Thriving in a multicultural environment

Alina Zhukanova (2nd, R) performs with her hip-hop choreography team members at a lawn concert at SMBU on Nov. 17, 2023.Photos courtesy of the interviewee

At Shenzhen MSU-BIT University (SMBU) — the first joint Sino-Russian university — the multicultural environment not only eased Russian student Alina Zhukanova’s transition but also deepened her understanding of Chinese culture, shaped her thinking, and fostered her flexible and empathic personality.

Alina Zhukanova (2nd, R, front row) and other participants pose for a photo after a recital in December 2024.

Zhukanova first learned about Shenzhen when she attended an SMBU presentation session held at Moscow State University in Russia. Suddenly, she developed an idea to study at SMBU, reasoning that it would provide the perfect chance to immerse herself in Chinese culture. Simultaneously, the multilingual learning environment — including Russian — eased her concerns regarding adaptation to a new environment.

Alina Zhukanova acts as the host of SMBU's Chinese Day event earlier this year.

Thanks to this opportunity, Zhukanova became a student of the Class of 2021, majoring in biology.

Classes at SMBU are taught in English, Chinese, and Russian. Zhukanova noted that navigating daily life across these three languages while building meaningful connections with people from diverse backgrounds has built her flexible and empathic personality.

Additionally, SMBU’s multicultural environment deepen her appreciation for how language shapes thought.

Zhukanova began studying Chinese in 2020. During her time at SMBU, she successfully passed the Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (HSK) Level 5, or the Chinese Proficiency Test. HSK is the main standardized test to measure Chinese language ability.

Alina Zhukanova (L) recites a poem during a recital in Shenzhen.

During her studies of Chinese, Zhukanova showed a significant interest in reciting Chinese poetry. She won numerous prizes in poetry recital competitions, including first prize in the international student category of the Guangdong Provincial Chinese Classics Recitation and Writing Competition.

Zhukanova stated that poetry reveals the beauty of cultural distinctiveness. Each time she staged a recital performance of a Chinese poem, it served as a process to deepen her understanding of Chinese culture.

In addition to poetry, Zhukanova pursued her passion for dance at SMBU. As a core leader of the university’s TTS Dance Club, she developed a unique trilingual cross-cultural training system, enabling members from diverse backgrounds to perform together harmoniously.“Dance transcends language entirely. It uncovers shared human experiences through movement and rhythm, which are universal,” she said.

Alina Zhukanova (L) and other international students take a boat tour in Pingshan District.

Living in Shenzhen since 2022, Zhukanova mentioned that the city’s commitment to preserving nature stood out most to her. “I’ve never seen such lush green spaces seamlessly integrated into a modern, developed metropolis. I’m also drawn to the grassroots art scenes here,” she said.

“Hiking through Wutong Mountain — seeing the mist settle over the city’s skyline while surrounded by blooming forests — made me realize how uniquely Shenzhen balances urban growth with natural harmony,” Zhukanova added.

In Zhukanova’s view, Shenzhen is also vibrant due to its spirit of innovation. She also praised the city’s priorities on sustainability and global exchange, which reflect its forward-looking approach.

Alina Zhukanova poses for a photo at Baishilong Music Park in Longhua District.

“Shenzhen has truly become my home. I feel deeply connected to the city’s spirit,” Zhukanova said.

This summer, Zhukanova graduated from SMBU, earning recognition as one of the university’s “stars” for her outstanding achievements.

Over time, she realized that exploring Chinese language and culture and sharing it with others fulfilled her more than lab work. To pursue this calling, she will begin a master’s degree in international Chinese education at Shenzhen University this September.