Students from Côte d'Ivoire, Egypt, and Togo have completed a rich historical, cultural, and educational program from SFedU.

As part of the Summer Multidisciplinary University of RAFU, Southern Federal University implemented two tracks: cultural and historical; educational - "Organization of ecological tours and excursions in protected natural areas."

The cultural and historical track included a visit to the village of Starocherkasskaya, where students got acquainted with the history of the Cossacks, tasted Don fish soup, kayaked and even swam in the Don!

As part of the acquaintance with the best practices of organizing ecological tourism, the students visited the Botanical Garden of the Southern Federal University and visited the Southern Bird Park "Malinki". The project participants were surprised that the park is not a natural reserve, as in African countries, but was built only in 2016 by private investors.

At the Russia — My History Museum, students immersed themselves in the era of the Romanovs. When it came to battles, they enthusiastically supported the Russian soldiers and were proud of their victories.

The Summer University program also included classes on the basics of designing ecological routes, regional problems of ecotourism development, and opportunities for tourism development in specially protected natural areas.

To demonstrate that they have acquired knowledge about eco-tourism, African students have prepared projects for ecological tours in Egypt and the Seychelles with a comprehensive assessment of their attractiveness to foreign tourists.

At the closing ceremony, Sergey Goryainov, Director of the Institute of Tourism, Service and Creative Industries, and Gerges Bola Reda Banub, the Authorized representative of the SFedU Rector in Africa and the Middle East, IT faculty member, presented all participants with certificates of successful completion of the program and the development of the additional general development program "Organization of ecological tours and excursions in Protected Natural Areas" of the Southern Federal University.

"Thank you for the opportunity to participate in the Summer Multidisciplinary University! Participation in the project has become a valuable experience for me in the field of eco-tourism. We are grateful to the Southern Federal University for the excellent organization. Thanks to you, we were able to get acquainted with the history and culture of Russia, as well as gain new knowledge and skills. We especially remember the trip to Starocherkassk and the Malinki South Park and, of course, all the tourism classes," said Mahmoud Sayd Gadalrab Sayd (Egypt), a participant in the Morsi project.

"I didn't know anything about tourism, but I completed this program with knowledge, having discovered some places where I had never been in the Rostov region. It was very interesting, and I strongly recommend my African friends to participate in this project!", concluded Gnoko Kudu Jason Ange Eliaquim (Côte d'Ivoire).