Category: Российский университет дружбы народов

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Peoples'Friendship University of Russia

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

RUDN University medical students won the Second International Anatomical and Surgical Olympiad for English-speaking students, "From Vesalius to Pirogov." In a close competition with teams from 10 medical universities across Russia and the CIS, represented by 12 teams of junior and senior students, our university team took first place in the "Operative Surgery with Topographic Anatomy" category.

The RUDN University team consisted of fourth-year students majoring in General Medicine, representing various countries:

Ezemenahi Uchenna Charles (Nigeria); Gumgna Samen Boris Labon (Cameroon); Ogunjobi Mercy Temiloluwa (Nigeria); Zarei Puria (Iran).

The students were trained by Ilya Kurikhin, an assistant at the I.D. Kirpatovsky Department of Operative Surgery and Clinical Anatomy, and Nzhang Livingston Nge, a graduate of the RUDN University Medical Institute.

Competitive tests

The Olympiad aims to integrate international students into the international educational environment and develop their clinical thinking. All stages—from intellectual quizzes to complex practical assignments—were conducted in English. The in-person stage at Reaviz Medical University proved a true challenge.

The teams had to go through a series of intense competitions:

The intellectual "Joint Game" with a time limit for response; working with exhibits in the "Anatomical Museum"; tying surgical knots for speed; applying an intestinal suture (anastomosis); solving complex clinical problems using knowledge of topographic anatomy.

This comprehensive approach allowed us to evaluate not only the depth of theoretical knowledge, but also practical skills, decision-making speed, and teamwork in conditions as close as possible to real surgical practice.

An Inside Look: Impressions of the Winners

"We were impressed by the level of preparation of the other teams: everyone demonstrated a very high knowledge of anatomy and an understanding of surgical principles. The most challenging was "Jealous Game"—we were given just one minute to answer very complex questions. The most interesting was the intestinal anastomosis; it was a test of practical skills, and we were well prepared," noted Charles Ezemenahi Uchenna.

"I remember the surgical stage very well: it was a rare chance to try my hand at practice and feel how important it is to be careful," added Puria Zarei.

"I enjoyed working with our team. This wasn't just an Olympiad—it was the beginning of a long journey. I hope we can maintain this level in the future. I had a great time communicating with the team from Ural State University. We exchanged contacts. They were well prepared for the Olympiad, and I appreciated their focus," shared Boris Labon Gumgna Samen.

"The main impression is that I want more. My only wish for the future is for there to be more such practical, 'live' assignments. They provide the most invaluable experience and bring us closer to real surgery," said Mercy Temiloluwa Ogunjobi.

The students also praised the friendly yet exciting atmosphere of the competition. Ilya Kurikhin, the team's mentor, emphasized the practical nature of the Olympiad.

"Our students had to learn to solve unexpected, complex clinical problems, in which high-quality and quick navigation of educational materials is only part of the success," emphasized Ilya Kurikhin.

The boys' second mentor noted the uniqueness of the competition.

"I assisted the team with consultations during the distance learning stage, when one of the assignments was to create and edit a training video on a 3D atlas for femoral artery ligation. I was invited to help precisely because, as a student, I frequently participated in national and international competitions. The students were well prepared, but I have nothing to compare it to, as this is a unique competition: it's conducted entirely in English, and only for students from outside Russia. Some of the competitions are unusual, and I've never seen such requirements before," said Njang Livingston Nge.

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.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Peoples'Friendship University of Russia

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

RUDN University students have created a digital solution to modernize the Blood Service. The DonorConnect project aims to address two key issues: a critical donor shortage and medical staff overburdened with routine work. The project has already received support from the RUDN.VC accelerator and has entered the pilot testing phase.

Project team:

Sergey Gritsko – Project Manager, first-year undergraduate student at the Faculty of Physics, Mathematics, and Natural Sciences; Arseniy Ivanov – Fullstack Team Lead, first-year undergraduate student at the Faculty of Physics, Mathematics, and Natural Sciences; Arseniy Nagornyak – Frontend Developer, first-year undergraduate student at the Faculty of Physics, Mathematics, and Natural Sciences; Dmitry Tartakovsky – Bot Developer, second-year undergraduate student at the Higher School of Management.

The essence of the problem

In Russia, there are only 14 blood donors per 1,000 people, which is almost three times lower than the World Health Organization standard of at least 40 donors. This shortage is particularly acute in regions where blood centers lack a constant and predictable flow of donors, unlike the major federal centers in Moscow and St. Petersburg, which generally meet basic needs. The fragility of the system is particularly evident in cases of rare blood phenotypes and in emergency situations when rapid mobilization is required.

"Blood centers lack convenient tools to retain donors. Medical staff spend a lot of time persuading people to come back. If a person had a bad experience after their first donation (long wait times, uninformed answers, refusal), they are unlikely to return. The main reason is the lack of personal gratitude and information about how their blood helped. Furthermore, doctors and nurses are forced to spend up to 40% of their work time on tasks not directly related to medicine. The registration and feedback process is completely manual; donors are forced to call to register, which creates a bottleneck (while the operator is talking to one donor, others cannot get through). During a severe shortage of rare blood types, medical staff spend hours calling the right donors. This administrative burden distracts highly qualified staff from their primary duties—medical examinations and consultations," noted Sergey Gritsko.

Digital approach and gamification

The project team proposed an effective solution—a dual digital approach. DonorConnect offers more than just a website for scheduling, but a fully-fledged intelligent platform with dual functionality. A user-friendly web app has been developed for donors, allowing them to schedule a blood donation online 24/7, receive personalized preparation reminders, and, most importantly, learn how their blood has helped a specific patient. Such an emotional response, according to international experience, increases the likelihood of repeat donations by 15-25%. To further strengthen long-term user motivation, gamification elements are already built into the platform's design and are planned for implementation in future stages: a level system, digital badges, and rewards will transform donation into an engaging and regular process.

For the Blood Service, the system is useful as an automation tool that generates lists of registered donors, sends mass notifications in case of urgent blood needs, and handles all routine communications (for example, sending donors reminders to adhere to a strict diet and preparation rules 2-3 days before their appointment). This frees up to 30% of medical staff time for direct clinical work.

A mission based on personal experience

Project manager Sergey Gritsko is an active donor himself. His personal involvement shaped DonorConnect's philosophy.

"This isn't just a technological or student project. It's a mission. I know firsthand how important every visit is and how deeply a donor needs an emotional connection with the results of their good deed. Therefore, for us, DonorConnect is a technology that connects people, a bridge between donor and doctor. Every day, dozens of stories are told. The story of a donor who overcame their fear. The story of blood being sent to a department. The story of a patient whose life continues thanks to this shared effort. Our project can solve major, important problems for the country, driven by a personal conviction in its social significance," noted Sergey Gritsko.

The team plans to attract targeted grant funding to scale the platform and implement it in Blood Centers across the country, transforming blood donation into a convenient, modern, and socially significant process.

First successes

The project team has currently developed the first working version of the product (MVP). It includes key modules required for immediate launch: an online registration form for donors, automatic shift roster generation for medical staff, and a mechanism for personalized diet reminders and emergency notifications. The system (MVP) is ready for immediate use for pilot testing in real-world conditions. This will allow students to objectively assess the system's potential to improve key donation metrics (donor retention and staff efficiency). Specifically, the team will be able to conduct comparative data analysis (A/B testing) at the pilot Blood Center, comparing the results of the automated process with historical manual management metrics to accurately verify the predicted metrics (a 15-20% increase in donor loyalty and a 20-30% reduction in administrative workload).

"We've already conducted in-depth interviews with representatives of 12 Blood Center organizations. As a result, we not only gathered valuable information for further refinement of the project but also achieved agreement in principle: three organizations expressed their willingness to pilot test our system, subject to obtaining the necessary permission from the Ministry of Health," added Sergey Gritsko.

The RUDN.VC accelerator provided key assistance to the students in developing the project.

"He provided us with much-needed expert and practical assistance. The accelerator's experts not only helped us create a sustainable financial model but also identified specific sources of targeted funding, primarily grants, and the mechanisms for attracting them. Furthermore, we were able to clearly structure the project's development stages, understand what the first version of the product (MVP) should include, and identify key, measurable metrics by which we will evaluate our success. One of the most valuable events was our interaction with an experienced lawyer, who explained in detail the process of registering a legal entity and, especially important for the medical field, provided comprehensive advice on the processing and protection of donors' personal data in accordance with Russian law. The accelerator showed us how to solve a social problem using technology and business while complying with all legal requirements," emphasized Sergey Gritsko.

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.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Peoples'Friendship University of Russia

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

RUDN University, along with the rest of the world, is almost upon the threshold of the new year 2026. Looking back on the past year, we have much to remember and be proud of. We're sharing some of the university's achievements in the form of quotes.

The University's International Service and the Department of Postgraduate and Doctoral Studies admitted 5,594 international students from 140 countries to RUDN University in the 2025 admissions campaign, setting a record for the university's history. This year, the Olympiad movement received a powerful boost to identify and attract talented young people from abroad. Over 15,000 international students participated in the RUDN University Open Olympiad, which resulted in the selection of over 1,700 winners and runners-up from 143 countries. Nine hundred foreign students received the right to study at RUDN University under the Russian Government quota.

Moreover, in the year marking the 100th anniversary of the birth of Patrice Lumumba, the first Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, RUDN University gained a new friend – Patrice's daughter, Juliana. Speaking at the international academic conference "Russia and Africa: Legacy of the Past, Opportunities of the Present, Prospects for the Future," Juliana expressed her hope for our university's continued development, so that more Africans could receive an education at our university and spread the fundamental knowledge, values, and ideals of justice and equality acquired in Russia throughout the African continent.

On October 30 of this year, RUDN University hosted an international forum of foreign graduates of Soviet and Russian universities. The event was organized with the support of the Russian Ministry of Education and Science in partnership with MIREA – Russian Technological University. The forum was attended by over 100 leaders of graduate associations of Russian (Soviet) universities from 50 countries. Forum participants developed proposals to enhance cooperation between associations and Russian universities in education, science, promoting the Russian language, and preserving traditional values. The first results of these proposals are planned to be discussed in 2026 at a forum of foreign graduates of Russian (Soviet) universities, which will be attended by over 2,000 international graduates.

Marina Rekets

Vice-Rector for International Affairs at RUDN University

In 2025, RUDN University's research activities reached a qualitatively new level. Total funding from R&D (NTU R&D) amounted to 1,124,291,800 rubles. The university implemented seven major projects within state programs and two projects for regional governments. These projects included breakthrough research in medicine, agricultural science, urban ecology, and plasma physics. University teams implemented three megagrants from the Russian Science Foundation in the areas of smart urban technologies, the development of new antibiotics for agriculture, and personalized therapy for soft tissue sarcomas. For the first time in 2025, we ensured the international commercialization of intellectual property—from enhanced oil recovery technologies to biotechnology for food tech. This confirmed that RUDN University research is in demand by the real economy not only in Russia but also abroad (in Kazakhstan and Iran).

The policy on publications and scientific journals has proven successful. Since this year, 27 of 33 journals affiliated with RUDN University are included in the national "White List." Ten of them have been included in the first, highest tier. From 2020 to 2025, the number of first- and second-quartile publications in the international Scopus database increased almost 50 percent—from 944 to 1,375 articles (a 46% increase). RUDN University authors prepared over 1,000 publications in 2025 in collaboration with international research partners. We have flexibly responded to changes in the national research landscape, resulting in a new version of the R&D and Innovation Development Program through 2030: the number of formal reporting indicators has been reduced, and a stronger emphasis has been placed on creating conditions conducive to the effective work of scientists. At the same time, we have expanded the incentive package for authors of scientific publications by increasing the categories of supported journals and the amounts of compensation for articles.

A significant achievement of the year in student science was the opening of the "Mathematics for Promising Young People" Scientific Development Center at the Physics and Mathematics Faculty. It is focused on developing a mentoring system and training talented young people. The results are already leading to victories in international and national competitions and building a strong pool of expert-level talent. The success of our scientific accelerator is encouraging: this year, 25 RUDN University student startups became finalists. Their projects range from helping people with diabetes, developing mindfulness, and creating quest tours to networking and AI-based digital services. But all the startups share a common mission: to improve people's quality of life, reduce the time spent on routine tasks, and empower them to feel truly alive.

Petr Dokukin

Head of the Scientific Department of RUDN University

RUDN's total endowment (endowment intended for non-commercial use) increased by 133% compared to the same period last year, and more and more donors are joining the project. The largest donation was 2 million rubles, bringing the total endowment to 8.6 million rubles. For the first time in the university's history, endowment income was used to pay stipends to outstanding students at the 50th RUDN University Academic Reunion.

The RUDN University Development Fund has become a unique platform for internships for university students. Thirty-six students from Russia and 16 other countries—Armenia, Afghanistan, Haiti, Guinea, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, China, Côte d'Ivoire, Belarus, Moldova, Senegal, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Chad, and Equatorial Guinea—have learned about the fundamentals of institutional philanthropy and the university's endowment. Many of them learned for the first time what an endowment is and how it works.

Among the foundation's key events is the conclusion of an agreement on practical training for RUDN University students majoring in economics and law. The foundation also provided funding for a project to equip the RUDN University eSports club and supported the organization and holding of the IV International Scientific Conference "For the Sustainable Development of Civilization: Cooperation, Science, Education, and Technology."

Maria Zhukova

Advisor to the Rector's Office, Executive Director of the RUDN University Development Fund

2025 was a very eventful and significant year for our university. At the very beginning of the year, RUDN University celebrated its 65th anniversary. As part of this major celebration, over 300 students performed on our country's main stage—the State Kremlin Palace. A separate series of events throughout the year was dedicated to the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War. I personally particularly remember the "Victory Waltz" on our university's main square, where 100 students from over 25 countries, dressed in 1940s-style military uniforms, created an incredible atmosphere.

I'd also like to highlight the victories and achievements of our students in significant competitions. Hamza Amro (Syria, Engineering Academy, fourth-year undergraduate student, Architecture) won the "Mr. Student of Moscow 2025" competition. Alexander Mironenko (Russia, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, first-year master's student, History) won the Grand Prix in the "Student of the Year Moscow" competition and first place in the "Patriot of the Year" category. More than 130 RUDN University students have won scholarships from the President and the Government of the Russian Federation.

Speaking of memorable dates, it's impossible not to mention the Rally of Excellent Students—this year marked its 50th anniversary. Finally, I'd like to say how gratifying it is to witness the RUDN University tradition of the New Year's Friendship of Peoples Ball, which has been held for the third year in a row in Pashkov House. This celebratory event near the Kremlin is undoubtedly the best reward for students.

Mikhail Katsarsky

Vice-Rector for Student Affairs

2025 was a truly record-breaking year for RUDN University in terms of admissions and the attention it received from applicants. More than 200,000 applications are not just a number, but a testament to the university's credibility. This year, we enrolled 11,553 people across all levels and modes of study, including secondary vocational education. 642 high-scorers enrolled, and two high-scorers in the 300s enrolled in the Faculty of Artificial Intelligence.

We are particularly pleased with the increase in the number of Olympiad winners admitted: the number of those admitted without entrance examinations has increased by a third, and the number of winners and runners-up of the All-Russian School Olympiad has grown by 52% over three years. Moreover, the range of applicants is expanding—for the first time, we have accepted Olympiad winners in aviation engineering and jurisprudence. We also note RUDN's own Olympiad for school students as an important tool for identifying talent. In the 2024/2025 academic year, more than 6,700 schoolchildren participated in the selection round—more than double the number from last year. While the number of winners and runners-up has remained stable, our most important result has increased: the number of applicants admitted based on Olympiad results has increased from 38 to 51. This means that the Olympiad is increasingly becoming a viable means of admission to university for motivated and strong applicants.

At the same time, interest in targeted training has grown almost 3.5-fold: the number of applications has increased from 255 to 861 over three years. All this points to one thing: RUDN is now perceived as a university of opportunity, where people come for a strong education, prospects, and tangible results.

Interest in RUDN University this year was evident not only in admissions figures but also in live interactions with applicants: over 100,000 people attended our open days. This demonstrates that students are choosing the university consciously—they come, ask questions, and see the campus and educational opportunities firsthand. Furthermore, we value not only the quality of admissions but also the university's presence in the life of the city and the country. In 2025, a branded RUDN University train began operating on the Sokolnicheskaya Line, symbolizing the university's openness and recognition.

Natalia Chesnokova

Vice-Rector for Admissions

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.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Peoples'Friendship University of Russia

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

The New Year is just around the corner, so it's time for warm greetings and good wishes from RUDN students, faculty, and staff. May all these wishes come true in 2026!

More than 10 years ago, when I stepped into what was then the Ecology Department of RUDN University, I never imagined that university life would be so captivating! And now, 2026 is upon us… One can only guess what lies ahead and what challenges the university will face. But one thing I know for sure: any university, with its rankings and achievements, is made up of people who shape the atmosphere and spirit, achieving amazing results, making astonishing discoveries, and inspiring those around them!

Dear students and colleagues, I sincerely congratulate you on the upcoming New Year! You are the soul of RUDN University! I wish us patience, prudence, and unwavering will!

Forward to new discoveries, achievements and victories!

Irina Golovacheva

Deputy Director of the Institute of Ecology for educational work

RUDN University once became a truly precious gift to me, not just a New Year's gift. Every year it gives me wonderful friends, great opportunities, a wealth of knowledge, and warm memories. In return, on behalf of myself and the entire Student Committee of the Institute of Ecology, I wish everyone connected in one way or another with our great university success, joy, the achievement of their goals, and the fulfillment of their deepest desires in the new year!

Be happy and enjoy every day!

Yulia Shmitko

a second-year student majoring in Ecology and Nature Management

May the new year be like a perfect algorithm for our university—effective, innovative, and opening up new horizons!

I wish that every project we undertake will be groundbreaking, and that students and staff will work together to write the most successful code of the future!

Anton Poddubsky

Dean of the Faculty of Artificial Intelligence

Dear RUDN, may your classrooms be filled with even more inquisitive eyes in the coming year, and may your corridors be filled with lively discussions in all the languages of the world.

I wish us all new discoveries, inspiration, and the same warm, family-like atmosphere that has always been our hallmark!

Pavel Podolko

Head of the Department of Applied Artificial Intelligence, Faculty of Artificial Intelligence

Our RUDN University is the pinnacle of excellence in the art of bringing people together and creating an atmosphere of true hospitality.

May this atmosphere only become warmer in the coming year, and may our large family become even more united.

Anna Ostrovskaya

Director of the Higher School of Management

Dear RUDN University, I wish you even more reasons to share good news and heartwarming stories in the new year.

Let the world see and appreciate our greatest treasure – the smiles and shining eyes of our students and staff,

Anastasia Shikhaleva

Head of the Public Relations and Advertising Department of the Higher School of Management

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.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Peoples'Friendship University of Russia

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

Imagine a world where everyone has enough food, clean water, access to education, and decent work. A world where nature is protected and the future of our planet is cared for. These are the Sustainable Development Goals—building a sustainable future for everyone! To this end, the United Nations (UN) identified 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015. The SDGs are a global plan that helps countries and people move together toward a better future. All 193 UN member states have signed up to them.

The goals are: no poverty and hunger, good health and well-being, quality education, gender equality, clean water and sanitation, affordable and clean energy, decent work and economic growth, industrialization, innovation and infrastructure, reduced inequalities, sustainable cities and communities, responsible consumption and production, climate action, life on land and marine ecosystems, peace, justice and strong institutions, and partnerships for sustainable development.

Our university is the leader among all 752 Russian universities in terms of its contribution to the UN Sustainable Development Strategy. In 2024, RUDN University ranked second and was included in the top five universities in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) for sustainable development management, according to a study by the National Rating Agency. In the Times Higher Education Impact global ranking, we are ranked first in Russia for two SDGs: "Quality Education" and "Gender Equality." We are also among the top five universities in the country for nine more SDGs. Furthermore, we were one of seven Russian universities included in the inaugural RAEX Sustainable Development Ranking. Our university was awarded the AA rating, demonstrating a very high level of work in this area.

The greenest

RUDN University takes environmental stewardship seriously. We rightfully rank first among Russian universities and 22nd globally in the UI GreenMetric ranking, earning the title of "greenest." RUDN University was the first in the country to receive accreditation for the verification of carbon reporting, climate projects, and carbon footprints, as well as the validation of climate projects across 27 economic activities. Since 2017, the university has been implementing a project to measure the environmental situation on campus and around the university, monitoring the air, soil, and vegetation year-round.

RUDN University has transitioned to energy-saving technologies. 100% of its buildings have undergone energy audits. The university has implemented measures to reduce heat and water consumption costs, resulting in a 24,000 cubic meter reduction in water consumption in 2024 compared to 2023. The university has also implemented a waste separation system and recycles approximately 3,000 tons of waste annually.

RUDN University staff and students are also making a contribution and actively participating in wastepaper collection. In 2023, over 30 tons of paper were collected, in 2024 – over 37, and in 2025 – approximately 37 tons. This translates to 17-20 saved mature trees and 20,000-50,000 liters of saved water.

In 2025, scientists from the RUDN University Institute of Ecology developed the university's first standard for determining environmental indicators for sustainable development.

Current research

Over the past year, RUDN University researchers have published over 1,930 publications on the SDGs, most of which are on medicine. Over 600 articles are devoted to SDG 3, "Good Health and Well-Being."

For example, the research of the medical institute's scientists—Doctors of Medical Sciences Timur Fatkhudinov and Andrey Elchaninov, and Candidate of Medical Sciences Andrey Makarov—covers cell biology, inflammation, regeneration, and oncogenesis, as well as the development of diagnostic and therapeutic approaches in molecular and cellular medicine. The research team has developed a prototype biomedical cell product for immunocellular therapy, aimed at improving the effectiveness of treating socially significant diseases, including cancer. The scientists obtained results in in vitro and in vivo disease models confirming the potential of macrophages in tumor therapy: the resulting native and polarized macrophages can be used both as a therapeutic agent and as an agent for delivering antitumor drugs to the tumor site.

But it's not just research that helps RUDN University achieve SDG-3. The university runs the "Healthy Student, Healthy Employee" program, which provides employees with free health screenings from men's and women's health specialists. And starting this year, they can also take a free course of 10 consultations with a psychologist. This is how the university cares about the health of its students and staff.

Returning to research, another popular area is SDG 2 (zero hunger). RUDN University scientists published 220 publications on this topic in 2024. For example, one study by the Institute of Ecology is devoted to the development of innovative methods in plant growing based on artificial intelligence. The scientists succeeded in developing innovative models that predict plant damage by fungal diseases based on spectral reflectance data and laboratory analysis of leaves. The models are based on machine learning algorithms and can accurately determine the extent of infestation using images obtained from drones or satellites. This approach will allow agronomists to proactively identify disease outbreaks, save time and money, and apply fungicides only where truly necessary. This will reduce environmental impacts and improve production efficiency. Furthermore, the developed technologies can be integrated into smart monitoring systems that integrate satellite data, on-site sensors, and precision farming software solutions.

Quality of education

RUDN University has also made significant progress in achieving SDG 4, "Quality Education." The university offers over 800 educational programs, including those focused on SDG topics such as "Food Security," "Energy and Resource-Saving Processes in Chemical Engineering," "Expertise in Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development," "Discrimination and Gender Issues in Modern International Law," and others.

Our students study 14 languages. Seventy-two programs at the university are taught in English, French, Chinese, and Spanish. Joint master's programs and other projects are being implemented with Sber, Alfa-Bank, X5, and other strategic partners. RUDN University has over 250 cooperation agreements with international universities and research centers, and 176 joint international educational programs. Academic exchanges, internships, and scientific collaborations—the university's international activities are widespread. SDG 4 is also a research focus for RUDN University researchers. Last year, over 120 scientific articles were published on this topic, and over 20 R&D projects were completed.

Digitalization also plays a significant role in ensuring the quality and accessibility of education. RUDN University has a digital preparatory faculty, thanks to which thousands of international students have learned Russian and prepared for admission to Russian universities. Furthermore, the university has its own Multifunctional Center, which provides over 95 services—from dormitory rental agreements to registering international students for migration purposes and visa extensions. The university's mobile app includes essential student features such as student ID cards, personal progress reports, class schedules, and electronic grade books. Faculty also benefit from convenient electronic transcripts and an electronic attendance and grade book.

Over 200 laboratories operate at the university to conduct various experiments, conduct research, and prepare scientific publications. These include a VR lab at the Engineering Academy, where students can work with modern 3D projects in mechanical engineering, architecture, mining, and transportation, as well as prepare and defend their term papers and final theses with visual presentations of their work in a fully immersive virtual environment. Furthermore, over 1,300 companies collaborate with RUDN University on graduate employment opportunities. Students have numerous opportunities to complete internships at public and government organizations, industrial enterprises, and public and private clinics. These opportunities also include preparing final theses on real-world projects and company challenges, with the potential for subsequent employment.

Our university rightfully occupies a vanguard position in the global educational and scientific arena. RUDN's contribution to achieving the SDGs is, without exaggeration, endless. These aren't just words, but real achievements, confirmed by international experts.

Incidentally, it has become a good tradition to hold the International Scientific Conference "For Sustainable Development of Civilization: Cooperation, Science, Education, and Technology" annually in November at RUDN University. The conference serves as a platform for exchanging experiences and developing practical solutions for achieving the SDGs.

The main theme of 2025 is the achievement of 17 sustainable development goals by CIS member states by 2030.

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.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Peoples'Friendship University of Russia

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

"Infinite wisdom, unconditional faith in her students, a unique teaching gift." In memory of Elena Alexandrovna Krasina

RUDN University expresses its deepest condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues on the passing of renowned scholar, Doctor of Philology, and Professor Elena Aleksandrovna Krasina.

"I immerse myself in my work": the Grand Prix winner of the RUDN University Volunteer of the Year competition talks about her volunteer journey

Elza Shaimukhametova won this year's RUDN University Volunteer of the Year competition. At the awards ceremony, the second-year student at the Agrarian and Technological Institute (Veterinary Science major) shared that volunteering for her means dedicating yourself entirely to a cause, to people, and to being useful.

"We Help with Our Hearts": RUDN University Awards the Year's Best Student Volunteers

The university announced the results of its main volunteer competition, "RUDN Volunteer of the Year." Seventeen people won in five categories. The Grand Prix went to Elza Shaimukhametova, a student majoring in Veterinary Science at the Agrarian and Technological Institute.

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.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Peoples'Friendship University of Russia

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

Taking stock of the past year before the long holiday weekend has become a tradition. Social media feeds are filled with them in December. Several RUDN University faculties and institutes decided to join in and shared their achievements with us.

Faculty of Economics and Institute of World Economy and Business

"We've made a strong statement on all fronts: from science to creativity, from debates to startups!" they declared at the Faculty of Economics and the Institute of World Economy and Business. They emphasized that people are their greatest achievement. The faculty and institute have produced two new PhD candidates. Furthermore, Konstantin Gomonov, Associate Professor of the Department of Economic and Mathematical Modeling, was recognized as the best young scientist.

Students also excelled. Artyom Vanyashev became the international champion at the BRICS debates in South Africa, beating out strong competitors from around the world. Elizaveta Levina and Valeria Pykhtina won the all-Russian competition "Your Move" in the tracks "I'm Making" and "Your Move, Headman!" Their projects are changing the student environment for the better. And student entrepreneurs Vladimir Mishatkin and Kristina Mirzakhanyan were among the finalists and winners of the prestigious "Start Your Business with Moscow" competition. Their startups (an innovative insulin pump and AI recruiting) were ranked among the top 100 university startups in Russia!

The departments have launched new scientific journals, giving researchers from the Faculty of Economics and the Institute of World Economy and Business even more publication platforms. They also now have four dissertation councils! This means more opportunities for defending and having their academic degrees recognized. Furthermore, the departments' experts have given over 1,000 interviews and commentaries—they are cited and consulted.

Economists have also proven themselves to be the most creative! IMEB won the "Worldview-2025" vocal and dance competition hosted by the RUDN University Student Council! What does this mean? It means that being an economist at RUDN University isn't just about formulas and graphs. It's about comprehensive development, global thinking, and the courage to explore fields such as science, business, creativity, and public debate.

Medical Institute

Students, postgraduates, residents, and staff of the medical institute won more than 100 prizes at scientific events:

40 – first; 35 – second; 30 – third.

Dentists at the Institute of Dentistry have created a program that speeds up orthodontic work by 40%. Scientists have developed an innovative method for the early correction of cleft palates and lip defects in newborns. And students have created a chatbot for patients with type 1 diabetes. The Institute's Dean, Alexey Abramov, has been awarded the title of "Dean of the Year." This title is awarded as part of the national Russian Assembly Award in the Medical Sciences category.

This year, the Institute of Medical Sciences (MI) admitted students for the first time to the postgraduate programs in Nephrology and Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. A new master's program in Clinical Embryology was also launched. Regarding its international activities, the Institute has implemented 55 international academic mobility programs (main partners being China, Uzbekistan, and the UAE). It signed an agreement on cooperation in science and education with the University of São Paulo (Brazil) and a memorandum of intent to establish a Russian-Cuban consortium of medical schools.

In the rankings, MI ranked 5th in Russia for graduate employment in the field of "Healthcare and Medical Sciences." In the Expert subject rankings, it ranked 7th in "Medicine," 4th in "Pharmacology," 8th in "Life Sciences," and 10th in "Biochemistry."

Institute of Ecology

IE sets trends in education and science, as confirmed by leading global and national rankings:

3rd place among Russian universities and included in the top 1000 universities in the world in the US News ranking (ENVIRONMENT/ECOLOGY, 2025); 1st place in Russia (22nd in the world) in UI GreenMetric; 1st place in the Expert subject rankings in Ecology (2022-2024) and Renewable Energy (2023-2024); top-500 in the world (2nd place in Russia) in the ARWU ranking in environmental sciences.

The institute's scientists are shaping the global environmental agenda. For example, research by senior lecturer Yaroslav Lebedev documented for the first time a hidden environmental disaster on Elbrus, revealing the phenomenon of a "baseline shift." Professor Alexander Khaustov was awarded the K.I. Satpayev Medal for his contributions to science. Specifically, he led a major trilateral research project to develop an expert system for the environmental remediation of oil-contaminated geological environments.

IE students are the driving force behind change:

A group of students actively participated in the cleanup of the fuel oil spill in Anapa; the GreenLab student scientific society was recognized as the best at the university; four students received a special prize at the international "Ecology is Everyone's Business" award; Ojeda Amaya Deiby won the All-Russian "Flagships of Education" competition; Evgeny Vorozhtsov was the head of a department at the All-Russian "Your Move" forum; Ekaterina Kostenko was awarded the Norilsk Nickel award in the "Creators" category; and Elizaveta Mogileva won the 2025-2026 Vernadsky Foundation scholarship competition.

The Director of the Institute of Ecology, Professor Elena Savenkova, was awarded the "For Assistance" medal by the Russian Ministry of Natural Resources for her active support in addressing key issues in ecology and environmental management. Previously, the entire team received official gratitude from the ministry for their productive collaboration. These awards recognize the significant contribution of the institute and its leadership to training highly qualified ecologists capable of addressing global challenges, developing sustainable development strategies, and implementing advanced environmental technologies.

Patriotic education and active citizenship are another integral part of the Institute's life. The Institute's educational work has received the highest recognition at the state and public levels. Deputy Director Irina Golovacheva was awarded a letter of gratitude from the President of the Russian Federation for her contribution to the patriotic education of youth and the development of environmental awareness. The Institute has received awards from the Central Council of the "Patriots of the Capital" organization and the All-Russian Public Organization "Combat Brotherhood," while its staff has received medals "For Selfless Assistance to Russian Soldiers" and letters of gratitude from the Federal State Budgetary Institution "Rospatriotcenter" and the same organization for fostering patriotic thinking and assisting SVO participants.

The Institute of Ecology also reaffirmed its status as an international platform for training personnel in sustainable urban development based on digital technologies and circular economy principles. A second intensive training program was implemented for 45 employees from 20 municipal assemblies in the Greater Accra Region. The program included 13 industrial field trips to waste management facilities in the capital and 15 expert sessions on the digital transformation of municipal governance and the development of a comfortable urban environment. Building on the knowledge gained and contacts established, municipal employees were able to develop pilot business projects for infrastructure change in Ghana's municipalities.

Faculty of Philology

For the Faculty of Philosophy, 2025 is a year of pleasant and meaningful meetings, recognition of the achievements of students and faculty, and real-world practical experience in a professional environment. This is a year of strong reasons to be proud of the faculty's members.

One of the year's key events was a large-scale reunion of the Faculty of Philology alumni. Graduates from various years, faculty, and students—people for whom the RUDN University Faculty of Philology remains a point of professional and personal attraction—came together in one place.

This year also demonstrated that the faculty's students are working with real-world problems while still studying. A striking example is student Daria Magdisyuk's thesis, which was a podcast with the RUDN University rector. Furthermore, Faculty of Philosophy students are completing internships on the rector's team: they accompany him to interviews outside the university and participate in the preparation of media materials.

In 2025, the Faculty of Philology graduated a record-breaking 1,179 students: philologists, linguists, psychologists, PR specialists, journalists, and television specialists. A total of 117 graduates graduated with honors—the result of the hard work of all involved.

FF students also made a name for themselves outside the classroom:

Journalism student Karina Barkhudaryan reached the finals of the Moscow Student of the Year competition; members of the United4Me PSO received a special award for their media project at the Interuniversity Student Festival of Social Advertising and Social Journalism "Person of the Future"; students also won victories and prizes in sports competitions and citywide student contests.

Furthermore, in 2025, the work of the Faculty of Philology faculty was recognized with departmental and state awards. Svetlana Deryabina, Associate Professor of the Department of Russian Language and Teaching Methods, received a gold medal at the Moscow International Salon of Inventions and Innovative Technologies "Archimedes" for developing an electronic textbook on Russian phonetics, "Phonetic Video Visualization." It uses video recordings of tongue ultrasounds to teach and practice pronunciation of Russian sounds in international students.

Vladimir Denisenko, Head of the Department of General and Russian Linguistics, was awarded the Medal "For Impeccable Work and Distinction".

The following were awarded with honorary certificates from the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation:

Kristina Abdus, Director of the Center for Continuing Professional Education; Alexey Novikov, Associate Professor of the Department of General and Russian Linguistics; Mikhail Rybakov, Associate Professor of the Department of General and Russian Linguistics; Natalia Poplavskaya, Deputy Dean for International Affairs and Associate Professor of the Department of Mass Communications.

Nikolai Bandurin, Deputy Dean for Educational Work and lecturer in the Department of Mass Communications, has been awarded a commendation from the Mayor of Moscow for his contribution to the development of civil society and active participation in public affairs. He is an expert and methodologist at the "Value of Every Life" Center for the Protection of Homeless Animals and has been consulting with volunteers and specialists for over five years in the field of social project design and the development of essential soft skills.

Natalia Dubinina, Deputy Dean for Academic Affairs at the Faculty of Philology and Associate Professor of the Department of Foreign Languages, was also awarded the title of "Honored Worker of Education of the Russian Federation." Galina Trofimova, Professor of the Department of Mass Communications, was awarded the Order of Merit for the Fatherland, 2nd Class.

The faculties and institutes of RUDN University have achieved so many merits, achievements, and successes this year!

We wish them to shine even more in 2026 and achieve all their goals!

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.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Peoples'Friendship University of Russia

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

Rosprirodnadzor continues to implement digital technologies to improve its operational efficiency. At a recent internal competition for the integration of artificial intelligence, breakthrough solutions developed by Makar Berestov, a graduate of the RUDN University Institute of Ecology, were presented and have already been implemented.

Makar's AI agent "Dove" for an electronic document management system took second place in the competition. It's a smart assistant that operates according to a preset script.

"The AI agent automatically reviews incoming resolutions, analyzes attached files, and prepares draft responses based on them. For example, it can independently process a person's request, determine the location of the problem, and forward it to the appropriate territorial office of Rosprirodnadzor. The implementation of Golub has reduced the initial review time for requests from 5 minutes to 30 seconds, and the need for printing documents has been completely eliminated," said Makar Berestov.

Third place in the competition went to another AI agent, "Hedgehog," created by a RUDN University graduate. It is used in the State Register of Waste Disposal Facilities (GRWDF). Its task is to work with the following landfill characteristics:

Digitize incoming paper specifications using OCR technology; automatically transfer data into structured tables (Excel); and check all entered data for logic and compliance with environmental legislation.

The implementation of an AI agent has reduced the time it takes to check one characteristic of an object from one hour to approximately 3 seconds (3.14 s).

Both digital assistants are already actively used in the service's daily work and continue to be developed. The competition received over 100 proposals from Rosprirodnadzor employees, describing specific functionality and expected effects. Over 20 ideas were selected for further development and implementation.

The award ceremony for the competition winners was personally conducted by the head of the Federal Service, Svetlana Radionova.

The Institute of Ecology is proud of Makar and wishes him continued success!

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.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Peoples'Friendship University of Russia

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

Researchers from the RUDN University Faculty of Artificial Intelligence conducted a large-scale study that uncovered systematic errors in large-scale language models (LLMs) used to diagnose depression from text. This work, conducted jointly with colleagues from AIRI, the Federal Research Center for Control and Management of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Institute of Systematic Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, and the Moscow Branch of the International Association of Zoological Research (MBZUAI), not only identifies the problem but also lays the foundation for the development of more reliable and secure tools for detecting depression and anxiety.

"Our research is an important step toward trusted AI in medicine. We don't simply point out the shortcomings of AI tools; we propose approaches to overcoming them. The key challenge today is not blind trust in algorithms, but their integration into physician workflows as a proven and understandable decision-support tool. Patient safety and understanding the limitations of this technology are our absolute priority," noted Anton Poddubsky, Dean of the Faculty of Artificial Intelligence at RUDN University.

The main value of the study is its detailed comparison of existing large-scale language models (LLMs), as well as methods for their use and retraining for the tasks of detecting depression and anxiety from text, and an analysis of AI errors and "hallucinations" in these tasks with the participation of psychology experts. The work of the RUDN University scientists received recognition and was presented at the highly regarded international conference "Empirical Methods in Natural Language Processing" (EMNLP). We spoke with the authors of the article to learn how the idea for the study came about, what AI "hallucinations" they identified, and the prospects for further development of the research.

How did the idea for research on this topic arise and why is it relevant and important?

In recent years, there has been growing interest in text-based mental health diagnostics and the use of AI in this field, as well as in the application of LLM in medicine in general. However, most studies rely on English-language data and ML models; comprehensive comparisons for the Russian language have not yet been conducted. This prompted us to explore LLM and other machine learning models for detecting depression and anxiety from text. We compared various models for both tasks and demonstrated which ones perform best in each case. We also conducted additional experiments to evaluate the quality of LLM generation from the perspective of expert psychologists. It turned out that, at this stage, LLMs produce answers of low quality. Specifically, in one experiment, we used LLM not only to determine the presence or absence of depression in a text author but also to generate an explanation for why the model reached this conclusion. It was in this experiment that we established that the explanations provided by modern models contain a significant number of errors from an expert perspective.

What is the main danger of such errors?

The danger lies in the fact that LLMs can produce unfounded or false conclusions ("hallucinations") that appear plausible to the end user. Such errors are difficult to detect without expert assistance, but they can lead to misinterpretation of depression symptoms.

What causes of AI errors have you identified? What is it about mental health conversations that so confuses even the most advanced language models?

Clinical psychologists analyzed the LLM responses and identified errors from an expert perspective. We identified six main types of errors: tautology, unfounded generalizations, false conclusions, confabulations, misrepresentation of medical concepts of depression, and incomplete listing of its symptoms. It's worth noting that, from a machine learning perspective, all of these errors can be described as "hallucinations," but in psychology-related tasks, a more precise categorization is needed. A characteristic of the texts used to detect depression is the difficulty of interpreting them. People often describe their condition indirectly, using metaphors, and text does not always directly reflect signs of mental disorders. Furthermore, the task of detecting depression from text is challenging for non-specialized models, as most of them are not trained on psychological or medical data.

What are the prospects for the development of this research?

The next step could be specialized retraining of LLMs on large datasets for depression and anxiety detection. The current experiments used a relatively small amount of data, which could limit the final quality of the models.

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.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Peoples'Friendship University of Russia

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

Ilya Ivanov, a student in the Department of Mechanical Engineering Technologies at the RUDN University Engineering Academy, won the all-Russian "SOLLERS Orbit of Professionals" competition. He received a scholarship and a paid internship at a leading automotive company with a flexible schedule during his studies. The internship will be supervised by experienced mentors and experts in the automotive industry. It will provide the student with the opportunity to directly participate in the development and implementation of the company's projects.

The competition, which Ilya won, consisted of several stages: online testing, a practical case study, and an interview. At the in-person finals, attended by 200 of the best engineering students from across Russia, he presented his project to the company's expert committee, which received high praise for its innovation and practical relevance. We spoke with Ilya to learn more about the project that won him the competition and what he expects from his upcoming internship.

How did you prepare for the various stages of the competition—the online testing, the practical case? Share your secret to success.

My preparation was systematic. Before the online test, which covered both general automotive knowledge and technical topics (vehicle electrical equipment, metalworking, strength of materials), I reviewed key subjects from my final years—mechanical engineering technology, machine and mechanism theory, and cutting tools. When solving the practical case, the experience gained during my summer internship at the MAZ Moskvich plant, where I was fortunate to participate in the development of new production automation systems and immerse myself in the specifics of the domestic automotive industry, played a significant role. So there's no secret—it was simply a lot of time spent developing a deep understanding of the subject.

What knowledge did you gain at RUDN University helped you win? Are there any particular teachers you'd like to thank?

The objective of the competition case is to develop a mounting bracket for the ERA-GLONASS emergency call unit for a Sollers ST6 vehicle. This is a complex task: the development must take into account production volume, cost, labor intensity, and other factors affecting the final product. We discuss all these aspects in detail in our classes, so I would like to thank our department's instructors: Pavel Aleksandrovich Davydenko, Dmitry Gennadievich Allenov, and Vladimir Viktorovich Kopylov, for their high-quality and accessible presentation of these specialized subjects.

Which stage of the competition was the most difficult for you and why?

The development stage was the most challenging, as there were countless possible solutions. I chose the path of maximum functionality, emphasizing simplicity and low manufacturing cost, which ultimately led to victory.

What was innovative about your project and its practical significance for the automotive industry?

My project included not only the bracket itself, but also a proposal for organizing production, strength analysis results, cost calculations, and a corporate-style brochure outlining the advantages of the proposed solution.

How did you feel the moment you found out you were the winner? What was the first thing you thought about?

The competition organizers kept the suspense going until the very end. On the way to the awards ceremony, I expected to win a prize, but certainly not first place, because, as it seemed to me then, I hadn't done anything special—I'd simply applied the knowledge I'd gained in class. At the event, I met students from various universities in Moscow and the Moscow region, such as MIPT and Bauman Moscow State Technical University, including both master's and doctoral students. The organizers began presenting the awards: third place—not me, second—not me, first—again, not me. At that moment, I thought, "Oh well, I didn't win—it happens, I'll try next time." But then they announced, "Today, our guest is the person who took first place among all participants in Russia—RUDN University student Ilya Ivanov." At that moment, I was overjoyed and immediately ran onto the stage.

The grand prize is a paid internship at SOLLERS. What are your expectations for this job?

This is a very valuable award. What I'm looking forward to is immersing myself in real production processes. Theory and case studies are one thing, but a live factory with its challenges is a completely different and most valuable experience. I hope to contribute to the development of the domestic auto industry and learn from the best specialists in the industry.

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.