The Academy Forever
Elizaveta Farkhat from Lebanon, a recent graduate of a bachelor’s program at RANEPA, became enthralled with the Academy from the moment she arrived; now, after four years as an undergraduate, the young woman decided to stay and continue working for her Master’s.
Elizaveta began discovering the Presidential Academy during the Open Day. She decided to attend the Open Day and learn more about the school and its programs after having read positive reviews from students. She visited the campus and examined the classrooms. “I was greatly impressed by the speech by Director of RANEPA Institute of Public Administration and Civil Service Igor Bartsits”, the student noted. “He talked about the Academy with such enthusiasm and vibrant emotion”. So Elizaveta Farkhat got enrolled with the Presidential Academy, choosing State and Municipal Administration/Effective State Administration from IPACS. “The training was diverse and interesting, and the teaching staff was at the highest level in all disciplines”, she shared. She especially noted Assistant Professor of the Department of Legal Support of State and Municipal Services Andrei Prokhorov: “He is a top-level teacher who invests his heart in his students, helps everyone understand that History deserves special respect and interest. I am grateful to him and the Academy for giving me this experience”.
Elizaveta’s favorite classes include History, Law, Crisis Management and Project Management. Studying was not as easy as she had expected. She had to absorb huge amounts of information, and meet the high standards, while also living away from home – all these factors played their role. However, as the student noted, the Academy staff immediately helped her with any problem she might encounter.
She was engaged in project activities and organized events in the IPACS Student Council: Miss IPACS, Project IPACS, IPACS International Festival and others. “Here I met people with whom I found a common language, and we did a lot of interesting things together. Being on the Council gave me a good start for personal development”, the student said.
The experience at the Student Council, combined with the theoretical knowledge gained in the classroom, helped Elizaveta successfully complete several practicums and internships she did during her undergraduate studies. She also volunteered at the Academy’s Open Days and at the Gaidar Forum. The student did not want to miss a single major international event at the Academy. It was important for her to “feel the spirit and atmosphere”, to listen to reports, to meet experts and representatives of international business.
Despite her intensive academic work and active community work, Elizaveta Farkhat still found time to explore Moscow. “I especially loved Nikolskaya Street near Red Square”, she said. “I definitely recommend students to visit Gorky Park, Zaryadye Park and Moscow museums, of course. There is a huge selection of interests. I especially fell in love with the Pushkin Museum”.
The young woman is enthusiastic about her future; she is ready to work hard and sees herself as a successful professional. “These past four years were some of the best in my life”, she says. “We may be leaving the Academy, but the Academy will be with us forever”. At this stage, the student from Lebanon has been admitted to several Master’s programs at RANEPA and will continue her studies at the university she loves.