On 5 Septemeber  a new academic year started at SCIT.  Following the first classes there was an opening ceremony in the SCIT conference hall attended by the Herzen university officials and other guests: Rector Sergey Tarasov, Vice-rector for International Affairs Dmitry Mereshkin, Deputy Representative of the Russian MFA in St. Petersburg Igor Demianenko, SCIT administration, trainers and graduates. The guests wished the newcomers a fruitful year, physical and moral strength to overcome the difficulties, and wide horizons in the chosen profession. At the end of the day there was a traditional tea party where the new students could talk to the trainers and graduates informally and get to know better the School’s ways and traditions.