Another step towards creation of the BRICS University League

14:38, October 20, 2015

University collaboration of the BRICS countries continues to develop in a very dynamic way

Following September meeting of the representatives of the BRICS ministries of education, which initialed Memorandum of Understanding on the creation of the BRICS Network University, on October 17-18 the University Presidents Forum was held in Beijing. The representatives of the universities discussed the basic provisions of the concept of the BRICS University League creation. The main organizer of the Forum was Beijing Normal University, which, together with Fudan University (Shanghai) initiated the process of the BRICS University League formation.

Russia was represented by several leading universities including HSE, Ural Federal University, Kazan Federal University, People's Friendship University of Russia, MGIMO, Moscow State University etc. The rectors of the Russian universities were represented by the rector of Ural Federal University, Victor Koksharov, who presented his ideas on the role of the university partnerships in the development of BRICS countries collaboration. Having warned of the danger of the obsession with quality indicators of the world academic rankings,  Victor Koksharov persuaded the heads of the higher education institutions of the BRICS countries of the necessity of the partnership in creating the world-class universities. Vice-Chancellor of the Cape Town University, Prof. Max Price emphasized the necessity to follow principles of openness, equality and to defend the spirit of the academic freedoms in the universities of the BRICS countries. The President of the Latin American Association of the universities of Montevideo group, rector of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sol (Brazil) Carlos A. Netto underlined the role of the university associations in internationalization of higher education and in their contributions to the enhancing competitiveness of the universities.

The Head of the Centre for BRICS Studies and the Vice-rector of Ural Federal University, Prof. Maxim Khomyakov presented the concept of the BRICS network university during the round table discussion, devoted to the idea of BRICS University League. He called for the discussion on the possible areas of collaboration between the League and the Network University. This idea got support also from the President of the FAUBAI Association (Brazil) Prof. Jose Celso Freire Jr., Vice-rector of Stellenbosch University (SAR) Prof. Eugene Cloete and other participants of the round table.

The outcomes of the Forum were reflected in the document called Beijing Consensus. The document expressed aspiration of the universities of BRICS countries for the deep partnership in education, science and innovations and called for the development of higher education in the service of social progress and human development. “We advocate for balanced and sustainable development so as to achieve the harmonious unity of economic growth and environmental protection. We are mindful that BRICS countries will adopt development strategies tailored to their own circumstances. In order to advance these aspirations, we are agreed on the establishment of a BRICS University League”, - the document says.

In the mean time, final formalization of the partnership relations between the universities and establishment of the League is still ahead. The Forum participants decided to create special working group for the elaboration of the provisions of the BRICS University League Charter. Russian universities are represented in the working group by the Vice-rectors Maxim Khomyakov (UrFU) and Sergei Erofeev (HSE).

The plan is to agree on the details of the Charter before the end of 2015.