The school has been in existence for 15 years, having enjoyed an international status during the last five of them. And still, as Sergey Glazov, Vice-Rector at VSSPU, noted in his speech, in 2026 its work will be more extensive than ever. This time, it brought together over 180 people from 22 countries, including students and faculty members from Russia, Belarus, China, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Togo, Haiti, Egypt, Lebanon, Guinea, Angola, Syria, Azerbaijan, Iran, and Ghana. Representatives of our Belarusian partner city, staff from Vitebsk State University named after Masherov, with which VSPU has a cooperation agreement of their own, also actively participated.

One of the school's fundamental goals, as identified Sergey Glazov, is fostering a sense of civic responsibility and of responsibility for the fate of the country and the world.

Elena Kurnosova, Deputy Chair of the Volgograd Regional Committee for Economic Policy and Development, noted that the younger generation is to become the primary guardians of the truth about World War 2, and that the joint study of history and culture has always contributed to strengthening friendships.

Maria Deeva, a representative of the International and Regional Relations Directorate of Volgograd Mayor's Office, emphasized the vital role of historical knowledge in the modern world, and that this topic is particularly significant in the Year of Unity of the Peoples of Russia declared by the President of the Russian Federation. It was on Stalingrad soil that the solidarity and brotherhood of the peoples of the USSR, as well as their willingness to fight side by side for their homeland, manifested with unprecedented force.

Ms. Barro Oumou Takodjiba of Burkina Faso, Vice President of the Youth Alliance of the Sahel, emphasized that the School's initiative goes beyond academic boundaries: by building dialogue, we are laying the foundation for a future multipolar world. According to Ms. Barro, the values of "resilience, courage, and devotion to duty" resonate with the youth of the Sahel, because in this region of Africa, located between the Sahara Desert to the north and the fertile savannah to the south, people are daily rising to the challenges as terrorism and the scarcity of resources. In this sense, Stalingrad, as a symbol of resistance, is not just a story for them, but a model of behavior.

Mr. Twiska Seya, President of the African Youth Association to the UN, from the Congo, in turn, noted that historical truth is the foundation upon which young people must build their national and cultural identity. He believes VSSPU to be an ideal venue for discussing the legacy of World War 2, as Stalingrad is known as a symbol of resistance, and remembering the sacrifice of those who fought against oppression is the historical and moral duty of our generation.

Colleagues from Belarus also joined the opening ceremony: Anatoly Dulov, Head of the Department of Cultural Heritage History at Vitebsk State University named after Masherov, and Oksana Yashchenko, Head of the Department of Belarusian History at Gomel State University named after Francysk Skaryna.

In their speeches, they emphasized that historical education is currently at the forefront of a conflict of values: in modern society, there is fierce competition for the minds and attention of young people, and events like the School play a crucial role in fostering immunity against historical falsifications.

A video provided by the Volgograd Region Administration and a presentation prepared by Zarina Bagaeva, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Russian History and Historical and Local History Education at VSPU, under the title "Historical and Cultural Heritage of the Peoples of Russia in the Volgograd Region", helped the organizers present the history, culture, and vibrant present of the Volgograd Region. The lecture in particular was of special relevance within the framework of the Year of Unity of the Peoples of Russia, as it described how representatives of various nationalities coexisted, collaborated, and continue to build the present and future in the territories of Tsaritsyn, Stalingrad, and Volgograd at various stages of its history.

Following the opening ceremony, international students took part in the interactive platform "Russia – a Multinational Country!", organized by students from the Institute of Historical and Legal Education – volunteers from the Center for People's Diplomacy at VSSPU.

Today, School participants and attendees will enjoy a variety of activities united into a comprehensive program, centered around the challenges of studying and preserving the historical and cultural heritage and historical memory of the Great Patriotic War