Blagoveshchensk State Pedagogical University

Blagoveschensk State Pedagogical University (BSPU) is situated in Blagoveschensk the administrative center of the Amur Oblast that occupies about 391,900 square kilometers in the south of Russian Far East. The city of Blagoveschensk was founded in 1856. Today it is one of the most important administrative, cultural, scientific and industrial centers of the Far East region with more than 220 000 inhabitants. Blagoveschensk is often called “The Gate to China” for its unique location on the border with China. Just across the river Amurthere is a Chinese city Heihe. Many Chinese companies work in the Amur region in timber industry, agriculture, construction business and tourism.

BSPU was founded in 1930 and is one of the oldest educational institutions in the Far East of Russia. Now there are more than 400 faculty members and about 6000 students at 10 departments with 35 specialties. The university also has 14 post-graduate courses both of pedagogical and non-pedagogical specializations. University library had been the only scientific library in Amur region before 1955. Now it counts more than 600,000 copies. There are 6 reading halls which can seat 600 people. In 2004 with the help of Heihe Institute the library opened the class of Chinese studies, where students can read Chinese newspapers, watch Chinese movies and practice their pronunciation skills. There are 19 computer classes with Internet access and modern multimedia equipment.

BSPU has solid relations with many Chinese educational institutions: Heihe Institute,Changchun University, Harbin Pedagogical University, Harbin University, Far-Eastern University of Finances and Economics, Daqing Pedagogical Institute, Harbin Institute of Technology, Beijing University of Language and Culture and others. There are regular student exchanges, joint scientific, cultural and sport activities. More than 100 international students studying Russian language at BSPU every year.

In 2009 BSPU with the financial support of "Russian world" Foundation opened 5 Russian language centers at 5 universities, located in the Far-East of China.

In 2007 Conficius Institute was established at BSPU. Now it is one of the biggest and well-known Confucius Institute in Russia.

BSPU and Heihe Institute are engaged in joint bachelor's degree project in Philology where Chinese students study 2 years in Heihe and then 2 years in Blagoveschensk. As a result, they obtain two diplomas: Russian and Chinese.