(MENAFN) Tanzania's long-standing educational ties with Russia have paved the way for thousands of Tanzanian students to pursue higher education, with many benefiting from scholarships and specialized training offered by the Russian government since the Soviet era. Daria Ilienko, acting director of the Russian Cultural Centre, highlighted that more than 5,000 graduates have made significant contributions to their communities upon returning to Tanzania.

Russia’s rich history in space exploration, having launched Sputnik 1 and sent the first human into space, has made it an ideal destination for Tanzanian students interested in astronomy and space technology. With Tanzania's plans to create its own space agency and launch satellites for various purposes like communication, security, and weather forecasting, these students are playing a key role in the nation's future.

Tanzanian students are also pursuing studies in agriculture, particularly fertilizer production, as Russia is a leading global producer of fertilizers. Other fields of study include medicine, engineering, and information technology.

Bernard Sepetu, one of the first Tanzanian students to study in the USSR in the 1970s, reflects on his experience learning Russian and adapting to life in Moscow. Despite being multilingual, Sepetu found the Russian language, with its Cyrillic alphabet and unique phonetics, to be a major challenge. His first encounter with the language was during his arrival, when he realized that English was not widely spoken in the Soviet Union, and communication often relied on gestures and trial-and-error.

Sepetu recalls how he and his fellow students navigated everyday tasks in Moscow, such as buying items at the market, using improvisation and non-verbal communication to manage transactions. Despite the language barriers, he remembers the kindness and honesty of the cashiers who ensured they received the correct change.

The educational exchange between Russia and Tanzania continues to shape future leaders in various fields, equipping students with the knowledge and skills to contribute to the development of their country.

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