Receiving Best Foreign Professor Award at Jilin International Studies University, China

Apart from being a PhD student and member of staff at ITMO’s Faculty of Technological Management and Innovations, I'm currently a Professor in Jilin International Studies University in China. Recently, I was honored with the prestigious Best Foreign Professor of the Year Award. This milestone means a lot to me and in this blog, I wanted to share how I got to this point and why teaching plays such an important role in my life.

Photo courtesy of the author

My Teaching Journey

My journey into teaching began not in a classroom, but as a scholarship student. When I arrived in China in 2019 with the support of a Chinese government scholarship, I was immersed in a new and vibrant educational world. It was this experience as a student that first ignited my passion for education.

For students pursuing a teaching path, I advise seeing every learning experience as a potential teaching one. A formal education provides the essential foundation, but the crucial next step is to seek opportunities to share that knowledge — through scholarship, conferences, or collaborations. This is the path I followed, which led to my role at Jilin International Studies University teaching Management, Design Thinking, and International Relations. A principle I always share with my students is that "while our diplomas will lead us to success, it is our values that will allow us to sustain it."

This belief in an international perspective is deeply connected to my role at ITMO University, where I am engaged with the Faculty of Technological Management and Innovations. ITMO has been instrumental in expanding my academic horizon, providing me with opportunities to collaborate on curricula and engage in rich, cross-disciplinary discussions that directly influence my teaching methods. The university's emphasis on innovation and global outreach gave me a strong foundation and the confidence to expand my teaching. Since 2021, this has led to invitations as a guest professor and speaker at universities across South America, the Middle East, Asia, and at leading Russian institutions like Lomonosov Moscow State University, MGIMO, HSE University, and Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University.

In closing, I wish to express my sincere gratitude to Director Song Dandan for her unwavering trust and support by team work around the world. I am also thankful to my colleagues at the Faculty of Technological Management and Innovations at ITMO University, and in particular, Uliia Trabskaia, Head of the International Projects Center,. Together, we have dedicated ourselves to building a collaborative network that creates a positive impact across various countries.