Russian University Delegation Launches Scholarship Drive, Free Language Courses in Karachi

Staff Reporter

Karachi: A delegation from Russia’s Ural State Pedagogical University (USPU) launched a selection campaign for Russian government scholarships and announced free Russian language and culture courses during a media briefing at the Russian Centre for Science and Culture — known as the Russian House — in Karachi.

The visiting delegation, led by Dr. Roman Porozov and Anton Dolgov, held discussions with local journalists and academics to promote educational cooperation between Pakistan and Russia. The initiative is being organized by the Russian Ministry of Education, USPU, the Foundation for the Support of the Humanities “My Story”, and the Russian House in Karachi.

Registration for the free courses is now open, with classes scheduled to continue until the end of October. The courses are being conducted by faculty members from USPU’s Centre for Open Education, including Dr. Porozov and Dolgov.

Speaking to reporters, Dr. Porozov said that this visit builds on earlier academic exchanges.

“This is not our first — and hopefully not our last — visit to Pakistan,” he remarked. “In 2024, we taught Russian at several Karachi universities and held workshops on culture, history, and education. Pakistani students are pragmatic and clear about why they study Russian.”

Addressing the briefing, Prokhorov, representing the Russian House, clarified that the Karachi centre is the only authorized body for Russian scholarship selection in Pakistan.

“We have no other branches or partner organizations in the country,” he cautioned, warning students against fraudulent agents offering guaranteed scholarships for payment. “Any such cases should be reported directly to the Russian Centre in Karachi.”

The initiative aims to deepen cultural understanding and strengthen educational links between Pakistan and Russia.