VENUE

The symposium will be held in the city of Ufa - a large industrial, scientific and cultural center of Russia, located near the Ural Mountains. The climate in this region is mild; a day temperature in the middle of September does not exceed 18°C; the weather is usually sunny and windless. The participants of the symposium will be able to observe the natural beauty of the picturesque landscape of this region. 

The city lies upon a peninsula of sorts occupying an elevated plateau encompassed from the three sides by the Belaya, the Ufa and the Dyoma rivers. The guests will have an opportunity to go by ship down the famous Belaya River during the Welcome party and to enjoy the national cuisine during the banquet.

The headquarters of the symposium will be the Congress Hall that was initially called the Peoples' Friendship House. The unique and architecturally exciting project was erected for the celebrations of the 450th anniversary of Bashkiria's voluntary entry into Russia. This is a unique social and cultural centre and a shopping mall.

Visitors to the Congress Hall will get a majestic view of the Aghidel and the natural scenery beyond the river. The ravine slopes possess multi-level pathways pleasant to walk along, decorated with lawns and trees.

The statue to the national hero Salavat Yulaev has now become an integral part of the complex. The path to the monument is lined with new lamps and restyled benches.

The symposium participants will be accommodated in the best city hotels, Bashkortostan**** (recommended), Astoria****, Azimuth***, Aghidel***, Aigul*** etc. Special shuttle buses will carry non-resident participants of the conference from the airport and railway station to the place of accommodation in Ufa.

One can relish opera and ballet performances in the State Opera and Ballet House of the Republic of Bashkortostan, especially beautiful and monumental. It is situated next to the Arts University, where the famous basso Fyodr Shalyapin sang.

The guests can indulge themselves and buy souvenirs in the Mir Shopping Mall. The new facility is advantageously located at the very start of the city's main thoroughfare - October Avenue - and occupies the buildings that used to house "Mir" Garment-making Factory.

Another shopping centre is the Gostiny Dvor. The office and retail center is often called a carte-de-visite of the republic. All official delegations and distinguished guests coming to Bashkortostan both on business and friendly visits take in Gostiny Dvor. Gostiny Dvor can service up to 12 thousand people a day. The ground floor houses a gym, whereas the first floor - over 250 boutiques, a food store, a perfume hypermarket, banks and cafes. The children playground complex welcomes young visitors the year round. Visitors enjoy the picture gallery.

The visitors can enjoy some sport events in the Ufa-Arena Ice Palace that represents an ellipse and rectangle connected together. It consists of four-storied building of the main arena 61x30 meters with 8250 seats, two multi-level ground parking for 430 cars, the second training ice arena with 500 seats and two sport halls.

Ufa has many restaurants with outstanding cuisine, a great wine list, service and restaurant decoration. The dessert restaurant "Coffeynik", restaurant "Ufa", restaurant "Brauhaus", restaurant " Tinkoff" are to name but 4.

The entertaining complex “Ogni Ufy” houses a beer restaurant Brauhaus, a disco-concert hall Kolizeo, a fast-food restaurant “Sportivnye khroniki” with a boxer ring and a free internet access, a Bashnya casino.  The beer is made at a proprietory brew-house, producing an exclusive beer "KesselBrau".

Although Ufa is rather big city (square of the capital is 735.5 km² and its population is more than one million people), it is very cosy and clean with a lot of  parks  (there are swans in one of them) and public gardens with romantic embankment, wide avenues and ancient narrow streets.

Professional education of the Republic of Bashkortostan has rich history. The first educational institution, implementing the program of higher education - Ufa Teaching Institute - was formed in 1918, which was reorganized in 1929 to the Institute of National Education, then to the Pedagogical Institute, and in 1957 - Bashkir State University. Educational institutions implementing the programs of primary and secondary professional education have the history of more than 100 years. The leading educational institutions of the Republic - Bashkir State University, Ufa State Aviation Technical University, Ufa State Petroleum Technical University and Bashkir State Pedagogical Institute have a high rating and as a rule enter the top ten educational institutions of the related profile in the Russian Federation.