Business programme 2023

Global Universities is an association that brings together leading Russian universities that ensure that Russian research and education maintains a stable presence in the global market. The Association’s member universities have developed a wide range of tools to attract young foreigners and involve them in science. Discussing this issue will be useful for Russian universities that are looking for tools to develop international scientific projects. Even though Russian universities and scientists have seen their presence wane in projects being implemented by countries that have unfriendly relations with Russia, new opportunities are arising for the development of science with new international partners. There has been an uptick in interest in Russian research among young foreigners. For example, the intellectual competition ‘International Olympiad of the Association for Master’s and Postgraduate Students’ annually attracts roughly 80,000 young people from 192 countries, almost a third of whom plan to participate in research projects at Russian universities as part of their postgraduate programmes. Young people around the world have shown the greatest interest in business, management, engineering, technology, computer science, data science, biology, biotechnology, clinical medicine, and public health. The greatest demand has been seen for: financial management, entrepreneurship, artificial intelligence, computer science, information systems, biochemistry, molecular biology, the design and construction of civil facilities, electrical engineering, electronics, and general mechanical engineering. The discussion will focus on the following issues: what factors influence the decision of young foreign scientists to choose Russia as a place for their scientific research? What are the most effective tools for attracting young foreigners to conduct research? How can we improve the attractiveness of Russian scientific institutions and universities for young foreign scientists? How can we overcome the language barrier and ensure communication with foreign students and researchers in Russian research projects? What forms of support for young foreigners are most effective for them to successfully adapt to the Russian scientific environment?

In the modern scientific and educational world, there are four unique universities that were co-founded by the governments of two countries: Russia–Armenia, Russia–Belarus, Russia–Kyrgyzstan, and Russia–Tajikistan. Despite the different names of the universities, they are generally defined in Russia as “Slavic”. This format for establishing universities appeared after the collapse of the USSR and imposed certain requirements in terms of determining their mission, goals, and objectives, as well as the special aspects of managing and funding them. Each university has its own unique features, but there are also common goals. The panel discussion will address the experience of these universities and their history, as well as identify top priorities for their social and technological development until 2050. The discussion will pay particular attention to the role and place of young scientists in the development and modernization of “Slavic” universities, including the importance of the Young Scientists Council and the Student Research Society in improving the quality of education and involving talented young people in science and higher education for the benefit of their countries.