On 5 September SCIT opened its doors to the new in-take of students. Traditionally Herzen University leaders and SCIT partners from international organizations and the city of St. Petersburg welcomed the newcomers. Dmitry Boikov, Acting First Vice-Rector, Vladimir Khodyrev, Advisor to the Governor of St. Petersburg, Vladimir Kuznetsov, Director of the UN Information Center in Moscow, Igor Demyanenko, MFA Deputy Representative in St. Petersburg greeted the students and wished them every success. SCIT trainers welcomed the students. SCIT graduates stopped by to greet the trainers and students.