«Staying Open to New Challenges and Opportunities is Crucial»

The Tenth BRICS Youth Summit was held in Ulyanovsk from July 22 to 26. The event was attended by more than 200 early-career professionals from Brazil, India, China, Egypt, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Ethiopia, South Africa, and Russian regions. Participants gathered to discuss current global issues and explore opportunities for youth collaboration. Students of HSE University who attended the Youth Summit shared their impressions with HSE University Life.

 

BRICS International School is another exceptional opportunity for youth from the BRICS nations between the ages of 18 and 35.

We invite future leaders in the field of BRICS to come to Moscow from October 1-3 to participate in the BRICS International School, which will be held in English.

Application deadline is August 15th.

Diana Khamash

Student, Master's Programme 'International Trade Policy,' Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs

— For me as an early-career professional in the field of world trade, this has been the key event of the youth agenda in the framework of Russia's BRICS Chairship in 2024. The sheer magnitude of the Tenth Summit compelled my participation, as for the first time since the official expansion of BRICS, over 200 young representatives from all ten member countries gathered under one roof.

Since all delegations transferred through Moscow, only English could be heard during the boarding of all flights to Ulyanovsk. That’s when the immersion began, along with the first warm introductions to colleagues—what the summit organisers refer to as 'icebreaking.'

I was part of the Youth Entrepreneurship track and contributed to drafting the corresponding section of the final declaration. The document outlines key initiatives, such as holding annual meetings of BRICS young entrepreneurs, promoting employment opportunities within member countries, and creating favourable conditions for young entrepreneurs. The proposals included in the declaration will be presented at the BRICS Heads of State Summit in Kazan in October 2024.

The platform has offered a unique opportunity for collaboratively developing initiatives to enhance and expand youth cooperation in the evolving economic landscape of a multipolar world. At the same time, the delegates' backgrounds were highly diverse, ranging from medicine to ancient history—early-career professionals from a range of fields came together in one place, united by a common goal.

The summit's packed agenda extended beyond business events to include a sightseeing tour of Ulyanovsk. During the tour, delegates from other countries not only explored the city but also engaged with Russia’s history. Additionally, a meeting was organised with the Hero of Russia, cosmonaut Sergei Kud-Sverchkov, who spent six months on the International Space Station. At the end of the summit, a gala dinner featured artists performing folk songs in traditional costumes, while international guests continuously filmed the performance.

I would like to extend my thanks to the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs (Rosmolodezh), the Roscongress Foundation, the Russia-BRICS Project Office of International Youth Cooperation, the Government of Ulyanovsk Region, and the regional Ministry of Youth Development for the exceptional organisation of all summit events, and to the HSE Student Initiatives Support Centre for their financial support of the trip.

Alim Khapov

Student, Master's Programme 'Politics. Economics. Philosophy,' Faculty of Social Sciences

— For me personally, participation in the BRICS Youth Summit exceeded all expectations. It was not merely another forum or a routine meeting of BRICS experts, but a gathering of highly diverse yet equally motivated leaders from around the world. Each delegate had the chance to contribute to a specific thematic section of the official resolution while also establishing both professional and personal connections. I was part of the 'Science. Technology. Innovation' thematic track.

This year, new members joined BRICS, and this expansion was reflected in the youth summit. The summit was attended by early-career scientists, industry leaders, and specialists from Russia, Brazil, India, China, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the UAE, Ethiopia, and Iran.

The venue for our meeting was Ulyanovsk, a city that, to me, seems to possess a unique energy. Not only is it a city with a rich history and the birthplace of Russian revolutionaries but also renowned for the breathtaking beauty of the Volga River and its coastal landscapes. For us, the Russian delegates, as well as for all the foreign participants, Ulyanovsk revealed itself as an entirely new location. We expected something ordinary and perhaps even unremarkable, but instead, Ulyanovsk impressed us with its charming urbanism, striking natural beauty, and wonderful locals.

Regarding new acquaintances, during the summit, we had the opportunity to meet many innovative and genuinely pleasant like-minded individuals from the youth community. We successfully established strong and, I hope, deeply friendly relationships with foreign delegates, including a particularly enjoyable and productive discussion with a delegation from King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Saudi Arabia.

The BRICS Youth Summit in Ulyanovsk reminded me that staying open to new challenges and opportunities is crucial, and that engaged and energetic people are the key to success in any endeavour.

The full text of the declaration can be found here. Youth initiatives will be presented at the BRICS Summit in Kazan in October 2024.

Read more about the summit on the BRICS Expert Council–Russia website.

August 07