Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Peoples'Friendship University of Russia
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
In honor of our university's 66th anniversary, 95 diplomats from 60 countries gathered within its walls. At the roundtable discussion "All Flags at RUDN," the university presented its new curriculum, programs, and study opportunities for international citizens.
Promotion of the Russian language
RUDN University Rector Oleg Yastrebov gave a short presentation to the guests. He noted that the university has seen a significant increase in interest in studying Russian. Over the past two years, the number of international students enrolled in philology programs has increased by almost 80%.
The digital preparatory faculty provides significant support in promoting the Russian language abroad. Currently, it enrolls approximately 7,000 students from 85 countries. Using the online platform, they not only master the language but also gain the knowledge necessary for admission to their chosen field of study: humanities, natural sciences, engineering and technology, medical and biological sciences, and economics.
Since 2025, the "Generation RUDN" program has been successfully running on the digital preparatory faculty platform, with over 200 participants already enrolled. International graduates of the university and their family members can study Russian online for free.
That same year, RUDN University launched a special program to teach Russian to diplomats.
"We offer free Russian language training to employees of foreign diplomatic missions located in the Russian Federation. We have developed a customized program for ambassadors extraordinary and plenipotentiary," said RUDN University Rector Oleg Yastrebov.
The training will take place on the digital faculty platform. The course will last four months.
Education on demand
In his report to the roundtable participants, the rector also highlighted a special priority for RUDN: designing educational programs to meet the specific needs of economies.
"We are initiating the creation of educational programs in areas such as engineering, agricultural technology, medicine, and ecology," noted Oleg Yastrebov.
A striking example is the "Sustainable Urban Development" program, developed at the request of the Ghanaian authorities. At the end of 2025, 45 municipal administrators from the country completed the program. The Ghanaian specialists not only attended lectures by RUDN University experts and thematic seminars but also participated in practical exercises involving real-life case studies from their professional fields. The program also included master classes and tours of urban infrastructure facilities, such as EcoLine, a company that handles waste removal, sorting, recycling, and disposal.
Another important project is the English-language master's program "Agroholdings for the Global South." It trains agronomists for countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, taking into account local specifics.
Support for international students
Vice Rector for Student Affairs Mikhail Katsarsky spoke to the guests in detail about the international student support system. He noted that 94 active national associations play a crucial role in the student's adaptation, where compatriots help newcomers. Furthermore, he explained that the dormitory accommodation system is based on an international principle: a Russian student shares each room with a foreign student to facilitate language practice. Mikhail Ilyich placed special emphasis on supporting student families. The university has two children's rooms, one of which opened alongside the family floor in the first dormitory block. Incidentally, approximately 30 families living on campus are international students.
"In these rooms, students and university staff can leave their children for several hours under the supervision of professional caregivers," the vice-rector explained.
He also told guests about the university's Multifunctional Center, which provides over 90 services, and about the Interclub studios, where students can discover their creative talents.
The path to a budget place through the Olympics
Vice-Rector for International Affairs Marina Rekets reminded diplomats about the key admissions tool for foreigners: the RUDN University Open Olympiad.
Its winners receive the opportunity to enroll at our university under a Russian Government quota, while runners-up receive a substantial tuition discount. Olympiad participants (in person and online) take a test in their chosen subject (physics, chemistry, computer science, ecology, and others). Afterward, online participants undergo a video interview, where potential students are assessed for their knowledge demonstrated on the test, as well as their motivation and readiness for learning.
"In 2025, over 15,000 people from 130 countries participated in the RUDN University Open Olympiad for International Citizens. 1,749 people won. In 2026, 650 quotas were allocated, which will be distributed through the Olympiad," said Marina Rekets, Vice-Rector for International Affairs.
Diplomats about RUDN University
Ambassador of the Republic of Ghana to Russia Koma Steem Jehu-Appiah delivered a speech at the roundtable, thanking RUDN for the education, skills, and friendships he received.
"I am confident that the cooperation I began when I arrived in Russia as ambassador will benefit our two countries culturally and technologically, while also promoting economic growth," noted Koma Steem Jehu-Appyah.
In turn, University Rector Oleg Yastrebov presented the graduate with his personal file, which has been kept at the university since 1985. Oleg Aleksandrovich noted that the file contains the future ambassador's party credentials, and a look at his grades reveals that he earned almost all A's.
At the end of the meeting, representatives from Abkhazia and China spoke. The former thanked our university for the support provided to international students by the national student association, while the latter thanked RUDN for its contribution to training highly sought-after specialists for China. The traditional roundtable concluded on a warm and friendly note.
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