From a classroom desk to great discoveries: the National Centre RUSSIA congratulates everyone on Knowledge Day

On 1 September, Russia celebrates Knowledge Day, a national holiday marking the start of the new academic year. The school bell will ring once again for 17.6 million children and young people across the country. University and college students will also begin their studies. Students and teachers can look forward to meetings, themed classes, lectures and special events.

Although school plays a central role in children's education, learning extends far beyond the classroom. Museums, exposition spaces, lectures and workshops offer new ways of looking at familiar subjects through real-life stories, experiments, technology and face-to-face interaction. The National Centre RUSSIA offers children and teenagers numerous opportunities to discover the country in this way.

One of the Centre's permanent projects is the "Journey Across Russia" exposition. It combines interactive elements, multimedia technologies and educational activities. Visitors can embark on a virtual journey across Russia's regions and learn about their nature, culture, traditions and achievements. Here, geography ceases to be simply a collection of names on a map and becomes a genuine exploration.

The National Centre RUSSIA also offers educational projects for young people aged 12 to 17. At the Young Tour Guides School of Russia, participants learn how to work with information, prepare tour materials, speak in front of an audience and tell people about their country in an engaging and accessible way. Another programme is the Young Journalists School, where participants learn about the basics of the profession, including how to conduct interviews, work with information, write texts, shoot videos and edit video reports. Applications can be submitted on the project page until 10 October.

The Centre's expositions and educational projects are complemented by regularly held lectures, workshops and meetings covering a wide range of topics, from history and geography to theatre and cinema. Here, children can do more than simply listen: they can take part in discussions, experiment, explore and create. This is how curiosity gradually develops into a genuine interest in learning.

Knowledge Day is a good opportunity to remember that learning can happen anywhere. Sometimes a new fact begins with a map, a question with an exhibit, and an interest in an entire field of knowledge with a fascinating story.

The National Centre RUSSIA congratulates schoolchildren, students, parents and teachers on 1 September! May the new academic year bring many discoveries, inspiring encounters and ideas that you will want to turn into reality.