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From Oct. 25 to Nov. 8, the Russian Area Studies and Concentration (RASCON) played host to 11 students and their professor from Moscow State University, celebrated as the premier higher education institute in Russia. The students won a grant from a European scholarship fund to come to the United States to learn about intergovernmental relations at Villanova.
The seven women and four men who stayed at Villanova for two weeks are said to be among the brightest at Moscow State University’s renowned School of Public Administration. The school was founded 10 years ago and modeled after the Kennedy School at Harvard. The school strives to provide professional class of political and economic administrators.
Dr. Jeffery Hahn, director of RASCON and professor of political sciences, arranged for the students to see federal, state and local government. The students traveled to Washington D.C. for a tour of the Capitol and to meet Rep. Curt Weldon and John Gartland, director of Office of U.S. Civil Service. They traveled to Harrisburg to talk with state senators and Gov. Ed Rendell. A visit also was arranged to greet local Radnor Township officials and the police chief. The students witnessed the election process in Philadelphia and participated in the campaign of mayoral candidate Sam Katz by knocking on people’s doors in Northeast Philadelphia. They also toured historic Philadelphia.

According to Dr. Hahn, the Russian students’ exposure to all levels of government will help them “think and understand about what is good and bad about our government and what works and doesn’t work.”

At Villanova, the entourage attended lectures and classes about government and public administration presented by political science faculty, including Dr. Robert Maranto, Dr. Craig Wheeland and Dr. Matthew Kerbel. In addition to increasing their knowledge of American government and politics, the classes at Villanova opened their eyes to the differences between American and Russian education. One of the main differences is the class structure. The students enjoyed their classes because of the small size. At Moscow State University classes are much larger, more formal and don’t allow for interaction with professors.
“I liked the personal contact professors provide their students at Villanova,” said Elena Koshkiko, a 19-year-old, third-year student of Moscow State University. “There is more participation in class here.”

The Russian students also noted another difference in the American University system. Russian students start college at age 17 and very few students live on campus.
“This is the first time I have lived with my peers,” said Oleg Barvin, also a 19-year-old third-year student. “American school education differs from ours because your school not only educates but takes part in the growing up of the child. In Russia, we don’t have this. We receive just an education.”

The students were lodged in the lounges of McGuire and Caughlin halls. The Russians interacted with many Villanova students at a "Getting to Know You” dinner hosted by the Caughlin Hall resident staff and a resident Halloween party.

“It was really nice getting to meet people with a totally different culture and background,” said Clare Murray ‘0 6, McGuire Hall resident. “Hopefully, Villanova will do more programs like this in the future.”

The future may be as soon as next year. The Russian students’ visit here was the first step in an exchange agreement, negotiated this year between Villanova University and Moscow State University, which will allow Moscow students to come to Villanova to study tuition-free and Villanova students to go to Moscow likewise.

“This is an opportunity for our students and Moscow’s students to continue their study of government,” said Dr. Hahn. “As director of RASCON, I am very interested in having my students go and study in Russia.”

At the end of the students’ visit, Dr. Hahn awarded certificates from the University and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences recognizing the students’ two-week study of intergovernmental relations. The “future leaders of Russia,” according to Dr. Hahn, left with a better understanding of American government and a rewarding experience.