Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Peoples'Friendship University of Russia
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RUDN University's Faculty of Economics celebrates its 65th anniversary today, and we've decided to share the history of its founding and its key achievements.
The Department of Economics was founded on January 23, 1961, with the creation of four departments: political economy, economic geography, national economic planning, and sectoral economics. On September 1, 1961, classes began at the Faculty of Economics and Law—the predecessor of today's Faculty of Economics. Professor Alexander Shebanov, Doctor of Law and author of nearly 200 scientific papers, became the first dean. A year later, the Department of Accounting, Statistics, and Finance was added to the faculty's structure.
The era of change
The 1990s, a period of dramatic change in the country, saw the faculty's rapid development. To prepare personnel for the new, market-oriented economy, departments of international economic relations, management, and marketing were established.
In 1995, the Faculty of Economics and Law was divided into two independent departments—Economics and Law. Nikolai Pavlovich Gusakov, PhD in Economics and Associate Professor, became the first dean of the Economics Department. The new faculty opened a full-time and part-time department, as well as several new departments. A major milestone in the development of the Faculty of Economics and Law and the creation of a comprehensive academic, scientific, pedagogical, and organizational-technical base was the construction and equipping of a two-story, 3,260-square-meter complex of facilities in the main building of RUDN University in 1998.
The International Business School (now the Institute of World Economy and Business), opened in 1990, played a key role in the department's development and growth. From 1998 to 2024, it served as an experimental platform for testing new forms of educational organization, implementing curricula, and improving faculty qualifications. At the initiative of Inna Andronova, Dean of the Faculty of Economics, the IWEB became part of the Faculty of Economics in 2022, strengthening its practice-oriented and international component.
From studies to a career in the global economy
Today, the Faculty of Economics at RUDN University is:
11 departments covering the entire spectrum of modern economics—from finance and marketing to economic and mathematical modeling—and more than 100 higher education programs; more than 3,000 students from all over the world: from China and Latin America to Mali, Montenegro, and Djibouti. There are also 1,727 Russian and 178 international students at the Institute of World Economy and Business; more than 35 professors and doctors of science, over 100 candidates of science, and 10 academicians and members of the Russian Academy of Sciences and other academies among the faculty; top 10 in Russia in the fields of "Economics" and "Economics and Management"; more than 50 partners worldwide; 6 double degree programs jointly with universities in the CIS and SCO countries and 4 programs of study in foreign languages; 4 dissertation councils.
"Students of the faculty participate in international projects, attend summer schools, learn to negotiate and defend projects in English, French, and other languages. The curriculum is focused on the real challenges of today's market. From their first years, students complete internships at Russian and international companies, ministries, banks, and consulting agencies. During their studies, they participate in master classes, webinars, and business simulations with business and public administration experts. This is true preparation for a career in the global economy," says Inna Andronova, Dean of the Faculty.
Students from the Faculty of Economics and the Institute of World Economy and Business demonstrate strong performance in various competitions and olympiads, working on cutting-edge scientific research, and creating innovative projects. We previously reported on Vladimir Mishatkin's development of a wireless insulin pump, second-year student Elizaveta Levina's victory in the "Your Move" competition (track "I'm Making") with her media project "Partner | Unified State Exam," and fourth-year student Artem Vanyashev's victory in the BRICS International Debate.
The department also hosts major academic conferences at national and international levels. Its signature event is the annual international conference "World Economy in the 21st Century: Globalization and Regionalization." This is a RUDN University platform for discussing development trends in countries, regions, and industries. It operates in a multilingual environment: students don't just present papers; they learn to think, debate, and persuade in real-world international communication. The conference is held in all UN languages—13 language sections in total, including English, Arabic, Spanish, Chinese, Russian, French, Swahili, Afrikaans, Hausa, Amharic, and Korean.
Celebrating its 65th anniversary, the RUDN University Faculty of Economics looks to the future with confidence. While maintaining the traditions of fundamental education, it continues to adapt to the challenges of the times, remaining a training ground for talent for the Russian and global economies. Graduates of the Faculty are successfully employed in over 110 countries, working for banks, international companies, government agencies, and transnational corporations.
We congratulate the faculty and wish them new achievements in all areas!
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.