Russian House to come up at NEHU, says Prof. Shukla
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, July 4: North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU) Vice Chancellor Prof. Prabha Shankar Shukla recently held deliberations with senior officials at the Embassy of the Russian Federation in New Delhi to advance cross-cultural engagement, multilingual education and global employability for students across the Northeast.
According to a statement here, Prof. Shukla, during the visit, held in-depth discussions with Dr. Elena Remizova, Head of Representation, Counsellor of the Embassy, and Director of the Russian House, New Delhi, with a focus on strengthening academic cooperation, promoting Russian language instruction and facilitating cultural exchange programmes.
“Both sides acknowledged the growing interest and demand among Indian students to acquire proficiency in foreign languages—particularly Russian—as a pathway to higher education, research, and employment opportunities abroad,” the statement said.
Reflecting on the visit, Prof. Shukla assured NEHU’s commitment to equip students with the skills and competencies needed to succeed in a globalised world.
“I am delighted and deeply encouraged by the positive response and enthusiastic support extended by the Russian Federation. NEHU is fully committed to equipping our students with the skills and competencies needed to succeed in a globalised world. Establishing the Russian House and a dedicated Language Centre will not only promote linguistic excellence but also deepen cultural understanding and open new horizons of opportunity,” he said.
According to the statement, the Russian House at NEHU will serve as a vibrant hub for intensive language instruction, cultural immersion activities, and collaborative academic programmes. It will host specialised training workshops, certification courses in Russian, film screenings, literary events and faculty and student exchange initiatives.
“The Language Centre will also assist students in preparing for international exams and offer resources to support research collaborations with Russian institutions,” it said. In parallel, NEHU is preparing to sign a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with renowned global placement expert Dr. Skill, who has facilitated overseas employment for over 150 candidates across diverse sectors.
Prof. Shukla expressed appreciation for Dr. Skill’s efforts, stating, “I am truly excited to partner with Dr. Skill, whose outstanding track record in global placements perfectly aligns with NEHU’s vision of empowering our youth with international exposure and professional mobility.”
The forthcoming MoU will lay the groundwork for structured support in career counselling, international placement drives and specialised skill development programmes tailored to global industry needs.
Meanwhile, Dr. Remizova expressed hope that the collaboration will create meaningful pathways for Indian students to pursue academic, cultural and professional opportunities in Russia.
“The Russian House is delighted to partner with NEHU in this important initiative to expand Russian language education and cultural exchange in Northeast India. We are committed to providing comprehensive support, including access to our library resources, educational materials, and specialised faculty. In November, we will also be sending an expert from Russia to assist in establishing and strengthening the Language Centre. We firmly believe this collaboration will create meaningful pathways for Indian students to pursue academic, cultural, and professional opportunities in Russia,” Dr. Remizova said.