Pandemic has made adjustments to work with foreign students at the Caspian Institute of sea and river transport named after General Admiral F. M. Apraksin

Every year, on October 2, the Caspian Institute of sea and river transport named after General Admiral F. M. Apraksin hosts the festival of initiation into cadets of first-year students. However, this year many first-year students from neighboring Caspian States were unable to come to Astrakhan due to the spread of a new coronavirus infection and closed borders.

This year, exactly because of this reason, the number of students has decreased. Four citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan entered the full-time faculty of higher education. They chose the specialty of ship driver, mechanic and engineer of transport processes. Two first-year students from Kazakhstan have expressed a desire to study at the faculty of secondary vocational education. Three nationals of Turkmenistan enrolled at the faculty of technology of transport processes. Their goal is to get a higher education in Astrakhan.

Four citizens of Azerbaijan and three citizens of Kazakhstan applied for distance learning. In order to stop spreading of coronavirus infection, all part-time exams are held remotely.

Also, at this time, the part-time students of Institute is defending their diplomas. 52 senior students demonstrate their knowledge in front of the commission online, without leaving Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan.

The pandemic has also made adjustments to the movement of foreign students. Due to border crossing restrictions, 35 students from Turkmenistan have not been able to leave Astrakhan since spring. They spent their summer holidays in Astrakhan. The same situation applies to 11 Turkmen graduates of the Institute. The prospect of returning to their homeland will most likely appear no earlier than November 1, when air traffic between Moscow, St. Petersburg and Ashgabat is resumed.

The situation was different for students from Kazakhstan. The Consulate of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Astrakhan region organized in July the departure of all interested citizens of Kazakhstan to their homeland. This opportunity was also used by 22 full - time students of the Caspian Institute of sea and river transport.

The transition to distance education was not a surprise for teachers of the Institute. They took accelerated training courses to work in new conditions.