Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University –
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At the international conference on food sovereignty in Africa, held in Addis Ababa, Russian universities and research institutes presented a range of educational and technological initiatives aimed at supporting the continent's agricultural sector. The Polytechnic University, as the coordinator of the Russian-African Network University (RAFU) consortium, participated in the thematic session "The Contribution of Russian Universities to Ensuring Food Security in Africa."
The continent has everything it needs not only to feed itself but also to contribute to global food security. Within the next 10-20 years, African countries will be able to transition from growing crops for domestic consumption to accumulating export potential. This potential must be turned into reality. And here, we, Russia's leading universities, are ready to share our technologies and developments," noted Maxim Zalyvsky, head of the RAFU project office.
Irina Abramova, Director of the Institute for African Studies at the Russian Academy of Sciences, presented current projects and discussed the Clean Water initiative, which aims to ensure access to water for agriculture.
Irina Timoshenkova, Deputy Director of the Institute of Biomedical Systems and Biotechnology at Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, participated in the session, along with representatives from other leading Russian universities: Rosbiotech, Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod, Peoples' Friendship University of Russia, St. Petersburg State Agrarian University, and the National Research University Higher School of Economics. They showcased their educational programs and research developments in agricultural technology, veterinary science, and biosafety.
Dmitry Arsenyev, Vice-Rector for International Affairs at SPbPU, emphasized that access to innovation must be accompanied by the training of qualified personnel. Programs to train specialists for the agricultural sector in African countries are currently being actively implemented. The RAFU's activities are aimed at uniting the efforts of universities in our countries and launching joint educational programs that will accelerate the training of personnel for the African economy, he added.
Ethiopian students also learned about admission opportunities to the Polytechnic University through the Russian Government quota and the Open Doors: Russian Scholarship project, and learned more about the main educational programs and pre-university preparation programs.
The conference was part of Russia's systematic efforts to strengthen scientific, educational, and technological partnerships in line with the goals of Africa's Agenda 2063. Previously, a RAFU delegation, led by the consortium coordinator, Peter the Great Polytechnic University, and the Russian House in Addis Ababa, held Russian Education Day and negotiations at the African Union headquarters regarding the signing of a cooperation agreement with the Pan-African University.
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