Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Peoples'Friendship University of Russia
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
The training of qualified foreign specialists, educational strategies, collaborations, digital technologies, and much more were discussed at the 2nd International Educational Forum at RUDN University. The event brought together over 1,000 participants and 300 speakers from 40 countries, including representatives of government, research organizations, and businesses, as well as rectors of leading universities. This time, the focus was on collaboration with partners from the Middle East, Asia-Pacific, and Africa.
"RUDN University and other forum participants exchanged experiences on how to make education, culture, and science equally accessible to all. We shared our experiences in a wide range of areas: library operations, collaboration with key employers, and issues related to finance and demographics. We strived to make the forum a genuine platform for discussion and development of new solutions," said Yulia Ebzeeva, Vice-Rector for Educational Affairs at RUDN University.
Deputy Minister of Education and Science Andrey Omelchuk was among the forum's speakers. In his speech, he noted that the Russian education market is attractive and interesting for foreign students, and that domestic universities are seeing an increase in the number of students from other countries.
"Over the past five years, the number of international students has grown by 87,000, reaching nearly 415,000. Today, the Russian President has identified realizing the potential of every individual as a national development goal. Our focus is not only on ensuring access to education. We are actively modernizing our educational infrastructure and developing new approaches to training highly qualified personnel. To this end, our country has launched a number of significant initiatives, including a project to create a constellation of modern campuses. Thanks to the national project "Youth and Children," 40 such student campuses will be built by 2036. They will become a key element in a new way of life and a magnet for students from across the country and abroad," says Andrey Omelchuk.
Foreign students and the staff shortage
One of the forum's panels was devoted to the employment of international graduates. Elena Dmitrieva, Head of the RUDN University Graduate Internship and Employment Support Department, discussed the demand for international talent in the Russian labor market and the interest of RUDN University students and graduates in pursuing careers in Russia.
"An analysis of employment patterns for graduates in the 2023–2025 classes revealed that international graduates from the Agrarian and Technological Institute, the Institute of Ecology, and the Institute of Pharmacy and Biotechnology are the most sought-after by employers. The top five fields by number of employed in Russia include construction, international relations, economics, law, and management. Furthermore, the results of a survey conducted among current international students at the university are of interest. More than half of the final-year students surveyed would like to remain in Russia after graduation," said Elena Dmitrieva.
According to Elena Borisovna, 87% of those wishing to stay intend to work in their field of study, demonstrating the growing interest of foreign specialists in the Russian labor market. Graduates' majors include agricultural sciences, engineering, and social sciences and humanities.
In addition to discussing problems and solutions, the section participants shared their experiences helping international students find employment. Anastasia Shatilina, a representative of the Human Capital Development NGO, spoke about the Start in Moscow project. This talent attraction program from the Moscow Department of Entrepreneurship and Innovative Development helps international students develop their resumes and portfolios, prepare for interviews, receive career and immigration consultations, and ultimately secure a job offer.
International collaborations and startup support
Another section of the forum was dedicated to the international education community; it was attended by representatives from all continents, including countries such as Iran, Sri Lanka, Jordan, Honduras, and Peru.
"The main theme of all the presentations was the desire to improve the effectiveness of higher education, the search for proven approaches to the use of artificial intelligence, and the opportunities offered by AI. Without exception, all the speakers emphasized the importance of international collaboration and cooperation. Almost all the universities represented here are internationally oriented and interested in interacting with Russian universities, and RUDN University in particular. We also appreciated that a representative of the Embassy of the Democratic Republic of the Congo was able to attend the forum, emphasizing the importance of promoting the Russian language abroad and the role of our university in this area," said Marina Rekets, Vice-Rector for International Affairs at RUDN University.
As the vice-rector noted, the section participants shared interesting practices, such as supporting student startups with support from businesses and the government.
"The president of a Jordanian university explained that they have a triple agreement between the student body, the university, and a partner company. A second example was shared by an expert from Sri Lanka. Their country has a state program to support student startups, and upon recommendation from universities, these startups receive funding from the state budget under the program. The approaches vary, but the goal is the same: to stimulate student activity, engage them in professional activities, and create businesses," said Marina Rekets.
Following the forum, RUDN University signed several cooperation agreements, including with Ferdowsi University of Mashhad (Iran), Razi University (Iran), and the Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Tajikistan. According to Safarzoda Nekruz Fayzi, Dean of the Academy's Faculty of Law, the university is interested in student exchanges, staff development, and the joint writing of textbooks and monographs.
"Furthermore, we want to work with RUDN University specialists to develop legal solutions to the issues facing our country," said Safarzoda Nekruz Fayzi.
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.