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.

The RUDN University Law Institute team successfully participated in the TaxIn Tashkent 2025 international taxation competition and took third place.

The team included:

Stanislav Ambrosimov, team captain, fourth-year undergraduate student majoring in Jurisprudence, General Profile; Maria Tuteva, fourth-year undergraduate student majoring in Jurisprudence, General Profile; Shokhramakhon Taburov, fourth-year student of the Tajik State University of Finance and Economics, Faculty of Economics and Business.

The consultant was Anton Oleynik, a first-year postgraduate student in the Department of Administrative and Financial Law.

The spirit of adventure and the pursuit of knowledge

Teams from leading universities in Russia and Uzbekistan, who had passed a competitive selection process, participated in the TaxIn Tashkent 2025 competition finals. RUDN University students demonstrated a high level of knowledge during the qualifying rounds.

According to the students, the preparation, although grueling, was rewarding, as they received and studied a vast amount of information. This was in part thanks to their consultant, Anton Oleynik. Incidentally, he himself participated in the 2024 competition and knew exactly what students could expect in Tashkent.

"The competition offers opportunities to showcase not only your knowledge but also your creative approach to problem solving. Last year I was a participant, this year I'm a consultant, and I can confidently say that the spirit of adventure and the pursuit of new knowledge hasn't weakened, but rather intensified and seems to have taken root in my heart. Experienced lawyers with expertise in international tax law, creative students eager to learn, and sunny Tashkent—all of this creates an excellent environment for new opportunities, connections, and broadening one's horizons," says Anton Oleynik.

Protection of memoranda

The competition consisted of two stages. In the first stage, teams prepared written positions (memoranda) for the taxpayer and the tax authority based on the assigned task. Based on the evaluation of their memoranda, the best teams advanced to the in-person rounds of the competition. The in-person rounds were organized in the form of a court hearing. Here, teams defended their written positions for the plaintiff (taxpayer) and the defendant (tax authority) before a panel of judges. For example, a case was presented in which a company challenged additional tax assessments in court based on an on-site tax audit report.

As Maria Tutaeva notes, participation in the competition contributed to her professional growth.

"Appearing before judges, including the leadership of the Federal Tax Service and the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation, helped me overcome my stage fright. I learned to control myself and suppress my panic. This was necessary to focus and express my point of view on the judges' questions and the opponents' positions. I especially remember the moments when we were presented with our opponents' positions. We studied and analyzed their arguments, after which the entire team developed counterarguments to refute them. I would like to acknowledge the support of the student volunteers from the Tashkent State University of Economics, who assisted us and showed genuine interest in our progress," said Maria Tutaeva.

"I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the competition organizers for the high quality of preparation and impeccable operational support. The event was designed with exceptional professionalism, allowing each participant to reach a new level of competency. For me, participation was a significant growth factor: I developed my skills, expanded my expertise, and gained valuable practical insight. Special thanks to the rector's office for their strategic management of the process, and to the judging panel for their objectivity, thorough evaluation, and high professional standards," says Stanislav Ambrosimov.

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 emerged victorious at the 2nd All-Russian Student Pharmaceutical Olympiad "PharmUmnik," organized by the Kuban State Medical University of the Russian Ministry of Health. The competition featured 116 participants from 24 teams representing the country's leading pharmaceutical faculties and universities.

The Olympiad was held in the main professional disciplines: pharmaceutical chemistry; pharmaceutical technology; pharmacognosy; biopharmacy; toxicological chemistry; management and economics of pharmacy; pharmacology.

The competition participants from RUDN University are fourth- and fifth-year students majoring in Pharmacy:

Yulia Zaitseva – team captain; Anna Musatova; Maria Gordeeva; Ekaterina Khromova; Elizaveta Chernysheva.

100 questions in 60 minutes

The competition was held remotely and included four stages. The first consisted of team registration and presentations, while the second involved solving test problems in each team's personal account. Test results were displayed on the Olympiad page within three hours of the end of each stage. Students had to answer 100 questions in 60 minutes, with one point awarded for each correct answer. Teams that scored at least 71% correct advanced to the third stage.

"We were intrigued by the question about the trade name of Roche's oseltamivir drug. At first, we weren't sure of the answer, as we hadn't delved into the details of the story. However, over time, an idea emerged: Roche named the drug oseltamivir oseltamivir by combining "Tami"—part of the active ingredient oseltamivir—and the ending "flu," which hinted at the drug's antiviral action. So we arrived at the correct answer, choosing "Tamiflu." —Maria Gordeeva

"During the team rounds, we approached the assigned tasks as a team. Each person proposed their own solution to a given issue, then we selected the most appropriate one, which the rest of the team agreed on. There were questions to which one member knew a clear answer; in such cases, the others relied on that knowledge, and we then moved on to the next questions, as we were limited in time," says Anna Musatova.

"We didn't encounter any particular difficulties in solving the problems, thanks to the excellent knowledge base of our team. I'd like to extend a special thank you to our instructor, Alina Borisovna Strok, for her support and deep knowledge of pharmacology," says Yulia Zaitseva.

According to Yulia, for her, as team captain, the hardest thing was not the burden of responsibility, but the burden of isolation at the moment of making key decisions.

"Managing a team is always a balance between democracy and authoritarianism, and the most challenging moment comes when these principles conflict. Yes, there were situations when my decision ran counter to the majority opinion, and I couldn't simply say, 'Let's do this, and I guarantee success 100%.' I had to argue not with facts, but with vision, risks, and strategy," says Yulia Zaitseva.

Recipe for victory

During the third stage of the Olympiad, teams solved situational problems remotely. These included cases covering the core modules of the Pharmacy program. The time allotted for solving the problem was 50 minutes. The maximum percentage a team could achieve in this stage was 100.

The fourth stage of the Olympiad was the most enjoyable, as it was where the results were announced and the best were awarded. And the RUDN University team emerged as the Olympiad leader! Our medical students once again demonstrated the high level of their knowledge and skills.

"The top-secret recipe for victory for RUDN University teams: a kilogram of team spirit, student tears (during exams), and three liters of student ingenuity. The addition of toxicity and a pinch of selfishness is prohibited," says Elizaveta Chernysheva.

"Teamwork and a determined determination to win—that's what drove our team forward. Frankly, the thrill of anticipation only fueled our excitement. And when victory was ours, we were overwhelmed with incredible joy! Bringing this high result to the Department of General and Clinical Pharmacology is a great honor for us. We are incredibly happy to be able to share this unforgettable moment together. And, of course, we wholeheartedly thank our academic supervisor, Alina Borisovna! Your support is invaluable!" — Ekaterina Khromova.

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.

Last week, African journalists visited RUDN University as part of the "TASS – Africa: Path of Friendship" press tour. They discussed with the university's leadership the university's connections to the continent and its collaboration with African higher education institutions.

Excellent students and one talented underachiever

At the beginning of the meeting, RUDN University Vice-Rector for Strategic Communications Elena Apasova shared three stories about African students with the guests.

"The first story is when a group of students from South Africa came to visit us, and I asked one of them, 'Why RUDN University?' He replied that he really wanted to become a farmer, learn how to grow and process different fruits. The second thing I want to tell you about is our annual A-Level Students' Gathering, which is approaching. Two students from Africa have been studying for 10 semesters at the Medical Institute, earning straight A's, which is no easy feat. And the third story is about our cameraman, Junior, who is filming today's event. He entered RUDN University's Physics and Mathematics Department and received many, many Ds. But we saw that he is a natural cameraman, has a keen eye, and is good with a camera. Now he is studying journalism. At our university, every student can change their professional development path," says Elena Apasova.

After sharing students' stories, the vice-rector moved on to talk about the university itself. As Elena Mikhailovna noted, the RUDN family is very large: 200,000 alumni worldwide. Our university is the most multidisciplinary and the "greenest" in the country. The university's researchers actively collaborate with their African colleagues. Together, they have written 540 publications, 10 of which are in the top 1% for citations.

"RUDN University has a grant system to support scientific research. Two African researchers (one from Algeria, the other from Egypt) received grants from the university. One research project focused on new crop management methods. The other focused on innovative methods for assessing agricultural soil pollution," said Elena Apasova.

Marina Rekets, RUDN University's Vice-Rector for International Affairs, added that 2,500 Africans study at RUDN University—from nearly every country on the continent, with the exception of Lesotho.

"We hope that next year we will have students from this country as well. We cannot help but emphasize and feel the special connection between RUDN and Africa. After all, one could say that RUDN began with Africa," said Marina Rekets.

According to her, RUDN University has trained nearly 16,000 specialists for African countries over the years. Furthermore, the university maintains partnerships with dozens of African universities.

Amazing RUDN University

The RUDN University guests eagerly asked questions about the unique aspects of studying at RUDN University, why the university was named after Patrice Lumumba, and the university's collaboration with educational institutions across the continent. They learned not only about the opportunities for African students to study and pursue research, but also about the students' creative self-fulfillment in the Interclub studios and the security measures taken on campus. At the end of the meeting, the delegation members received branded university merchandise. The African journalists were deeply impressed by the visit.

"I'm discovering Russia, it's my first time here, and it's wonderful. I was surprised at RUDN University by how many nationalities there are. I thought it would be 99% Russian and maybe two or three foreigners. But it turns out it's a small world, encompassing all nationalities and ethnic groups. Now I'm wondering if my daughter (she's 14 now) should apply here," says Tilado Apollinaire Abga, Director of Information at the Burkina Faso Press Agency.

"Your university lives up to its name. I was truly delighted to see that the Russian and African peoples are united. And that we share a common vision of respect for human dignity. I'm delighted to see so many African students coming here to study. They receive excellent training and degrees that enable them to build careers. So, I'm thrilled: I think that in the future, my children will come to study here, in Russia, at RUDN University," says Vanet Mercia Loemba, editorial director of the ACI Pointe-Noire bureau from the Republic of Congo.

"Compared to what we hear and see in other media, with the information coming from everywhere spreading negative propaganda about Russia, what we saw here was completely different. We realized that Russia is a hospitable country, a country with a high level of social responsibility, a wonderful country because you can have a good time there. Specifically, at RUDN, I liked how you value every student. You treat students like a son or daughter. You recognize each student's potential and help them find what they're best at," said Marlis Rosi Lorian Chibinda Bachi, Head of the Government Information Department.

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.

Our university has strong ties with leading institutions in the Russian financial system and the professional business community. This was further confirmed by the All-Russian Scientific Conference of RUDN and the Bank of Russia on Monetary Policy. The event brought together over 300 representatives of the financial sector, including representatives from the Bank of Russia, the Russian Academy of Sciences, businesses, the financial sector, and faculty and students from leading federal universities.

"RUDN University is a recognized international platform for the academic community, government officials, and business representatives. This time, the conference was held at the national level, but in the future, we plan to expand it to the international level, which will contribute to the development of unified approaches in the financial sector for associations such as the SCO, BRICS, the CIS, and the EAEU," said Maria Zhukova, Advisor to the Rectorate of RUDN University on Sustainable Development, member of the Board of Directors of the credit institution, and member of the Shareholder Advisory Council of VTB Bank (PJSC).

The conference featured a Bank of Russia communications session and a roundtable discussion on monetary policy research. Participants discussed the current trends in central bank monetary policy and prospects for developing regulatory instruments and models in the current environment. Speakers presented the latest practices and strategies in monetary policy, as well as key research findings in this area.

About the key reference and the model apparatus

Young scientists from RUDN University and other leading federal universities participated in the communication session. The speakers shared the results of the Bank of Russia's analytical work. Alexander Morozov, Director of the Bank of Russia's Research and Forecasting Department, outlined global economic trends, including those that have occurred since the 2008 crisis. He also shared current developments in the Russian economy and described how the Bank of Russia achieves its goals, including through the key interest rate.

"Since 2008, the number of countries that adopted fiscal rules, thereby stabilizing finances, has almost doubled. The situation has also changed in terms of the strength of their application. While before 2008, countries had practically never used them, afterward, the strength and effectiveness of fiscal rules increased dramatically. They largely ensured the stability of the Russian economic system during the crises we experienced in 2014, 2020, and 2022," says Alexander Morozov.

Alexander Gennadyevich explained that the key rate cut cannot be as rapid as the Russian population expects, as it will be followed by price increases. This will lead to even higher price expectations.

"The economy needs a period of stabilization before returning to a growth trajectory, so the end of 2025 and the first half of 2026 will truly be the most challenging for business. After that, the situation will improve. This is the price we pay for failing to prevent the economy from overheating. But if nothing is done, a recession is inevitable. Today, the economy isn't growing, but it's certainly not declining," says Alexander Morozov.

Mikhail Zhemkov, Head of the Economic Analysis Department of the Bank of Russia's Monetary Policy Department, explained why the bank uses modeling and which models are considered "correct" and "useful." He noted that combined models are now often used in academic research. He also noted that scientists shouldn't rely on a single model; they should use various variations and scenarios.

"Models shouldn't be based solely on past ('vintage') data. As such, they don't allow for predicting unexpected changes in the economy. Models must incorporate expert judgment and include various variations," says Mikhail Zhemkov.

Natalia Makhankova, Chief Economist of the Macroeconomic and Financial Research Department of the Bank of Russia's Research and Forecasting Department, explained to conference participants why and in what areas the bank conducts economic research.

"Today, the second version of the Bank of Russia's economic research guidelines for 2023-2025 was published. They are available on the bank's website. The report includes an overview of monetary economics and monetary policy, development directions for the financial sector and prudential policy, and an assessment of challenges facing the Russian economy," said Natalia Makhankova.

Making things clear

Young scientists from our university were pleasantly surprised by the transparency and accessibility of the information presented by Bank of Russia representatives in their reports.

"Despite the complexity of the topic, the speakers were able to clearly explain important concepts. It was important for me to understand the jurisdiction of central banks, their ownership, and what constitutes true central bank independence. Alexander Gennadyevich clearly explained what de facto central bank independence is and what happens in countries where it exceeds, or has exceeded, the legally prescribed limits. Now I understand that there is an inverse relationship between the level of de facto central bank independence, the level of inflation, and inflation expectations. I understand that if the central bank and the government act in unison, deviations will be minimal and the consequences of the crisis will be insignificant," says Diarra Suleiman, PhD student in the Department of Finance, Accounting, and Audit.

"Informative and relevant. We learned about global trends and how the Bank of Russia influences the economy through key rate changes. We all monitor key rate dynamics. Now I understand how its changes affect the yield of financial instruments, as well as interest rates on loans and deposits at commercial banks," said Farid Iskhan, a postgraduate student in the Department of Finance, Accounting, and Audit.

The Central Bank's plans to introduce a digital ruble have generated great interest among students.

"We hope that banks will fully utilize the smart contract functionality built into the digital ruble. The introduction of the digital ruble does not pose any systemic risks," said Alexander Morozov.

Labor market, inflation, regions

The discussion on current issues of monetary policy implementation continued at a roundtable discussion attended by the RUDN University academic community, representatives of the Bank of Russia, the Institute of Economic Forecasting of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Research Institute of Innovative Financial Instruments and Technologies of the Plekhanov Russian University of Economics, the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, and other leading Russian universities.

"The opportunity to hear the Bank of Russia's position and present the academic and business community's perspective on the bank's monetary policy, in direct dialogue with the organization's representatives, is truly invaluable," said Inna Andronova, Dean of the Faculty of Economics at RUDN University.

Evgeny Postnikov, Head of the Data Processing Sector at the Economic Department of the Central Federal District Main Administration of the Bank of Russia, presented the results of a study examining the impact of structural changes in the labor market on the Bank of Russia's monetary policy decisions, using the logic of "sanctions shock—transition to import substitution—increased labor demand, labor shortage—wage growth."

"When tensions are heightened, supply shocks in the labor market have a lesser impact on inflation. In such a situation, costs are shifted to competition for labor in the labor market. At the same time, inflation expectations rise," says Evgeny Postnikov.

Georgy Ivannikov, Chief Economist of the Industry Analysis and Enterprise Monitoring Department of the Economic Department of the Central Federal District Main Administration of the Bank of Russia, discussed the evaluation of central bank communications as a tool for inflation management, using Argentina as an example. The country is of interest for study because it is experiencing triple-digit inflation.

"The weaknesses of the Argentine central bank's communication mechanism include the lack of transparency in its monetary policy decision-making process, the lack of clarity in published materials, and the frequent changes in quantitative values. Even the relatively high level of education among the population compared to other Latin American countries doesn't improve the situation," says Georgy Ivannikov.

Valeria Zvereva, economic advisor to the Bank of Russia's Department of Sectoral and Regional Monitoring, Monetary Policy, revealed distortions in the transmission mechanism caused by factors of regional economic inequality, including income and asset structure.

"Setting a key rate at the national level confirms that regional inflation is responding to it appropriately, and that, in principle, the factor of regional disparities must be taken into account. However, despite all this, the transmission mechanism in its current form, despite the shocks of recent years, structural shifts, and the development of communication, is working quite successfully," Vera Zvereva.

Intellectual resources

The conference also featured a competition for young researchers (undergraduates, graduate students, and faculty members under 35) to submit papers on current monetary policy methods and models in Russia and globally. Seventeen papers were submitted for review. Representatives of the Bank of Russia were among the experts.

"The competition is an important and significant tool for pooling the intellectual resources of young scientists to address specific monetary policy challenges relevant to the domestic economy. Such initiatives are particularly valuable to us, as they not only help us identify talented young people but also help us develop a new generation of scientists whose work is focused from the outset on making a real contribution to the economy," said Elena Buzdalina, Head of the Economic Department of the Central Federal District Main Administration of the Bank of Russia.

The winner of the competition was Alexey Shulga, a postgraduate student in the Department of Finance, Accounting, and Audit at the RUDN University Faculty of Economics. His thesis title was "A Hybrid Composite Mortgage Portfolio Model: Prioritizing Requirements and a Borrower's Digital Twin."

"The scientific novelty of my research lies in the formalization of a borrower's digital twin in a credit risk model that combines probabilistic, cost, and behavioral components into an interpretable portfolio prioritization index. HPCS can be used for targeted risk mitigation under resource constraints. Future plans include expanding the model to include behavioral dynamics over time, climate and social resilience factors, and conducting out-of-time validation and testing on alternative data," says Alexey Shulga.

Results and plans

The conference culminated in an open discussion on the effectiveness of monetary policy, including from the perspective of the real economy. RUDN University experts discussed the negative impact of a high key rate on the economy.

"As a representative of not only the academic community but also the business community, I openly state that it is physically impossible to operate under such a key rate. A priori, Russian business is uncompetitive under such conditions," said Inna Andronova, Dean of the Faculty of Economics at RUDN University.

"Expensive loans resulting from a high key interest rate are not the only tool for reducing inflation. On the contrary, it is necessary to stimulate increased business activity in the real sector of the economy," says Vladimir Chaplyuk, professor in the Department of Finance, Accounting, and Audit at RUDN University.

"It must be acknowledged that, given sanctions and a persistent budget deficit, the Bank of Russia is finding it difficult to find new short- and long-term instruments of intervention. But our key rate is truly exorbitant. No economy can withstand this in the long term," said Zhanna Golodova, Associate Professor of the Department of Finance, Accounting, and Audit at the Faculty of Economics at RUDN University.

In turn, representatives of the Bank of Russia once again spoke about the bank’s choice of monetary policy.

"Every country chooses its monetary policy regime based on its objectives. Each regime has its advantages and disadvantages. For Russia, inflation targeting is more effective. Consistently low inflation creates the preconditions for sustainable, balanced economic growth," says Anastasia Skuratova, Economic Advisor to the Central Federal District Economic Department of the Bank of Russia's Main Administration.

"Today, the Russian economy has become less dependent on external shocks than before. Demand is currently the primary factor, and it is this factor that the Central Bank influences with its key rate," said Elena Buzdalina, Head of the Economic Department of the Central Bank of Russia's Main Administration for the Central Federal District.

The results of the conference will be reflected in a summary of the meeting, which will form the basis for further cooperation between RUDN and the Bank of Russia.

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 results of the Shanghai Ranking's Global Ranking of Academic Subjects (ARWU) international subject rankings have been published across 55 subject areas. RUDN University ranked high in three of them: Agriculture, Mathematics, and Environmental Sciences.

In the subject area of "Agriculture," our university is a leader among Russian universities and ranks in the top 101-150 among all higher education institutions worldwide. Last year, we ranked 151-200 globally. RUDN University was the only university in the country to improve its position in this subject area. We have the highest scores among Russian universities for the following indicators:

“Research productivity” (number of publications in Q1 – 330), “International collaborations” – 80.8%, “Research contribution” – CNCI is 2.68.

RUDN University also has the highest results among Russian universities for the “Publications in Leading Journals” (Top Journal Papers) indicator – 285 articles.

In the subject area of "Mathematics," RUDN University ranked 5th among Russian universities and 301-400th globally. Only six Russian universities were included in the ranking this time. In 2025, Russian universities are experiencing a decline in the overall number of publications, while their quality is increasing: most are seeing an increase in the number of publications in Q1 journals and their citation rate. The number of international collaborations has also significantly decreased. RUDN University's strongest performance is demonstrated by the following indicators: it maintains a high percentage of "International Collaborations" at 59.9% (first among Russian universities) and its "Research Contribution" (CNCI) score is 1.08.

In the Environmental Sciences subject area, we entered the top 401-500, becoming the only Russian university to be included in this ranking in 2025. RUDN University achieved the highest score in the Research Contribution (RI) indicator, with 43.4 points. Our university also achieved a near-maximum score (19.3 out of 20) in the International Collaborations indicator.

The publication threshold for inclusion in the ranking is 200 articles, and a total of 500 universities were ranked. Publications in the fields of Environmental Engineering, Environmental Sciences, and Environmental Studies were considered.

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.

A RUDN University student is the best of the best in the capital! First-year master's student in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Alexander Mironenko, won the Grand Prix in the individual category of the "Moscow Student of the Year" competition. A total of 500 students from 100 universities across the city participated in the competition.

We previously reported that Alexander took first place in the Patriot of the Year category.

"The competition consisted of several stages. During the qualifying round, experts evaluated the participants' video presentations and portfolios. Then came our in-person presentations, where we presented our activities and life strategies in the various nominations," said Alexander Mironenko.

As a reminder, the RUDN University master's student is studying "Russia in History and the Modern World." He leads the student research society of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences and regularly organizes various educational events. He is also the author of the project "Along the Roads of the Civil War in Siberia," which aims to create an information resource and conduct field expeditions to reconstruct monuments and sites related to the events of the Civil War in the Novosibirsk Region.

The winner of the competition's Grand Prix was determined by the results of a public vote conducted on the "Youth of Moscow" portal.

"From the very beginning, I didn't expect to win. It was a surprise both in the nomination and when the Grand Prix winner was chosen. I'm very grateful to our entire university for the latter, because practically nothing depended on me. Those who voted for me made the decision, so a special thank you to RUDN University for their unity!" — Alexander Mironenko.

According to the student, his next goal is to rest a bit and then move on. After all, the All-Russian stage of the competition lies ahead of him.

"There's a multi-factor review going on, so we're waiting for the results of the national selection committee. But even if I don't make it to the finals this year, it will be a reason to test my mettle in 2026," said Alexander Mironenko.

By the way, today is the winner's birthday, so congratulations and good luck in the final of the Russian National Student of the Year Award!

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 has launched an official channel on MAX Messenger, a modern and secure communication platform.

What awaits you in the channel:

Breakthrough research and publications by RUDN University scientists; professional achievements and expertise of faculty; visits by foreign delegations and distinguished guests; key international agreements and partnerships; international awards and graduates' careers on the global stage.

How to subscribe:

Install the MAX messenger (available in the App Store, Google Play, and RuStore). Follow the link: max.ru/rudn_universityClick the "Subscribe" button.

Stay up-to-date with RUDN University student life, educational programs, and international projects!

Subscribe to the channel and be the first to receive the latest news.

About the messenger

MAX is a Russian messaging app already used by over 50 million people. Its name reflects the service's advantages: maximum speed, simplicity, and ease of use.

The service is designed with modern security and privacy requirements in mind, ensuring reliable protection for personal and group communications. You can create channels, personal and group chats, make calls, transfer files up to 4 GB in size, and send video and voice messages.

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.

One of the RUDN.VC accelerator projects is a chatbot for patients with type 1 diabetes. It was developed by Nikita Radaev and Dmitry Prutskikh, students in the Biomedicine program at the RUDN University Institute of Medicine.

The team created a multifunctional chatbot in Telegram that will take on disease management and solve problems:

Calculating all necessary insulin doses and carbohydrate (Bread Units) content in foods; keeping a self-monitoring diary; receiving reminders about procedures and refilling medications when they run low; calling an ambulance by pressing a panic button in the event of a sudden drop in blood sugar (hypoglycemia); and allowing parents to monitor their child with diabetes using a smartphone.

We spoke with the team and learned how Nikita's personal experience with illness led him to the idea for the project, how the chatbot functions, and what the developers are striving for.

Nikita, how did your personal experience living with diabetes help shape the idea for this project?

From the age of eight, I watched as first doctors, and then my grandmother and mother, performed countless calculations to determine the amount of carbohydrates in each food I ate so they could inject me with the right dose of insulin. Every child with type 1 diabetes has probably had this experience. I still remember my father drawing hand-drawn graphs showing changes in my blood sugar levels. It's impossible to forget the printed chart of carbohydrates per 100 grams of food, the mechanical alarm clock, and the thick school notebook with pen-lined margins that was destined to become a "Self-Monitoring Diary." Difficulties also arose due to the lack of reliable and up-to-date information on the disease—a significant problem at the time in Kyrgyzstan, where I was born and lived until adulthood. From the age of 12 or 13, I began to perform many of the calculations myself. This was tedious, as it required knowledge of numerous formulas and various coefficients—and any error was unforgivable. In ninth grade, I started learning Python programming, and I immediately knew which program would be my first. Within a few weeks, I had written a mini-app for my personal use that could solve two of my most pressing problems: calculating my insulin dose and reminding me to check my blood sugar every two hours after an injection.

How did the collaboration between you and Dmitry come about?

For a long time, I used the application I wrote only for personal needs. I can say that almost immediately my average blood sugar levels became much better. I continued to slowly but surely improve the code I wrote. Initially, there was no goal to bring such an application to the market, but realizing that it could really improve the lives of other people with diabetes, I decided to rewrite the program with cleaner and more user-friendly code and offer it to the public. I understood that this would require a lot of work, which I simply could not cope with alone, and decided to find support in the form of my classmates. Dmitry, one might say, has always been and remains an excellent student and the “brain” of our group, one of the most hardworking students, so I decided to approach him with such a proposal. Dmitry, despite his busy schedule and work in a scientific laboratory, agreed to help. Soon I learned that RUDN University was holding an accelerator of student projects RUDN.VC, and I decided to apply for participation in which. And to develop the project, our team needed an experienced, involved mentor. This was Natalya Vladimirovna Bolotova, whose acquaintance was a gift from the accelerator. I understood perfectly well that if the project was not at least minimally commercially successful, then we could forget about creating a truly high-quality and competitive product. Many, so to speak, strategic stages of the project, such as the presentation of our MVP, analysis of the target audience and the initial construction of a business model were completed only thanks to the help and knowledge in these areas of Natalya Vladimirovna.

What was the main catalyst that made you move from the idea of "it would be nice to have a bot like this" to real action and applying to the accelerator?

The catalyst was the realization that if my algorithm helped me, it could help others too. I have many friends and acquaintances with type 1 diabetes. They come from all over Russia and Kyrgyzstan, from neighboring countries and beyond, and have varying incomes and education levels. But almost all of them face the grueling routine of diabetes procedures and suffer from inaccurate calculations. If my chatbot helps users reduce the risk of complications from the disease, I will consider myself to have done a great and beneficial job for society.

Tell us about the "panic button" for calling an ambulance. How will this function be technically implemented?

The bot will recognize that a patient has lost consciousness and requires assistance if, while using the "Increase Low Blood Sugar or Relieve Hypoglycemia" mode, the user does not respond to messages within a specified time, for example, 10 minutes. In this case, the patient's geolocation and condition data will be transmitted to the nearest emergency department, and information will appear on the smartphone screen, allowing concerned passersby to help the user. The patient will also be able to activate the "panic button" using a dedicated function.

How will the medication purchase reminder function work?

The user will use the bot to record when they started using a new insulin cartridge in their pen, purchased test strips, or purchased needles. They will also track the amount of insulin administered and record blood sugar measurements. The bot will subtract the doses administered from the initial amount of insulin in the cartridge, accounting for two to three units of insulin expended during the pen's setup before each injection. When the bot calculates that the insulin in the cartridge is low, it will notify the user. A similar logic will be used for counting needles and test strips.

The bread unit (BU) database is a huge undertaking. How do you populate and verify it?

There are numerous proven nutrient density tables, compiled back in the 1990s and 2000s, but still relevant and widely used today. We decided to digitize them and use them as the basis for our bot. Naturally, we also include, so to speak, "new" products, such as avocado and lychee. nutrient density tables for packaged products are not as relevant, as manufacturers almost always list the protein, fat, and carbohydrate content per 100 grams of product themselves. Our bot provides a function that can calculate the nutrient density based on this information. Of course, it would be great if manufacturers themselves listed the nutrient density in their products, and our team would like to promote this idea to the public. I believe many manufacturers would welcome such an innovation, as it would only highlight their concern for people with special needs.

How is the medical validity of algorithms ensured, especially in terms of insulin dose calculations?

When calculating insulin doses, our bot analyzes a fairly large array of patient data and suggests a dose based on average values, so any "inflated" values are minimal. This approach is well-tested—in over three years of personal use, the program has never returned any extremely low or high insulin doses. However, the possibility of a bot malfunction cannot be completely ruled out. We've anticipated this scenario. The bot displays a notification if the insulin dose it calculates is outside the acceptable range.

What role does endocrinologist Anna Vetrova play in the project? Is she consulting during the development stage or will she be overseeing the medical content on a full-time basis?

Anna Vladislavovna is making, and has already made, a significant contribution to medically validating the bot's algorithms in accordance with modern diabetology methods adopted in Russia. We are currently working with her on the bot's FAQ feature. It will contain answers from a practicing endocrinologist and diabetologist to hundreds of frequently asked questions by patients with type 1 diabetes.

How does a medical education help in IT product development? And conversely, how has working on a startup influenced your perception of the future medical profession?

The curriculum for our specialty devotes many hours to natural science and research, rather than clinical, disciplines. This allows us to do what we study for—create new technologies and products that doctors, after preliminary review and approval, will then use in their clinical practice. Our startup is precisely that—a product from biomedical researchers for use by doctors and, through them, by patients. While developing the startup, we drew on many of the knowledge we gained at university, particularly in subjects such as normal and pathological physiology and biostatistics. Our ability to work with large data sets was also very helpful—to develop the algorithm, we had to read over 20 papers on diabetology. Working on the project helped us reaffirm our commitment to the right path and apply our acquired knowledge and skills in practice.

Has your project or its algorithms received any formal evaluation or approval from the professional medical community?

Yes, in early 2025, we presented our algorithm code to the National Center for Maternal and Child Health (NCMCH) and the City Endocrinology Dispensary in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, where our work was highly praised and approved. We received a letter of recommendation from the NCMCH management confirming their willingness to use the bot as a supplement to the so-called "Diabetes School"—lectures where a doctor teaches newly diagnosed patients about living with diabetes. Once the bot is ready, we plan to share it with clinics in Russia for recommendations and approval.

Do you plan to monetize the project?

Although profit isn't the project's primary goal, we'll still need to implement monetization to maintain its viability and further development. There will likely be a free ad-supported version of the app and a paid version with expanded ad-free functionality. The estimated subscription price for this year is between 100 and 250 rubles per month. We're also considering adding a voluntary donation system for project development.

Your ambition is to expand beyond Telegram. What platform is your next priority (for example, a dedicated mobile app) and why?

To begin with, we decided to implement our project as a chatbot rather than a standalone app for a number of objective reasons: the simplicity of writing chatbot code, the ease of testing hypotheses, and the ability to quickly improve functionality and fix bugs. Once our algorithm reaches a sufficient level of quality, we will consider creating a standalone app for popular operating systems. The main advantage of using an app rather than a chatbot will be the ability to run the algorithm's core functions without an internet connection. At the same time, we haven't abandoned the idea of further developing our Telegram bot. In fact, we are considering creating similar bots for other messaging apps, such as the national messenger MAX, VK, and even WeChat, which is popular in China and many other countries. In the long term, we also plan to add new languages to the original Russian and English: Spanish, French, and Portuguese, which are common in Russia-friendly countries of South America and Africa, as well as Chinese, Arabic, Mongolian, and many languages spoken in the CIS countries, such as Kyrgyz and Kazakh. Our mission is to expand the project as widely as possible globally, enabling millions of people to improve their diabetes self-management for free or at a small cost.

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.

We're constantly competing for audiences and engagement ratings on social media. But how well do we know who's behind these numbers? Reality holds surprises: for example, grandparents spend almost as much time on social media as students. To understand the new digital reality and find the key to managing it, leading media industry experts gathered at RUDN University. The Faculty of Economics hosted a roundtable discussion, "Social Media in Russia: Strategic Challenges and Benchmarks," which served as a platform for dialogue between market professionals and future specialists.

Did you know that grandparents aged 65 spend only 5 percent less time on social media than students, but devote much more attention to such resources than, for example, the average Russian in their early 40s?

Viktor Pinchuk, Deputy General Director of the leading Russian research company Mediascope, spoke about this paradox.

True, these "younger" and "older" demographics rarely overlap on social media because they choose different online platforms. According to a Mediascope study of audience media preferences, while the very young are addicted to TikTok, as they age, the audience migrates to VK, while the gray-haired public finds pleasure in Zen.

Meanwhile, video content appeals to all ages. Gazprom-Media Holding Research Director Daria Pugacheva spoke about the development of the Russian video hosting site RUTUBE.

"Since 2021, the video hosting site's monthly audience has increased 26-fold, and over the past two years, the number of users has grown from 40 to 80 million," noted Daria. "Today, RUTUBE is a major video hosting site with 18.5 million daily viewers, and this audience continues to grow rapidly. The number of channels on the platform has already exceeded 4.5 million."

However, all these changes also pose challenges. While attitudes toward social media and its effects may vary, from a professional perspective, it's undeniable that working with social media is a crucial area of work for modern PR specialists and marketers.

As Elena Apasova, Vice Rector for Strategic Communications at RUDN University, noted, "A single social media post can have a greater impact than a front-page publication in the most widely cited media outlet. Social media is a space for a strategically complex game of chess. It's the arena where audience manipulation occurs. The higher the quality of the audience, the more difficult it is to manipulate. The more demanding the audience, the more challenging it is to generate creative ideas."

Engaging more than 85 percent of the Russian audience over 12 years old in social media requires careful attention from the state as a regulator and driver of change.

According to Nikolai Vasiliev, head of the Analytical Center of the Russian Advertising Industry (ACRI), which works closely with the Association of Communication Agencies of Russia, "social media today has transformed from a communication channel into an infrastructure for shaping identity and behavior. Around the world, social media is viewed as a matter of national security. In Russia, the state should not be an observer, but a creator of rules and content based on our values and the country's long-term interests. And here, the professional assistance of the communications industry is needed in this matter."

The round table participants also gave their assessment of what was happening.

"For the industry, regulatory changes are not so much a restriction as a new framework within which businesses are learning to be flexible. We are seeing brands gradually adapting to the requirements of local platforms, growing interest in their own ecosystems, and exploring new ways to engage with audiences. The market is becoming more mature, with an emphasis on transparency, responsibility, and quality of communication," says Ekaterina Arkhangelskaya, Managing Director of RQ Agency.

The discussion, in which students actively participated alongside experts, inevitably touched on the changes associated with the emergence of new Russian platforms and the introduction of transformative technologies into social media. The future of this sphere is difficult to predict, but it must be prepared now, because the media world must remain manageable.

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 young RUDN University scientist is more than just a researcher, but a bridge between cultures and disciplines. His strength lies in his "hybrid" thinking: he combines the traditions of the Russian academic school with a global perspective, works in international collaborations, and sees science as a tool for solving specific human problems—from food security to interfaith dialogue. His research is born at the intersection of faculties, and his results speak the language of Q1 and Q2 articles and real-world technologies.

In total, the university currently employs over 130 young researchers and research trainees across a wide range of departments: the Scientific Administration, the Agrarian and Technological Institute, the Medical Institute, the Institute of Ecology, the Engineering Academy, the Faculty of Physics, Mathematics, and Natural Sciences, the Research Institute for Brain Development and Higher Achievement, and others. Our scientists publish hundreds of studies annually (including on topics aligned with sustainable development goals), develop modern technologies, new materials, and treatments for various diseases. And, of course, they actively participate in scientific forums, seminars, and conferences, presenting papers, participating in discussions, and sharing their knowledge and experience.

From November 26 to 28, a 13-member RUDN University delegation will participate in the Congress of Young Scientists, which will be held at the Sirius Federal Territory. On the 28th, together with the Institute for African Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, our university will host a session titled "Russia-Africa: Opportunities for Applied Research Projects." Alexander Chupin, Deputy Dean for Research at the RUDN University Faculty of Economics, will moderate the session, and Elena Apasova, Vice Rector for Strategic Communications, will be a speaker.

The event will bring together over 7,000 people from 63 countries. Leading Russian and international scientists, heads of scientific and educational organizations, government officials, heads of major companies, and students and schoolchildren from Russia and other countries will participate in the congress. Speakers include Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko, Presidential Aide Andrey Fursenko, President of the Russian Academy of Sciences Gennady Krasnikov, and President of the National Research Center "Kurchatov Institute" Mikhail Kovalchuk. This is the key annual event of the Decade of Science and Technology, declared by Russian President Vladimir Putin for 2022–2031. The organizers are the Roscongress Foundation, the Russian Government, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, and the Coordinating Council for Youth Affairs in Science and Education of the Presidential Council for Science and Education.

What are RUDN University scientists researching?

One of the delegation members, Yasser Reboukh, is a representative of Egypt and the Chairman of the RUDN University Council of Young Scientists. This year, he won our university's Science and Innovation Award for Young Scientists in the "Natural Science and Engineering" category. He holds a PhD in Agricultural Sciences and is an associate professor in the Department of Rational Nature Management at the Institute of Ecology. He has authored over 100 Scopus/WoS articles. He has developed environmentally friendly technologies for cultivating grain crops that allow the use of organic fertilizers instead of chemical ones. This reduces the risk of food contamination. The solutions proposed by the scientist make it possible to reduce agricultural costs, provide consumers with cleaner and safer products, increase yields, and improve the export potential of grain crops, all while preserving soil and water resources and reducing environmental impacts.

Another member of the delegation, Roman Vysotsky, an assistant professor in the Department of Applied Artificial Intelligence at the Faculty of Artificial Intelligence, is working on a project titled "Development of a Methodology for Assessing the Condition of Freshwater Bodies Using Bioindicators and AI-Based Video Tracking." The main idea is to use a living organism (fish) as a sensitive indicator of water quality. This method allows not only to detect water pollution but also to understand its nature—whether it causes toxic effects or affects genes, the microbiome, or the behavior of organisms. In the future, the method could be used to develop a test system: simply adding water from the pond to fish eggs will quickly assess the impact of pollutants on their development. Roman's project received grant support from the university.

Alexander Chupin, a PhD candidate in economics and deputy dean for research at the Faculty of Economics, focuses on transport policy. He focuses on digitalization, for example, analyzing how intelligent transport systems will change the economic reality of the EAEU. The scientist has developed approaches to creating intelligent transport systems that will form the basis for a unified transport space within the EAEU. This year, Alexander, like Yaser, won the Science and Innovation Award for Young Scientists in the "Social and Humanitarian Areas" category.

Olga Lazareva, a research intern at the medical institute's Molecular Pathophysiology Laboratory, won a competition for young scientists supported by the Presidential Grants Fund and T-Bank. Her team created a cellular model of the placenta that better matches the organ's natural structure than existing analogs. The scientists achieved this by inserting a layer of macrophages, which play a crucial role during pregnancy and ensure the fetus is not rejected by the mother's body, between the traditional cellular layers of such systems. The development is intended to facilitate the search for new treatments for complications and the development of drugs. RUDN University is also conducting numerous other studies aimed at combating disease, hunger, gender inequality, climate change, and the impacts of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, among other issues.

Opportunities for scientific pursuits at RUDN University

Our university currently houses over 200 laboratories, over 40 research and educational centers, and 13 research institutes. There are over 50 dissertation councils with the authority to award academic degrees.

The single entry point to youth science at the university is the Student Scientific Society's Telegram bot. The service helps students join SSS departments, find a suitable lab or research group, and enroll in scientific clubs. The bot also sends a weekly digest from the Student Scientific Research Council and informs them about scientific competitions and events.

Students at the university can receive support for their projects in a variety of ways. For example, they can participate in the RUDN.VC scientific accelerator, which allows them to launch their own startup. They can also receive financial support for travel to conferences, forums, and competitions in other cities and countries. Furthermore, our university awards scholarships for publications at scientific events, scientific achievements, victories and prizes in high-level competitions, and the results of the internal scientific project competitions "Project Start." Financial support for student projects is also provided through the "Joint Start: Let's Do Science Together" and "Best Student Community" competitions, as well as case championships. And, of course, students can participate in research conducted by the university's research teams.

Young scientists at the university have the following opportunities:

Implement an individual project within the RUDN University grant support system (grant amount: up to 3 million rubles per year); lead a youth team and implement a research project within the same grant system (support amount: up to 6 million rubles per year); receive an expert evaluation of research results for the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals of humanity at the annual International Scientific Conference on Sustainable Development Goals; become one of the recipients of the Science and Innovation Award for Young Scientists. The payment for the winners is 250,000 rubles, awarded in two areas – social sciences, humanities and natural sciences; receive direct requests from industrial partners for R&D (creation of R&D) and scientific and technical services.

In addition, our university has a points-based incentive system for publication activity and citations for all university employees. Payments for publications can be up to 250,000 rubles (for articles in the top 1% of journals), and for citations per paper, up to 672,000 rubles. The final amount depends on the article's subject category and its coefficient.

Leading RUDN University scientists can lead a research team and implement a project with a grant from the university (up to 8 million rubles per year). They can also implement an applied research project for an industrial partner, receiving up to 10 million rubles in grant support per year. They also have the opportunity to receive financial support for inviting leading speakers to a regular scientific seminar or for organizing and hosting an international scientific and technical event. And thanks to the annual "RUDN University Megagrant" competition, they have the opportunity to create new or modernize existing scientific infrastructure facilities for interdisciplinary research. And, of course, they can also become recipients of the RUDN University Prize in Science and Innovation, which amounts to 500,000 rubles.

Our university offers a wide range of opportunities and tools to support young scientists.

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.