1. International relations

The programme is designed to train specialists in international relations with the background they need in political, economic and social aspects of co-operation and links between countries. Instruction is carried out on the basis of Tomsk State University, one of the leading educational institutions in Russia, which has acquired comprehensive experience in training professionals in this specialized area. Academic and research staff of both universities work in close and fruitful co-operation and co-ordination. Professors from Tomsk come to Novosibirsk to read lectures and run seminars and tutorials on a regular basis. In their turn students may visit their advisors and mentors in Tomsk to exchange ideas and discuss their projects. This dynamic interplay between the Universities creates an exciting and inspiring educational environment. The curriculum addresses a variety of broad fields of concentration. Majors and obligatory disciplines encompass economics; economic geography; international law; history of diplomacy; history of international relations; political and military alliances and unions; history of world’s economic and political crises; computer science; systems analysis; management; business and diplomatic etiquette, and others. Particular and great emphasis is placed on teaching foreign languages. Each student may choose 2, 3 or more languages to learn. English, German, French, Spanish, Turkish, Arabic, and Japanese are taught at the Faculty. Every week students have 10 hours of their first foreign language, usually English or German, and beginning with the second semester they may choose 1 or 2 languages more, each taking 6 hours of classes a week. Native speakers from the USA, Germany, Spain, Turkey, Jordan and Japan, who are professional teachers, work at the Faculty side by side with staff members to foster cultural awareness, give first-hand knowledge of the language, and develop natural colloquial skills.

In-depth specialization in the major field of study is provided in the third year. Specialized major areas comprise foreign policy and diplomacy in the chosen region of the world: North America, Western Europe, or Asian Pacific region. The Faculty affords an extraordinary range of opportunities for student participation in research activities. Research supervision, collaborative work, and independent study projects are a part of the curriculum. Students either choose or are assigned an academic advisor who guides them toward an assimilation of the most current scientific theories, research findings, and practices as well as to successful completion of the programme culminating in the writing and submission of a thesis to the Board of Examiners.

2. Social work

There is a growing need in the region for staff who have the ability to work on different social assignments and can contribute essentially to the solution of acute and pressing problems faced by various strata of society. Social workers are involved in a wide range of activities: management, economic planning, institutional co-ordination, and legal counselling in the field of human relations. The programme is designed to promote professional competence; analytical skills; leadership abilities; an understanding of social, political, and economic forces; and a strong sense of both professional ethics and public purpose. This foundation enables graduates of the programme to advance in a broad range of careers in the public and private sectors. The aim is to prepare social service staff for senior administrative positions and to develop competence in the use of the latest achievements in social sciences and psychology as well as national, industrial and labour legislation. This ultimate goal can only be achieved from a combination of theoretical knowledge and practical experience which can be best obtained by close co-operation between the Faculty and social, governmental and industrial organisations. Every opportunity is taken to relate the teaching process to the social and economic life of the country. Students are given a sound academic training in classroom and are offered on-the-job training and internships in state-owned and private enterprises where they acquire practical skills and experience.

The Faculty offers the following areas of specialization:

1. Social and legal support of population

2. Social economics and management

Graduates are willingly employed by human resources departments of industrial, municipal and commercial companies, social and legal protection departments, state and factory inspectorates, counselling agencies, social foundations or may be private practitioners.