Autumn Starostat 2026: “Decode Russia Together” 🇷🇺 From October 16 to 18, the Ethnomir Ethnographic Park hosted Autumn Starostat 2026 under the theme “Decode Russia Together.” The event brought together 170 first-year students, including 11 international freshmen from Belarus, Italy, Kazakhstan, the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and France. The opening ceremony featured welcoming remarks from Igor Loginov, Advisor to the Rector's Office; Anastasia Puzochkina, Head of the Department of Student Affairs; and Victoria Medved, Director of the Center for Student Organizations. In their addresses, the speakers emphasized the importance of belonging to the university community, taking responsibility for shared goals, and carrying forward the traditions that unite generations of MGIMO students. Particular attention was given to mutual respect and openness to other cultures — values that form the foundation of unity both within the country and across the MGIMO family. The Starostat program featured: ➡ Exploring MGIMO's Core Values During the workshop “The Cultural Code of Unity: Shared Values and the MGIMO Family,” led by Inga Dreval and Natalia Chukhrova, first-year students reflected on what it means to be part of MGIMO, why choosing the University was such a significant milestone in their lives, and how they envision its future. Working in six teams, participants created an interactive exhibition highlighting the core values of the university community: responsibility, respect for human dignity, continuity between generations, patriotism, and a commitment to peace. ➡ Passing the Torch: A Dialogue Between Generations Yaroslav Skvortsov, Dean of the School of International Journalism, joined students for one of Starostat's traditional gatherings. He shared memories of his own university years, offered insights into MGIMO's history, and spoke about the traditions that continue to connect generations of MGIMO students and alumni. ➡ Team Challenges and Immersive Quests One of the program's highlights was “Keys to Forgotten Names,” an immersive quest that challenged participants to demonstrate teamwork, creativity, resourcefulness, and the ability to work toward a common goal. Another memorable experience was MGIMO SECRET, a detective-style quest that immersed first-year students in an interactive, theatrical mystery. ➡ Creativity, Entertainment, and Intellectual Challenges Students introduced their teams through creative video presentations and prepared a variety of performances, with the much-anticipated Starostat Concert becoming the highlight of the second day. The program concluded with an intellectual quiz, “Who Wants to Earn an A100?”, giving freshmen the opportunity to put their knowledge of MGIMO's history, traditions, and contemporary university life to the test. Cultural Diversity, Shared Traditions, One MGIMO Family At the closing ceremony, Stanislav Surovtsev, Vice-Rector for International Ties, Youth and Social Policy, described Starostat as a reflection of MGIMO itself. He highlighted the values shared by Ethnomir and the University: respect for cultural diversity, openness to dialogue, and the ability to find common ground while preserving each culture's unique identity. Today, MGIMO is home to students from 96 countries and every region of Russia. Each student brings their own traditions, perspectives, and cultural experiences, enriching university life and strengthening the bonds that unite the MGIMO community. Events like Starostat offer first-year students an opportunity to connect beyond the classroom, build lasting friendships, and discover what it truly means to belong to the MGIMO family. Dear first-year students, may your years at MGIMO be filled with exciting discoveries, bold ideas, unforgettable experiences, and remarkable achievements. And may the connections you made at Starostat grow into lifelong friendships! 💙 🌐 MGIMO International (ENG) | МГИМО для иностранцев (RUS)