Media, Mountains, and New Ideas: A Recap of the Russian-Kyrgyz Media Forum 🇷🇺🤝🇰🇬 On August 19–23, the MGIMO team made its way to the shores of the stunning Issyk-Kul Lake to take part in the 4th Russian-Kyrgyz Media Forum. The event was organized by the Kyrgyz-Russian Slavic University named after B.Yeltsin and Russia’s Ministry of Science and Higher Education. 🎓 Over 90 students from 17 universities across Russia and Kyrgyzstan dove headfirst into the world of media for several days. They attended lectures and workshops, collaborated in teams, exchanged experiences and, of course, made sure to soak up Kyrgyz culture and nature along the way. Experts shared their know-how on working with text, video, and social media. They also discussed how the modern media environment is evolving, how to operate safely in the digital space, build trust through communication, and create content that truly resonates with audiences. 🌐MGIMO played an active role in the forum's educational program. We led a masterclass titled "How a University Becomes a Media Brand," drawing on our own experience to show how a university can shape its positioning, engage with diverse audiences, and turn its core messages into compelling media content. Activists from Let's Talk and the Student Union — Lada Obotina, Anastasia Bulanova (School of International Journalism), and Sofia Malkova (School of International Relations) — also shared their insights on managing student community media. 💡But it wasn't all theory. Participants teamed up and spent the forum developing their own media projects exploring how information policy can drive international cooperation. Each team defined their own concept, format, and execution plan. In the final pitch, they presented their work to experts and received professional feedback. ⭐️️️️Between lectures and teamwork, the participants had time to experience Kyrgyzstan in all its glory. They visited the "Rukh Ordo" Cultural Center named after Chingiz Aitmatov — a unique space on the shores of Issyk-Kul where history, culture, and the spiritual heritage of different peoples meet breathtaking lake and mountain panoramas. 🐎 The forum's highlight was a trip to the Semenovskoye Gorge — one of the most picturesque spots along the Issyk-Kul coast. There, the group went horseback riding, took in the mountain views, and — most importantly — left with fresh impressions and new creative inspiration. A huge thank you to our hospitable friends from Kyrgyzstan for five incredible days! We hope many more joint projects, meetings, and ideas lie ahead ❤️ 🌐MGIMO International (ENG) / МГИМО для иностранцев (RUS)