival “Thessaloniki Multilingual City,” etc.

• Expansion of cultural and ethical principles through engagement with Russian and world art (participation in the annual Thessaloniki International Film Festival, Thessaloniki Documentary Festival, International Festival “Reflection of Disability in Art,” etc.).

• Management
• Secretariat
• Educational Department (staff of certified specialists). Additional educational programs for studying Russian language (Russian language in the tourism sector, Russian language for children and students, Business Russian, etc.), related to research, design, and creative work of students.
• Internship Department provides unique opportunities for the Greek students to participate in official Internship programs of the Aristotle university of Thessaloniki and University of Macedonia.
• Russian Word Mediacenter (monthly electronic magazine RW-Newsletter. Coverage of Center’s activities on social media).
• Representation Office of SPbU since October 2019. The main objective of the Representation Office is to develop international educational cooperation, disseminate Russian language and culture, and present the educational, specialized, and scientific programs of SPbU.
• Department of International Cooperation “EDU-RUSSIA-RW” (the department annually sends its students to the Russian Federation for undergraduate and postgraduate studies. In recent years, 15 Greek students have passed through an open competition and studied at Saint Petersburg State University with a scholarship from the Russian Federation). The staff of the Representation Office provides comprehensive information about opportunities to participate in annual summer schools of foreign languages and internships at Russian universities affiliated with the Russian Word Center.
• Methodological Office of the Panhellenic Association of Teachers of Russian Language and Literature (VAPRYAL), a member of MAPRYAL since 2004. The President of VAPRYAL is Dr. of Philology, Professor of the School of Balkan Studies at the University of Western Macedonia Zouravliova A.F. A common practice of VAPRYAL is to invite Russian professors to collaborate, including Prof. Khavronina S.A., Prof. Barkhudarova E.L., Prof. Khimik V.V., etc.
• Certification Department provides advice on the possibility of participating in certification exams in Russian as a foreign language twice a year with the participation of specialized examiners from Saint Petersburg State University. The department’s staff provides diagnostic tests to determine the level of proficiency in the Russian language and to select the appropriate study program oriented towards exams.
• Translation Department (the department regularly translates academic and other documents directly related to the field of education and science). The Translation department also assists in composing resumes in Russian and provide information about employment prospects after completing studies.

The Representative Office of Saint Petersburg State University in Thessaloniki (formerly the International Russian Institute of SPbU) started operating in October 2019. The Representative Office is based at the Center of Russian Language and Culture “Russian Word,” whose main responsibility is the development of international educational cooperation and the presentation of the educational, specialized, and scientific programs of Saint Petersburg State University.

In the promotion of the Russian language and culture, the Representative Office carries out the following activities:

• Teaching Russian language, history, and culture.
• Implementation of new technologies in the learning process.
• Exchange of experiences between specialized philologists from Russia and Greece.
• Provision of advisory services, information, and specialized services to collaborating organizations.
• Development of online courses, preparation for publication of scientific literature, including thematic collections, scientific papers, monographs, conference materials, webinars, round tables, symposiums, seminars.

Flyer EN Representative Office