On 30 September SCIT trainers and students celebrated their professional day – the International Translation Day. A meeting with Yuri Lebedev, a retired lieutenant-colonel, historian and translator of military memoirs, set the festive mood for the day. Students and trainers from the Institute of Foreign Languages and SCIT came together at the Plenary Hall of the Herzen University Club to meet with the guest. Dmitry Boikov, Vice Rector for International Affairs, congratulated the participants on the occasion and spoke about the important role of language mediators in achieving cultural understanding. Vladimir Khodyrev, President of the North-West Transport Union and a member of the SCIT Board of Gaurdians speaking at the meeting stressed the national flagship role of language mediators at international gatherings. Tatiana Yudina, Head of IFL Translation Department, greeted the students and wished them professional achievements.

Yuri Lebedev told the participants about his professional evolution, from a sailor in the Baltic Fleet to a member of the Soviet Military Mission at the Soviet Embassy in Poland. He elaborated on his interest in the military history and memoirs, spoke about his public work. A vivid life story speckled with humour and illustrated by photos generated keen interest and questions from the audience.

As the tradition goes, the day ended with a party and potpourris of songs, jokes and quizzes.