A Russian student's adventure: Study, volunteer, explore

For Margarita Kotlyarova, a 19-year-old Russian, her interest in China and Asia started with her decision to study at Shenzhen MSU-BIT University (SMBU) in 2023. Kotlyarova is now studying biology at SMBU.

Margarita Kotlyarova poses for a photo when participating in SMBU's knowledge, science, and culture festival last year. Photos courtesy of the interviewee

Before coming to SMBU, Kotlyarova didn’t have a particular interest in China. However, she was drawn to the opportunity at SMBU, the first Sino-Russian cooperative university, which offers dual degrees from both SMBU and Moscow State University.

“I really wanted to get admitted to a top Russian university, while I also had a desire to study abroad. So going to SMBU is an incredibly valuable experience,” said Kotlyarova.

Margarita Kotlyarova (C) during Shenzhen's biannual tea fair in December 2023.

Campus volunteering and beyond

Kotlyarova joined the university’s volunteer club and has participated in many volunteering activities on campus. For her, this is just a continuation of her passion for volunteering.

Margarita Kotlyarova holds a first-prize award plaque she won during a choral competition at SMBU in 2024.

“Back in high school, I joined a volunteer center and often helped with various events. For example, we decorated the school for holidays, collected recyclable paper, and went to animal shelters to deliver food and spend time with the animals. For several years, I was also a volunteer at a major New Year’s festival, where I helped with guest coordination,” she said.

Margarita Kotlyarova (front) during a charity sale at SMBU on April 22, 2025.

According to Kotlyarova, one of her significant volunteering experiences on campus was when she served at the 58th International Mendeleev Chemistry Olympiad for School Students, which was held at SMBU in 2024. The Olympiad attracted high school student participants from 26 countries, including Russia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, and China.Margarita Kotlyarova (3rd, R) and other volunteers pose for a photo during the 58th International Mendeleev Chemistry Olympiad for School Students at SMBU in 2024.

“It was a large-scale event, and I really love an international environment where you can meet people from all over the world. Students were volunteers to jointly help run the Olympiad. You could really feel the unity of the university. With our efforts, we helped make the event even better. I hope the university becomes a platform for many more international and domestic Chinese events in the future,” Kotlyarova said.

Recently, she was selected as a volunteer for the upcoming 15th National Games and will serve at the Games’ venues in Shenzhen.

“This is a much larger-scale event than a university one. I don’t remember ever participating in such a major event as a volunteer, and I really wanted to be a part of it — to learn more about the country’s culture, to meet new people, and, of course, to help ensure such a large-scale event runs smoothly and leaves everyone with pleasant memories and new connections,” said Kotlyarova.

Although Kotlyarova currently doesn’t know her specific responsibilities in the upcoming Games, she clearly understands the role she can play: to be a friendly and familiar face for Chinese spectators.

Margarita Kotlyarova (L) and her friend pose for a photo while volunteering at a Russian culture event at SMBU last year.

“I also hope that other foreigners [will become] interested in China. My friends might become interested in volunteering through me. Furthermore, I share my life in China on various social media platforms and talk about my experiences. I want to show that despite different cultures and nationalities, we can work together as a cohesive team, understand each other well, and create a friendly atmosphere,” she added.

Impressions of SZ

After Kotlyarova decided to apply to the university, she started searching for information on Shenzhen and was immediately impressed by the city’s fast development over the past 45 years and its technological advancement.

“I like [Shenzhen for] the concentration of technological development, the atmosphere of progress, and modernity... The skyscrapers remind me of New York City,” said Kotlyarova.

Margarita Kotlyarova at Fairy Lake Botanical Garden last year.

However, Kotlyarova said the most unexpected thing about the city is how incredibly green it is, which is her favorite thing about the city. “There are so many gardens, parks, and flower beds along roads. This I think is wonderful for a city. I haven’t yet explored all the biological spots in the city, such as parks, botanical gardens, zoos, and mountains. I really want to explore more,” said Kotlyarova.

From Kotlyarova’s perspective, it is this combination of innovation and nature that gives Shenzhen its uniqueness.

Future plans

Looking forward, Kotlyarova wants to attend more organized activities to learn more about the city and discover her future favorite places.

“I am interested in visiting and seeing different places and learning more about companies for more inspiration. I also recently realized it would be good to study urban sustainable development using Shenzhen as an example — its green energy and ecological path — because I’m interested in ecology, and my future work might be connected to it. So, there’s still a lot to do,” said Kotlyarova.

Concerning plans after graduation, Kotlyarova is considering either working in her field for a while or continuing her education. “I am really becoming more and more unwilling to leave the city. I can’t decide exactly on which direction [I will go] yet but I am open to opportunities,” she said.