18.07.2025
How is the University developing cooperation with BRICS countries and Africa? What unique programs help students earn dual degrees? Vera Zabotkina, Acting Vice-Rector for International Cooperation, answered these and other questions in an interview with the RSUH website.
What are the main directions of international activity at RSUH?
Our University's position has always been shaped by multipolarity, interdisciplinarity, and intersectorality—the connection with other sectors of the economy. We are convinced that modern education and science must correspond to the 'three I's': they must be international, interdisciplinary, and intergenerational.
RSUH collaborates on both global and Eurasian levels. On the global level, we should highlight our participation in BRICS university consortia, including cooperation with 10 Brazilian universities and the operation of the only Russian-Brazilian center in Russia. <…> It is also important to note the existence of the BRICS Network University. This year, for the first time, a socio-humanitarian direction was singled out, with only two Russian universities participating: RSUH and the Kutafin Moscow State Law University. Cooperation with South Africa is a priority. RSUH is one of the few universities that has agreements with universities in this country. First of all, this includes the University of South Africa (UNISA), Sol Plaatje University, and the Robben Island Museum (Cape Town), located at the prison where Mandela had been held for 25 years. <…> I must reassure you that working with South Africa, which is moving forward in all directions, requires significant effort— the country is strongly influenced by Western media. Brian Williams said that South Africa has a distorted perception of Russia, and he shares positive opinions about our country, culture, and, by the way, our university. Within the framework of BRICS, we also cooperate with China, India, Egypt, and Ethiopia. Currently, RSUH students are studying Arabic at the Summer School of our partner institution, the Egyptian-Russian University. We also signed an agreement with Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia. The University maintains very close ties with the United Arab Emirates, where students are intensively learning Russian at the RSUH Russian Language Center. One of the key areas of cooperation is with Iran. During the intergovernmental commission meeting in Tehran, agreements were signed with 6 universities, including the elite Imam Sadiq University, whose graduate is the current Iranian Ambassador to Russia. A dual degree program at the Master's and PhD levels is under development. Recent unfortunate events have temporarily suspended plans for Farsi and Russian language courses in the Summer School, but in September, a program on Russian and Islamic philosophy will be launched. RSUH is actively cooperating in the Eurasian space. Much of this is being done by RSUH's Academic Director Dr. Pivovar, under whose leadership a consortium of rectors of humanitarian universities was created. Additionally, Eurasian Studies Centers have been established at Slavic universities in Armenia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan. One of the unique tools for promoting Russian humanitarian knowledge is the system of international scientific and educational centers — expert centers that study various regions of the world and, accordingly, help establish contacts with leading universities globally. Among the 19 centers, we can highlight the Knorozov Mesoamerican Center, the Egyptology Center, the International Sudanese Civilization Research Center, as well as very active institutions such as the Confucius Institute, the Russian-Brazilian Center, the South Asia Studies Center, and the recently established Russian-Arabic Center, which is headed by Dr. Mukhametshin.
What are RSUH's plans for expanding international cooperation?
We are certainly moving further eastward and into Latin America. Countries of the global south, including the African continent, are our priority. In addition to close cooperation with South Africa, we are working with Zimbabwe and Tanzania, where we are holding a series of exhibitions, including in Swahili, as well as Uganda, from which we received an offer to collaborate with the University of Eastern Africa. We are also participating in the large-scale Russian-African Network University (RAFU) project under the auspices of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education. In Latin America, our Guatemala branch plays an important role. In the Asia-Pacific region, we have made significant progress in establishing ties with Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. It is also worth mentioning that in Vietnam, there is an alumni association of the Department of Historical and Archival Studies of RSUH, who love Russia. We are preparing agreements with Vietnamese colleagues and plan to send RSUH students to North Korea. Regarding China, we aim to strengthen long-standing ties with the University of International Business and Economics, with which we cooperate through the Confucius Institute. <…>
Speaking about cooperation with Europe, it can be stated that many previously existing projects, including important educational programs with Paris, Bologna, and Freiburg, are now on hold. However, we have received proposals for extending cooperation from a number of universities in Spain, Italy, Hungary, and others. In the fall, an agreement will be signed with the Hungarian John von Neumann University. A forum of rectors from Russia and Hungary will take place in September–October, where we will also participate. There are plans to resume cooperation with the leading Eötvös Loránd University in Budapest.
Additionally, there are plans to develop partnership relations with Slovakia, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Serbia.
What are the most sought-after academic exchange programs and joint educational projects?
The dual degree program is becoming quite popular, although it's not that simple, as the first step is creating an integrated curriculum. <…> An example of this can be seen in a group of European students who initially arrived in the "Empire of Evil" feeling intimidated. However, within a month, they fell in love with Moscow, Russian culture, and RSUH, and even requested to extend their stay for another semester.
Promising prospects lie in cooperation within the framework of the aforementioned BRICS Network University. Of course, this is not easy, as it requires coordinating different legal systems, but such projects are in high demand.
How are international students involved in the academic and extracurricular life at RSUH?
The Department of International Cooperation plays an active role in this, working closely with our Department of Student Affairs to assist with adaptation. Every faculty has a designated person responsible for working with international students. Additionally, there is a system of team leaders — senior students who guide their junior peers. They also receive preparatory lectures on how to interact with international students. Students become involved in academic work through interactions with various centers and through numerous research projects. Cultural adaptation is facilitated by organizing excursions, visits to theaters, and interactions among student communities from different countries. But the most important work is individual. The Department of International Cooperation provides 24/7 hotlines, and there is a Psychological Support Center to help international students feel they are not alone. These resources play a key role in their socio-cultural adaptation.
What challenges does RSUH face today in terms of international cooperation and attracting international students?
The main obstacle is the lack of knowledge of the Russian language. <…> The second issue is the shortage of dormitory spaces. <…> The third problem is financial. There is a system of government quotas for full course study. However, there is currently no fund for academic mobility in the country, and the government is working on resolving this issue. <…>
Can you give examples of successful graduates from RSUH’s international programs?
