New Horizons in China: UrFU Expands Cooperation in Science and Education

09:27, May 27, 2024

Chinese parliamentarians visited the main building and the new campus [photo report]

The Ural Federal University intends to expand its geographical presence in China: the day before this was discussed with representatives of the provinces where the university is not yet so actively represented. A delegation of parliamentarians from the Celestial Empire visited the main building and the new campus in the Novokoltsovsky district of Ekaterinburg.

Deputies of the National People's Congress, the highest legislative body of the People's Republic of China, discussed cooperation between scientific and educational centers with Victor Koksharov, Rector of UrFU. Among them, in particular, was Yu Miaojie, Rector of Liaoning University, a participant in Project 211, a list of key universities for the country.

The Chinese colleagues' proposals include 2+2 programs, expansion of academic mobility opportunities, and even the creation of a joint research center in the field of economics and social sciences. The head of UrFU suggested that the first step should be to organize communication between teachers and scientists of both sides as early as possible to outline the points of interaction.

"Cooperation with universities and research institutes of the PRC is an unconditional and the most important strategic priority for the university. Our students study Chinese language and culture with great pleasure, partly to complete their studies in the republic," emphasized Victor Koksharov.

He added that modern conditions for accommodation, study, and research for international students of UrFU, including Chinese students, are offered by the site of the university's new campus, a modern space in a promising area of the Urals capital.

People's representatives, according to them, are engaged not only in lawmaking activities. They also represent the sectors of economy, culture, science, education, and manufacturing in which they work. The Ural Federal University impressed them with its history and dynamics of development.

"As soon as we stepped over the threshold of the main building, we immediately felt the ambiance of the university with more than a century of history. We are pleased to see young specialists among the Chinese students of UrFU who are eager to study here. Any university is a concentration of what the territory where it is located can be proud of. It is obvious that Ekaterinburg has a huge potential for development and a great future," said Du Huiliang, Mayor of Ordos in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, head of the delegation.

Reference

Now 1555 students from China study at UrFU, the university has 50 agreements and 15 joint educational programs with Chinese universities, and two Russian-Chinese (Ural) institutes have been launched. The university has a Confucius Institute, employs teachers and scientists from the Celestial Empire, and implements a project for the welfare of schoolchildren in rural areas.

Dmitry Benemansky

The news article was translated by UrFU International Marketing Office.
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