On 4 September SCIT started a new academic year. At the opening ceremony there were present Rector Sergey Tarasov, Vice-Rector for International Affairs Dmitry Mereshkin, MFA Representative in St. Petersburg Igor Demianenko, SCIT administration, trainers, SCIT students and grasduates. In the welcoming word Rector Tarasov stressed the importance of translators and interpreters’ work  for maintaining a meaningful dialogue in scientific and humanitarian cooperation and wished the students all the success in mastering the profession. Mr. Demianenko, in his turn,  spoke about the substantial contribution of interpreters to the making of today’s system of international relations, in the historical perspective and in the present times. The guests wished the students a productive year of studies and moral and physical strength to cope with all the challenges. At the end of the day there was a traditional tea party and an informal chat, where the new students got to know the trainers and graduates a little better.  They learned about the School traditions and got some useful tips.