Graduates Kristina Avakova and Svetlana Gavrishova became owners of two diplomas at once – of NCFU and one of the oldest universities in Europe – La Sapienza University of Rome. The North Caucasus Federal University provides its students with the opportunity to gain invaluable experience abroad in several areas of study due to the programmes of double diplomas that have been implemented since 2015.

The educational programme «Data Management» in the field of training «Information Systems and Technologies» has been implemented by NCFU in cooperation with the Sapienza University of Rome since 2018 with kind support of professors Massimo Mecella and Marco Schaerf. The head of the programme from the North Caucasus Federal University is Professor Victoria Drozdova, Head of the Department of Information Systems and Technologies. To obtain two diplomas under an agreement between universities, students from NCFU must successfully complete one-semester training at the Sapienza University and study three semesters at home.

Both students from the Institute of Information Technologies and Telecommunications of NCFU studied at the Italian University in the second semester of the 2018-2019 academic year at the Department of Information Engineering, Informatics and Statistics.

– For students, this is a unique opportunity to introduce themselves to advanced research of European scientists in the field of IT technology, artificial intelligence, data processing, software engineering, as well as improve their English language skills. The acquired knowledge is successfully used by students in the preparation of graduation theses, - said Maria Lapina, Deputy Director for International Affairs of IITT.

The graduate qualification work of Kristina Avakova was aimed at identifying patterns and trends in the development of image restoration techniques, which will serve as a foundation for understanding the value of further theoretical and practical research in this area.

Svetlana Gavrishova took her interest in the development of a data analysis software module for the operation of a medical institution under the conditions of the corona virus infection spread. As a result of her research, the finished product was introduced into the practical activities of GBUZ SK SKKPSB № 1 (State budgetary institution of health care of the Stavropol Territory, Stavropol Regional Clinical Specialized Psychiatric Hospital No. 1), where it successfully operates today.

The defense of the graduate qualification works was held in English online in the presence of a joint commission from NCFU and the Sapienza University of Rome. Both students defended their theses successfully, having received not only high grades («excellent»), but also excellent reviews from teachers.

According to the graduates themselves, the course of lectures in La Sapienza is quite difficult, but interesting.

– It was not easy to adapt to the Italian lifestyle, but the friendly and sociable people around were always offering help. At the university, we also made friends with wonderful students from different countries, worked on projects and prepared for exams together. In our free time, we managed to visit many of the amazing museums in Rome and the Vatican, beautiful parks, as well as festivals of ice cream and Italian street food. Life in the Eternal City treated us to unforgettable impressions and invaluable life experience, – said Christina Avakova.