Ethiopian Master’s degree student Yared Dejene Jifar: on choosing Russia, studying at SPbPU and plans for the future

Why did you choose Russia?

I have always liked this country. I heard stories from people who studied here in the 1980’s about the strong friendship between our countries. These stories inspired me to study advanced civil engineering technologies in Russia.

Can you share whether your expectations were met?

As an engineer, I was impressed by the level of infrastructure development in Russia. The metro, for example, is not just transportation, but an example of thoughtful design. However, the language barrier has become a serious challenge for me. I am trying to learn Russian, but the process is slow. Although I realize that knowing the language is the key to successful adaptation.

Why Polytechnic University?

My dream of studying in Russia began to take shape when I started looking for a university with a civil engineering program in English. After a long search, I found what I was looking for — Polytechnic University. It is a place where advanced laboratories and highly qualified professors create a unique atmosphere for learning and development. Here I can not only deepen my knowledge, but also put it into practice using modern technologies and resources that the university generously provides to its students.

The path to enrollment began with a search for scholarships. I had always dreamed of studying in Russia — a country with a rich history, deep culture and the highest standards of education. One day, while researching funding opportunities, I came across the Open Doors International Olympiad: Russian Scholarship. This program immediately caught my attention because it opened doors for international students, offering a unique chance to study in Russia for free.

What made you so interested in civil engineering?

I chose civil engineering because I want to improve the construction sector in my country. I am especially interested in modern technologies such as BIM (Building Information Modeling). This is the future of construction and I want to be part of this process.

Your life is not limited to your studies, is it?

Recently we visited Levashovsky Khlebozavod, which after reconstruction became a cultural and business center. The excursion was very informative. We learned about the engineering solutions that allowed us to preserve the historic building and its role in the history of St. Petersburg. We were especially impressed by the materials about the siege of Leningrad — it was very emotional. I pay tribute to the fallen heroes — the Red Army protected and preserved this beautiful and historically significant city. The tour for us was conducted by Taisia Zelenkova, Director of Information Policy and Communications, and it was incredibly informative: we learned about the unique design solutions and features of the reconstruction of this facility, the importance of Levashovsky Khlebozavod in the history of St. Petersburg. At the end of the tour our group visited the sales department, where Taisia told us about the objects under construction by RBI development company and original characteristics of each of them.

I was just working on a study on financial analysis of renovation of Soviet-era buildings, and this tour gave me a lot of useful information on how to preserve heritage and adapt it for new purposes without demolition.

What are your plans for the future?

After finishing my Master’s degree, I plan to work in Russia to gain practical experience and then return to Ethiopia. I want to introduce modern construction techniques and materials to change traditional construction methods that are still limited to concrete and steel reinforcement.

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