September is not only the beginning of studies, but also the best time to plan your leisure time in an interesting and useful way. This was the message of the participants of the festival "Studentfest. First-year Student", held at the university on 10-12 September: representatives of student scientific communities and creative associations, student squads and sports teams. They convinced not with words, but with real actions. Therefore, first-year students were interested in the presentation of each of the associations, subscribed to their communities and actively asked questions.

Deputy Chairman of the Student Scientific Society (SSS) of the Faculty of Architecture, fifth-year student Natalia Grigorieva has been in SSS for three years. During this time, she has written five scientific articles, attended many conferences, is currently participating in a grant competition, and admits that she has achieved all her successes thanks to the support of like-minded people, teachers, and everyone who promotes SSS.

"The SSS opens up huge opportunities for students: here you are taught to write scientific articles, win competitions and grants, are given the opportunity to do internships, participate in conferences. These days, members of the SSS are taking part in the Shanghai Intelligent Building Technology 2024 International Exhibition. The current year is the best time to join the scientific society, because we have more than ten events planned: scientific conferences on construction, scientific and entertaining and educational events. You will learn how to turn your scientific idea into a significant project," explained Natalia. She is sure that, judging by the feedback and active subscription to the SSS of the university and faculties, scientific activity has aroused genuine interest among first-year students.

The presentation of student squads was also of particular interest to the first-year students. The headquarters commander, fifth-year student of the Faculty of Automobile and Road Building Artemy Mazitov, spoke about the movement as a whole and about each team of SPbGASU. The first-year students eagerly sorted out information sheets, stickers, subscribed to VKontakte groups and literally bombarded them with counter questions.

“They are interested in all areas, because each gives the opportunity to travel, gain professional experience and develop soft skills. All this is necessary for personal growth. Our university has nine student squads in the construction, archaeological, pedagogical, service and agricultural areas. The guys go to work in different regions, for example, Krasnodar Krai, working there in vineyards, in hotels and cafes, as counselors in children's summer camps. They even visited construction sites in Yamal. Participants of student squads receive good bonuses: in the service area, guys are given a certificate of qualification, for example, a barista. In any squad, you can count on a salary of 60 to 200 thousand rubles for two months of work, which, in turn, can be counted as industrial practice. In addition, they work in their own squad, which means excluding the adaptation to a new team. This way they unite even more, discover new places for recreation,” said Artemy.

First-year student of the Faculty of Civil Engineering Daria Yuraneva said that when choosing a university, she paid attention primarily to the fields of study and the conditions of study, and today she also learned in detail about the advantages of extracurricular activities, which she is very happy about. "Student squads interested me with the opportunity to visit different parts of the country. I was especially attracted by the pedagogical direction, where you can work as a counselor in children's camps by the sea. The representatives shared their experience so interestingly, talked about the movement, that I immediately wanted to join it," Daria Yuraneva shared.

The organizers allocated a separate space for creative associations of the "Kirpich" Student Creativity Club. In addition to booklets and stories, their representatives demonstrated what they can teach and how they offer to fill leisure time. Fans of board games played go, photographers happily invited people to the photo zone, dancers, musicians and vocalists performed on stage.

Director of the Kirpich Student Creativity Club Irina Deeva emphasized that all of the Kirpich studios are represented at the festival.

"Such a lively interest in studios and projects is encouraging and gives us confidence that we will be joined by enthusiastic, talented and, no less importantly, active guys. For convenient registration in the studios, prompt communication with their directors and teachers, we suggest joining our VKontakte groups. Many have expressed a desire to engage in organizational activities. We are already seeing the results of the event. So, next Friday we are holding two games of the quiz "Not a moodle survey" instead of the planned one, since the number of teams has noticeably increased," said Irina Deeva.

Gift drawings were held lively, there was communication with art leaders who gathered groups of like-minded people around themselves. First-year student of the Faculty of Forensics and Law Viktoria Matvienko stuck around the photo zone.

"I am interested in photography and would like to develop in this direction, so I decided to enroll in a photo studio. After talking to its representatives, I realized that I can learn a lot here. My plans include professionally photographing nature and animals," Viktoria shared..

In addition, the guys were able to get acquainted with the work of the SPbGASU International Students Council. Thanks to their projects, foreign students adapt much easier not only to the educational process, but also to life in Russia in general. In addition, they quickly get rid of the language barrier, enrich themselves with knowledge about the culture of our country.

Those who prefer sports chose sections of the SPbGASU Center for Physical Culture and Sports, where you can start or continue to practice many sparts. The club has sections for football, hockey, volleyball, basketball, track and field, rhythmic gymnastics, arm wrestling and powerlifting, martial arts, orienteering. And this is not the entire list. First-year students learned in detail about each of them, about professional trainers and teachers, as well as about participation in competitions and championships up to the international level.

This year, the festival of student associations was held in a new format – over three days. This approach has proven its effectiveness in popularizing leisure activities at the university and attracting first-year students.