A festive opening of the academic year took place at St. Petersburg School of Conference Interpreting and Translation. New students, graduates, teachers, and distinguished guests attended the ceremony.

The Rector’s Office of Herzen university  was represented by Vice Rector Tatyana Ryboretskaya, Vice-Rector for International Affairs Sergey Sheremet, Deputy Representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation in St. Petersburg Igor Demyanenko, SCIT Director Angelica Antonova, and SCIT Honorary President Irina Alekseeva.

Rector Sergey Tarasov sent a congratulatory message to the students and faculty of the school: “This day symbolizes the start and opens up new opportunities for professional growth. Strive for perfection and continuously improve your skills — this is how you become a unique international-level specialist. The school is rightfully proud of its high training standards. I wish everyone success, perseverance, and genuine passion for their profession!”

Igor Demyanenko noted the close cooperation between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and SCIT and emphasized that the recognition from the MFA confirms the exceptional level of student training. “The school’s graduates demonstrate impeccable qualifications in their work, they directly affect the quality of diplomatic interaction at the highest level, and make a significant contribution to the country’s foreign policy” he said.

The SCIT director Angelique Antonova reminded that SCIT is a member of the world’s leading T&I training consortia and actively participates in promoting the Russian language on international platforms. Every year, SCIT holds seminars for interpreters, including at the UNESCO headquarters, and collaborates with the world’s top universities. SCIT also hosts T&I workshops for language professionals.

Inga Khramkova, a simultaneous interpreter for the Russian Interpretation Service at the UN Secratariat in New York, addressed the new students via video conference. A 2011 SCIT graduate, she shared her personal experience: “Studying at SCIT not only guarantees professional growth, but also fosters invaluable human connections. It is here that true friendships are formed and even families are created. This special atmosphere of mutual support stays with you for life.”

The 2025 SCIT graduates who recently completed their internships at the United Nations shared their experiences with the new class and wished them success.

The meeting ended with a traditional tea party. New students spoke with teachers and graduates of previous years, learned more about the educational process and SCIT traditions.