BSTU named after V.G. Shukhov expands interuniversity cooperation with universities in the Arab region
Rector of Belgorod State Technological University named after V.G. Shukhov Professor Sergey Glagolev as a member of the Russian delegation took part in the first forum of the Federation of Rectors of Russian and Arab universities in the Lebanese capital Beirut.
The forum was held under the patronage of Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri. The Moscow State University and the Lebanese University of Art, Science and Technology were the initiators of this great event.
40 executives of leading Russian universities and over 60 rectors of the main universities from the countries of the League of Arab States arrived in Beirut. The Russian delegation was headed by the president of the Russian Union of Rectors, rector of the Moscow State University named after Lomonosov, Viktor Sadovnichy and the Minister of Education and Science of the Russian Federation Olga Vasilyeva. The event was also attended by the Russian Ambassador to the Republic of Lebanon Alexander Zasypkin.
Delegates from Russia and Arab countries discussed cooperation in the field of scientific research, the dissemination of the Russian language in the countries of the Middle East and the learning of Arabic language in Russian universities. In addition, the rectors of Russian and Arab universities discussed the condition and prospects of cooperation between higher education institutions in the sphere of education, science and culture. And also the issues of strengthening academic cooperation between higher educational institutions of Russia and countries of the Arab world were discussed.
The Minister of Education and Science of the Russian Federation Olga Vasilieva, speaking at the forum, said that Russia intends to increase the number of foreign students studying in Russian universities from 272,000 to 700,000 people by the year 2025.
Speaking to the participants, rector Sergey N. Glagolev invited the universities of the Middle East countries for academic cooperation, particularly from the Lebanese Republic. Students from this Middle Eastern country are already studying at BSTU named after V.G. Shukhov.
A memorandum of understanding for academic exchange between BSTU named after V.G. Shukhov and Damascus International University of Science and Technology (Syria) was signed during the visit. Also an agreement on the cooperation between our university and the Lebanese University of Arts, Science and Technology was concluded. The agreements envisage a bilateral exchange of students, professors, scientific publications, information materials, etc.
Currently BSTU has more than 110 international agreements. The bilateral agreement on cooperation with the Republic of Lebanon entered into force in 2015. 11 Lebanese students were enrolled to our university in the framework of the cooperation agreement with the Association of Lebanese Alumni which was signed in 2017.
In general, the flagship university of the Belgorod region has more than 1800 students from 67 countries. There are 345 students from the countries of the Arab world. Particularly from Lebanon, Syria, Palestine, Iraq, Jordan and a number of other Middle Eastern countries.