International cooperation
Russian Children’s Center Smena: 40 years of expanding the horizons of international cooperation
As one of Russia's leading centers for early career guidance, health improvement, and socialization of children and young people, the Russian Children's Center Smena actively promotes international cooperation to integrate into the global children's recreation system and share educational experiences.
As part of this activity, Smena builds partnerships with foreign and international organizations in the fields of education and science.
Timeline of the key events in the cooperation between Smena and its foreign partners.
2016
One of the Center's first foreign partners is the Union of Sports Clubs of the town of Handenheim 1846 (Germany).
The starting point was the annual international sambo tournament held in November 2016. Futher cooperation is focesed on the creation of joint educational projects in the sports field.
2018
In May 2018, an agreement on cooperation was signed between Smena and the Union of Sports Clubs of the city of Handenheim 1846 (Germany), which implies interaction in the field of sports and career guidance, exchange of international experience between Russia and Germany, holding joint sports events, development of national and international volunteer activities.
August 2019
Within the framework of the VIII International Scientific and Practical Conference in Belarus, the Russian Children's Center ‘Smena’ and the National Children's Educational and Health Center ‘Zubryonok’ (Republic of Belarus) signed an agreement on cooperation in the field of education, recreation and health improvement of children, in the sphere of patriotic education of the younger generation.
2019
International teleconferences with participants of the Smena and Zubryonok educational programmes are held on a regular basis. Thanks to modern technologies, children who are located 1,500 kilometers apart can communicate, discuss the cultural features and traditions of their countries, and play online quizzes.
2021
The beginning of cooperation between the Russian Children's Center Smena and the EuroMedia International Holding. The agreement on information support was concluded in order to strengthen and maintain the sustainable brand of ‘Smena’ as a flagship of children's additional education in Russia.
2022
Publication of articles about the activities of the Smena Centre in the international publishing house «EuroMedia». The potential audience of the publication is over 185 million people living in the EAEU.
«Our Center feels confident in the field of «smart recreation».
Director of the Smena Centre
2023
On September 15, Igor Zhuravlev, Director of the Russian Children's Center Smena, and Aslan Lolaev, Minister of Education and Science of the Republic of South Ossetia, signed a memorandum of cooperation. It is planned to develop and implement joint projects in the field of education and upbringing of children and young people, and to share experience in developing infrastructure and improving the quality of services in organizing children's recreation and health improvement.
On December 19, the Russian Children's Center «Smena» and the Ministry of Education of Abkhazia signed a memorandum of cooperation. The parties joined forces to organize international cooperation in the field of education. The activities include joint development and implementation of educational programmes, innovative activities, international educational, research, and scientific-technical projects, and others.
2024
During the year, the Center hosted international workshops that confirmed its status as a platform for international cooperation.
- The Festival of the Russian Language and Russian Culture welcomed participants from Abkhazia, Armenia, and South Ossetia.
- The Interstate gathering of Young Traffic Inspectors brought together young traffic inspectors from Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Armenia, Abkhazia, and South Ossetia.
2025
The International Cooperation Department has started working at «Smena», with the aim of intensifying and systematizing work with the Center's foreign partners.
The department's aims include:
- increasing the number of foreign participants in Smena's educational programmes;
- expanding the geography of international partnerships with educational institutions, youth organizations, and children's recreation centers;
- attracting leading international experts, speakers, and educators to share their experiences and conduct workshops for children and Smena's teaching staff;
- the organization of exchange internships for teachers of the Center in foreign educational centers will allow them to adopt advanced teaching methods and broaden their professional horizons.
The creation of the International Cooperation Department is a strategically important step aimed at further integrating Russian Children’s Centre «Smena» into the global educational space and creating favorable conditions for the development of children and youth from all over the world. «Smena» aims to become a platform for international dialogue, exchange of experience, and strengthening friendship between future generations.
Today, «Smena» actively welcomes children from different countries to participate in international shifts. This not only broadens the participants' horizons and introduces them to Russian culture, but also serves as a platform for intercultural dialogue and fostering friendship between nations.
The Center is consistently strengthening its position on the international arena by actively developing partnerships with organizations and institutions from various countries. The goal of this activity is to expand opportunities for children and young people, enrich educational programmes, and strengthen international mutual understanding.
On June 11-12, in Kazan, the Russian Children’s Smena has successfully presented its achievements at the III International Forum of Ministers of Education «Shaping the Future». Participation in the forum allowed the center to strengthen international ties and expand educational cooperation. A partnership was established with the Center for International Cooperation of the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation, which will result in the introduction of two new educational modules at Smena: «Russian as a Foreign Language» and «Russian as a Non-Native Language».