At the invitation of the Department, representatives of NUST MISIS visited the University of Mpumalanga, the University of Zululand, and North-West University to identify key areas of cooperation. These include the development of joint academic programs and the implementation of research projects commissioned by South African industry partners.

Masamba Kah, Head of the Industrial and Educational Partnership Project between NUST MISIS and African countries, presented the university’s key academic programs and research areas during a strategic session with profile government bodies of the Republic of South Africa.

Particular interest was shown in areas such as the development of new technologies for mining and mineral processing; advanced metallurgical processes and materials that increase the value of the country’s mineral resources; research into innovative materials; digitalization of industrial processes; and the development of efficient economic models.

The parties also discussed opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration in engineering, environmental research, and agricultural technologies. In addition, they highlighted strong potential for cooperation in nuclear energy, including joint research and capacity building.

“The industry-oriented approach of MISIS education fully aligns with the needs of South African universities and creates significant potential for developing joint programs and research. Our partners have expressed their readiness to design and implement practice-oriented projects through targeted enrollment,” said Masamba Kah, commenting on the outcomes of the meeting.

The agreements reached open new prospects for strengthening Russian—African cooperation in science and education ahead of the third Russia-Africa Summit, scheduled for October 2026.

Particular attention was given to expanding cooperation in science and higher education. The parties agreed to promote stronger ties between scientific organizations in both countries, including the development of academic mobility formats, implementation of educational programs and research projects, as well as the organization of specialized international exhibitions, conferences, and seminars.

The Russian side expressed interest in participating in the development of the “Krylya” uranium deposit and in cooperation in the field of nuclear energy, and also confirmed its readiness to collaborate in geology and subsoil use. Masamba Kah, Head of the Industrial and Educational Partnership Project between NUST MISIS and African countries, presented the university’s experience in training highly qualified specialists tailored to the needs of industrial partners. In particular, he spoke about the “Mining Geology” educational program related to uranium extraction in Namibia, implemented at the request of the international group Uranium One (part of the TENEX Group within the Rosatom State Corporation). The African side emphasized that the high level of integration between the university and industry is a key competence required to align educational programs with global standards.

“Colleagues from Namibia showed particular interest in MISIS’s industrial and educational partnership project aimed at localizing knowledge and competencies within key sectoral initiatives. Following the meeting, we plan to expand joint work with African partners. This will be another step toward developing international educational tracks and training specialists for the mineral resource sector in African countries,” said Masamba Kah.

Following the presentation, the parties agreed to develop joint network master’s programs and other areas of professional training within the framework of a pilot project for transitioning to an updated model of higher education.

The Russian-Namibian Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation was established in 2005 and serves as a key platform for developing bilateral relations. Within the framework of the commission, issues related to expanding partnerships in strategically important sectors of the economy and training personnel for sustainable development are discussed. The Russian side of the commission is headed by Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation and Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Far Eastern Federal District, Yury Trutnev. The Namibian side is chaired by Selma Ashipala-Musavyi, Minister of International Relations and Trade of the Republic of Namibia.

In 2025, representatives of NUST MISIS had already visited Hong Kong, laying the groundwork for further cooperation. This year, the forum once again served as a platform for strengthening academic and institutional ties with universities in mainland China and Hong Kong.

As part of the visit, Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs Andrey Voronin and Head of International Education Department Olga Kim held talks with the University of Hong Kong, an academic partner of NUST MISIS. Following the meeting, the parties agreed to implement joint initiatives, including the development of summer schools for University of Hong Kong students, the launch of a joint online educational program, and NUST MISIS’s participation in the Global Studies master’s program.

Participation in the exhibition and the business program of the visit confirmed the steadily growing interest of Hong Kong applicants in studying in Russia and opened up new opportunities for the development of international academic cooperation.

“NUST MISIS educates students from 85 countries around the world, including the People’s Republic of China. We train engineers and researchers who make a significant contribution to the national economy. To attract talented and highly motivated young people, we are opening a preparatory center in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, which is the largest region in China for coal mining, rare earth metals, and natural uranium. The establishment of the center is one of the key projects of the Cross Years of Education, announced at the initiative of President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin and President of China Xi Jinping, which were launched at our university,” said NUST MISIS Rector Alevtina Chernikova.

The growing demand for specialists with a world-class engineering education makes cooperation with NUST MISIS, a leading research and education center in these fields, strategically important for the region. The new preparatory center will train Chinese school students for admission to the university’s degree programs, forming a continuous and effective educational pathway.

Gao Xiukun, Director of the School, commented: “This agreement is a strategic step for our industrial region. We are creating a system of targeted training for future engineers for the mining and metallurgical industry. Our students will gain a unique opportunity to prepare for admission to one of the world’s leading technological universities while still at school, saving time and receiving a high-quality education. This fully reflects the spirit of progress and innovation that defines modern China. Graduates will become a bridge between the industrial potential of Inner Mongolia and Russia’s advanced technologies.”

The uniqueness of the model proposed by NUST MISIS lies in the integration of advanced language and subject-specific training into the final year of study at a Chinese school. Students who are already studying Russian will be taught in a blended format with the participation of university faculty members. This approach will allow them to save up to one year typically required for language preparation after arriving in Russia and to enroll at the university with an optimal level of readiness.

Up to 50 school students will be able to study at the preparatory center each year. The official opening of the center is scheduled for early 2026. Students will be offered a rich academic and cultural program, including participation in NUST MISIS summer and winter schools.

The project is part of the university’s internationalization strategy. It aims to expand MISIS’s international presence and attract talented international applicants. In the future, cooperation with the Inner Mongolia University of Science and Technology is planned, including joint educational initiatives, research projects, and professional development programs for specialists from the region’s industrial enterprises.

The project has been implemented with the support of the Priority 2030 program and is aligned with the Concept of the Russian Federation’s Humanitarian Policy Abroad, which предусматривает expanding the network of preparatory departments at Russian universities. The initiative also reflects the objectives of the national education project aimed at attracting talented international students to Russia.

Russia’s Minister of Science and Higher Education Valery Falkov sent a welcoming address to the guests. He noted that 2026 and 2027 have been designated the Russia—China Years of Education, and the festival at NUST MISIS serves as a kind of prologue: “It is a great honor for us to open this large-scale forum in Moscow. Its organization is clear evidence of the strength and depth of the comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation between our countries. Strong inter-university relations and student exchanges have always played an important role in Russia—China relations. Today, as our bilateral cooperation steadily develops, the demand for highly skilled professionals is growing significantly.”

The opening ceremony featured remarks by Vladimir Oshchepkov, Deputy Director of the First Asian Department of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Cao Shihai, Minister-Counselor for Education of the Embassy of the PRC in Russia; Alina Anisimova, Head of the Higher Education and Science Division of Rossotrudnichestvo; Liu Limin, President of the China Education Association for International Exchange; and Andrey Voronin, NUST MISIS Vice-Rector for Education.

The festival opened with the plenary session “Strategic Partnership between Russia and China: Expanding Scientific and Educational Cooperation,” moderated by Konstantin Mogilevsky, Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education of Russia.

“Russia and China have a rich history of cultural and scientific ties. In recent years, bilateral relations have reached a fundamentally new level and now stand as a true example of comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation. We are united by a shared commitment to innovative development amid the current geopolitical context. We open the business program of the festival by discussing key issues of Russia—China cooperation in the humanitarian sphere, reviewing best practices and exploring prospects for scientific and educational collaboration between our countries,” he said.

Speakers discussed technological development, prospects for joint research, the internationalization of education, and new formats of youth cooperation. Participants then explored exhibition spaces dedicated to the cultural heritage and contemporary research of Russia and China, and attended two panel sessions: “Integration of Science and Education” and “Digital Transformation of Science and Education in Russia and China.” Guests also joined workshops on Chinese calligraphy and the tea ceremony.

On the second day of the festival, participants attended roundtable discussions and thematic sessions, explored the development of language programs and inter-university cooperation, and took part in lectures on the digitalization of Chinese language learning, as well as workshops on mahjong, Zhostovo painting and artistic embroidery.

The final day featured a vibrant cultural program with musical and dance performances, a hanfu show, demonstrations of wushu elements and performances by creative groups from both countries.

“NUST MISIS has long-standing and strong ties with Chinese educational institutions. As early as the 1950s, our scientists and staff contributed to the establishment of the University of Science and Technology Beijing (USTB). For decades, our university has trained engineers and researchers, many of whom have made significant contributions to the development of the PRC. Today, NUST MISIS collaborates with China’s leading research and educational centers, including Tsinghua University, Beihang University, Harbin Institute of Technology and others. Together, we are creating new opportunities for students of our countries,” said NUST MISIS Rector Alevtina Chernikova.

The festival was organized by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of Russia, the Federal State Budgetary Institution Intereducation, and NUST MISIS.

The NUST MISIS delegation included Director of the College of Technologies Andrey Travyanov, Head of International Education Olga Kim, Head of the Educational and Methodological Department Yuri Rishko, and Lead Specialist for International Student Affairs Zara Gevorkyan. During the visit, the delegation also took part in the Study Abroad Fair, an international education exhibition, where they presented NUST MISIS to Chinese students among 23 participating foreign universities.

UESTC is one of China’s leading research universities specializing in electronics, IT, and engineering. It is designated as a Double First-Class University and ranks among the country’s national priority institutions. UESTC has over 44,000 students, around 800 professors, and 11 national key laboratories.

Earlier, the universities had signed a memorandum of understanding, under which student exchanges are carried out through summer and winter schools. In the summer of 2025, 24 MISIS students completed a study program at UESTC.

The guests visited the Laboratory of Superconductor Quantum Technologies and the NTI Quantum Communications Competence Center of NUST MISIS, where they learned about the university’s developments in quantum computing, quantum communication, cryptography, and post-quantum encryption.

Following the meeting, the parties agreed that NUST MISIS specialists will provide scientific and technical support for the establishment of a Quantum Technologies Laboratory in Vietnam. In addition, students from Vietnam will be enrolled at the university to study programs related to quantum technologies.

The expansion of cooperation with Vietnam marks an important step toward the international integration of the NTI Competence Center Quantum Communications and will help unite the efforts of the scientific community to advance quantum technologies essential for modern communication and cybersecurity systems.

Collaboration between the Russian and Vietnamese sides has been actively developing following the agreements reached during the official visit of Vietnam’s Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha to NUST MISIS in September 2024. At that time, the parties decided to expand cooperation not only between universities but also between research centers and industrial companies.

NUST MISIS has been in a partnership with the Republic of Angola for more than ten years. In 2014 the university organised for Angolan school-students the Olympiad “Time to Study in Russia”, which became one of the first steps towards strengthening educational ties. And in 2019 the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Technology and Innovation of Angola and the university signed a memorandum that defined the strategy for cooperation in creating scientific schools and programmes for training specialists.

“At NUST MISIS about 100 Angolan specialists have been trained, having undergone education in specialised programmes and internships with Russian experts. Our alumni are already working in the leading mining companies of the republic, including in the diamond industry. We intend to further develop the partnership, opening personnel training programmes and joint scientific-educational centres,” said Masamba Kah.

Among the Angolan students studying at NUST MISIS, the most popular four fields of training are: mining, metallurgy, materials science and information technology. This choice reflects the key needs of the Angolan economy, where the extractive industry, manufacturing and digital infrastructure are actively developing. The programmes in these specialisms provide training of specialists capable of solving the actual tasks of the national economy — from the development of deposits to the implementation of digital solutions in industry.

The Order of Friendship emphasises Masamba Kah’s personal contribution in coordinating educational initiatives, attracting talented young people from Angola to Russian universities and developing cooperation within the framework of the consortium of anchor universities of the Rosatom State Corporation.

“NUST MISIS pays great attention to supporting sports and physical education projects and implementing health promotion programs. The university has more than 40 student communities, including sports clubs in boxing, basketball, hockey, volleyball, athletics, swimming, and many others. Among NUST MISIS graduates are national, European, and world champions, Olympic medalists, and honored masters of sports. Our students regularly win prizes in regional and national competitions, and various sports events are held at the university throughout the year. The Interuniversity Basketball Tournament ‘World Cup’ among Chinese students, organized with the support of the Chinese Embassy, will contribute to cultural exchange and strengthen friendship between the youth of our countries,” said NUST MISIS Rector Alevtina Chernikova.

At the opening ceremony, welcome speeches were delivered by representatives of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Russia — Liu Jing and Liu Haonan. NUST MISIS Vice-Rector for Continuing Education Vadim Petrov also wished the participants exciting games and successful matches. The university’s Director of International Affairs, Dmitry Vasiliev, emphasized the importance of such events for developing friendship between students from the two countries.

Words of encouragement were given by NUST MISIS alumnus, Olympic champion, world champion, two-time European champion, two-time world silver medalist, and Honored Master of Sports of Russia Evgeny Tishchenko, as well as WBA Gold world champion, WBO European champion, medalist of the Russian Youth Championship, and head of the NUST MISIS student sports club Roman Andreev. The champions led the first warm-up session for the tournament participants.

As part of the cultural program, laureate of national and international competitions and folk singer Tatyana Sidorova gave a performance.

Fourteen teams from several Moscow universities are taking part in the tournament. The competition will run until the end of November.

“NUST MISIS has long-standing and strong ties with Chinese educational institutions. Our university has trained many undergraduate and graduate students, many of whom are now working in research centers across China. We collaborate with China’s leading universities, including Tsinghua University, Beijing Institute of Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, and others. Today, alongside joint scientific research, we are actively strengthening humanitarian cooperation with China, particularly in the study of languages, as well as academic mobility for faculty and students,” NUST MISIS Rector Alevtina Chernikova.

The main goal of the visit was to identify complementary areas of cooperation and lay the foundation for long-term partnership between Russia and China. The delegation, led by Wang Lisheng, Vice President of the China Association for Non-Government Education, included 39 representatives from 12 Chinese universities. The meeting marked an important step in advancing Russian-Chinese cooperation in education and research.

“In today’s world, the strategic priority for any leading university is the active development of academic and research ties. We greatly value the opportunity to learn from the experience and achievements of leading Russian institutions in engineering and technology, such as NUST MISIS. We are particularly interested in identifying promising areas for practical cooperation. This is not just an exchange of knowledge, but a synergy that enables breakthrough solutions and the training of specialists ready to meet the global challenges of the 21st century,” said Wang Lisheng.

During the visit, guests learned about NUST MISIS’s educational system and research achievements, and discussed prospects for international cooperation in engineering education and joint scientific projects.

NUST MISIS representatives also presented opportunities for Chinese students to study in the university’s international schools, which offer three tracks: Materials Science and Engineering Technologies, Management and Marketing, and Russian Culture and Cross-Cultural Communication. These programs provide students with a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in Russian culture while completing academic modules. Upon completion, each participant receives a certificate.

The delegation also welcomed the news that the Union of Chinese Students in Russia had chosen NUST MISIS as the venue for the interuniversity basketball tournament for Chinese students, the “World Cup,” which will be held from October 4 to November 9, 2025. In addition, the university will host the Russian-Chinese Education Festival from November 20 to 22 as part of the “cross years” of education between the two countries.

The delegation included representatives from the following private Chinese universities:

1. Heilongjiang University of Finance and Economics

2. Anhui Institute of Information Technology

3. Tianjin College of Media & Arts

4. Harbin Institute of Information Technology

5. Urban Vocational College of Sichuan

6. Nanchang Vocational University

7. Hebei Oriental College

8. Hebei University of Engineering Science

9. Shaanxi Fashion Engineering University

10. Zhejiang Shuren University

11. Huanghe Jiaotong University

12. Qing Gong College, North China University of Science and Technology

NUST MISIS Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs Andrey Voronin and Head of International Education Department Olga Kim discussed with representatives of Chinese universities the prospects for launching joint programs and academic exchanges. In negotiations with the Rector of the Inner Mongolia University of Science and Technology, Professor Han Yongquan, the parties outlined the next steps in developing the partnership.

At the plenary session, Andrey Voronin presented the adaptive model of engineering education adopted at NUST MISIS. The model is aimed at training specialists capable of solving complex engineering challenges in the design and operation of new materials and technologies. It is being implemented as part of a pilot project to test a new model of higher professional education levels.

The NUST MISIS delegation also visited the campus of the Inner Mongolia University of Science and Technology, where faculty members showcased their research results and presented leading laboratories engaged in projects on the extraction and processing of rare-earth metals.

In a recent interview, Russian Minister of Science and Higher Education Valery Falkov spoke about the outcomes of his working visit to China and emphasized the importance of Russian-Chinese cooperation in higher education: “At present, two very important intergovernmental agreements are in the final stage of coordination — on cooperation in education and on the mutual recognition of education, qualifications, and academic degrees.”

Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs Andrey Voronin presented the achievements and projects of NUST MISIS to the guests. The visitors noted the high level of scientific infrastructure and the university’s readiness for open and productive collaboration. Both sides expressed confidence that their joint efforts would yield significant results for both institutions and the international scientific community.

NUST MISIS played a key role in the establishment of USTB in 1952. At that time, USTB was originally called the “Beijing Institute of Iron and Steel Technology”. In 2016, an agreement on scientific and educational cooperation was signed with USTB, which included the implementation of joint research projects and the organization of student exchanges. In 2018, an additional agreement was signed concerning undergraduate student exchange, which enabled continuous recruitment of students into English-language master’s programs. NUST MISIS has also developed cooperation with Chinese universities as part of the “Time to Study in Russia!” initiative, aimed at attracting students from China.

The UESTC delegation included Deputy Director of the International Office Zeng Qigang, Assistant Dean of the School of Materials and Energy Chen Junsong, and Head of the International Student Recruitment Office Nie Wenkai. They began their visit with a tour of the Laboratory of Superconductor Quantum Technologies and the Engineering Center of High-Complexity Prototyping “Kinetica”, which is a universal, high-tech digital laboratory that enables the full cycle of creating complex functional prototypes for leading domestic and international public and private clients. The guests praised the center’s modern equipment and innovative developments.

Olga Kim, Deputy Head of the International Affairs Office at NUST MISIS, presented the university’s key focus areas, scientific achievements, and international projects. During the meeting, the parties discussed potential areas for collaboration in science and education, including joint research, academic exchange, and dual degree programs.

“We see great potential for the development of cooperation with MISIS University in the scientific and educational sphere. Research in the field of materials science could become a particularly important area of our collaboration. We are also considering joint programs, internships, and student exchanges, which will create new opportunities for young people and contribute to the formation of a new generation of the international scientific community,” emphasized Zeng Qigang.

The event was attended by education ministers from four countries: Belarus, Kazakhstan, China, and Uzbekistan. Key topics of discussion included the expansion of academic collaboration, strengthening of postgraduate education partnerships, and the integration of artificial intelligence into the learning process. NUST MISIS was represented by Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs Andrey Voronin and Deputy Head of the International Affairs Office Olga Kim.

In his presentation titled “Engineering Education at MISIS: Responding to the Needs of High-Tech Industries,” Andrey Voronin emphasized: “Participation in the pilot project on transforming the higher education system allows the university to integrate its approaches and developments and to implement new opportunities through MISIS’s adaptive educational model. The multi-track model enables students to consciously choose their qualifications and the duration of their studies, achieving high educational outcomes within a single program. The model also offers unique advantages for collaboration with industry partners: the time required to implement new, in-demand educational outcomes for companies has been significantly reduced.”

During the conference, MISIS held working meetings with universities from China and Kazakhstan, where the parties discussed steps for future cooperation.

With representatives from The Education University of Hong Kong, the possibility of joint research on the application of AI in education was explored particularly in training specialists for high-tech sectors of the economy.

NUST MISIS representatives also met with the leadership of Korkyt Ata Kyzylorda University to discuss collaboration in training professionals for the metallurgical and mining industries.

Simultaneously, the 9th meeting of Ministers of Education of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) was held in Ürümqi. At the meeting, Chinese Minister of Education Huai Jinpeng called for the creation of new platforms for comprehensive exchange and interaction, the formation of a new system of cooperation in higher education for joint training of professionals, the development of vocational education collaboration potential, and the strengthening of digital education ties through shared resources.

The delegation arrived at the university following the signing of intergovernmental agreements, including a deal on joint scientific competitions and the establishment of the Pushkin Center in Hanoi for Russian language studies.

The visitors toured the Laboratory of Superconductor Quantum Technologies and the Engineering Center of High-Complexity Prototyping “Kinetica”, where they became acquainted with the university’s cutting-edge research. Rector Alevtina Chernikova presented the university’s strategic initiatives, including projects in materials science, energy, and bioengineering.

“A NUST MISIS diploma is a mark of quality for employers in many countries around the world. In September 2024, our university welcomed the Deputy Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Tran Hong Ha, on a working visit. In 1991, after graduating from the College of Mining and completing his postgraduate studies, he successfully defended his dissertation for the degree of Candidate of Technical Sciences. Interestingly, the father of our distinguished guest also studied at our university. Today, NUST MISIS is home to students from all regions of Russia and 85 countries around the world, including Vietnam. They achieve impressive results in academics, research, and extracurricular activities, and actively participate in university life. Among Vietnamese students, the most popular fields of study are materials science, metallurgy, and mining,” said Professor Alevtina Chernikova, Rector of NUST MISIS.

The parties agreed to develop a long-term strategic partnership. It was decided to establish working groups of professors from both sides in key areas of cooperation — new materials and quantum technologies — along with a separate group dedicated to bioengineering. Nominated professors will be affiliated with both universities, and industrial partners from Vietnam will also take part in the research. NUST MISIS will actively participate in creating a quantum technology center based at Hanoi State University (HSU), and the possibility of opening a NUST MISIS representative office and preparatory departments for Russian language training will be explored. The universities plan to develop joint educational programs as well as continuing professional education programs to train HSU specialists in quantum technologies.

“Scientific and academic cooperation between Vietnam National University and NUST MISIS opens up unique opportunities in advanced technologies, bioengineering, energy, and materials science. Many of our professors studied or worked at your university. We are searching for young talent and striving to develop our institution as an innovation and technology hub. By combining our efforts, we can accelerate progress in many sectors, train qualified professionals, and contribute to solving global scientific challenges. We value the prospect of continued cooperation, academic exchange, and joint research,” said Professor Le Quan, President of Vietnam National University.

In the future, reciprocal working visits will be organized to familiarize participants with infrastructure, research activities, and to deliver guest lectures. It is planned to annually select 20 VNU graduates for admission to NUST MISIS master’s programs under the Russian government quota.

From the screen, Vladimir Murashkin, Director of the Russian Center for Science and Culture in Hanoi, addressed the guests: “NUST MISIS is one of Russia’s leading universities. Here, innovations are created, international ties are strengthened, and specialists who shape the future of our countries are trained. A prime example is Deputy Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Tran Hong Ha, who is a graduate of the Moscow Mining Institute — now the Mining Institute of NUST MISIS. The Day of Vietnamese Culture has been an important step in fostering intercultural dialogue. We hope that such celebrations will become an annual tradition at the university.”

The event was attended by students from MGIMO, MSLU, HSE University, RANEPA, the Russian Foreign Trade Academy, and the Boris Shchukin Theatre Institute, as well as representatives of academic and business communities. Participants listened to lectures on Vietnam’s cultural and historical heritage and the stages of Russian-Vietnamese cooperation. Guests enjoyed performances in English and Vietnamese, sampled traditional cuisine, and took part in a masterclass on the Múa sạp dance.

The organizers aimed to highlight the uniqueness of cultures and unite the university community by introducing them to Vietnam’s rich heritage and traditions.

The Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) of India is an autonomous society comprising 37 national laboratories, 39 outreach centers, and 3 units with pan-Indian presence, making it one of the world’s leading research organizations. CSIR covers nearly the entire spectrum of scientific and industrial work of national and international significance. The President of CSIR is Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Among its members is the Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology (Bhubaneswar), with which NUST MISIS has signed the declaration.

“CSIR’s mission is to enhance the quality of life of the citizens of India through innovative Science and Technology, globally competitive R&D, by developing sustainable solutions and capacity building to fulfil dream of Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India). We are pleased to collaborate with NUST MISIS, a leading Russian university in materials science, metallurgy, minerals, and mining. We hope our partnership will yield fruitful results,” said Dr. Ramanuj Narayan.

During the visit, the parties discussed specific areas of collaboration, including student and faculty exchanges, joint research, and the organization of scientific events. The guests also explored the university’s advanced developments and laboratory infrastructure.

“The collaboration is aimed at joint research projects in the extraction and processing of valuable minerals, rare earth elements, as well as hydro- and electrometallurgy. In the future, we plan to expand cooperation in academic, research, and scientific areas,” said Mikhail Filonov.

Olga Kim, Deputy Director of the International Affairs Office, is part of a working group responsible for selecting Chinese candidates to study in Russia under the Russian Government Scholarship program. During a meeting with the leadership of the Russian Cultural Center in Beijing, she discussed the growing demand for NUST MISIS programs among applicants from China and agreed on further steps to promote the university in the country, including collaboration with Rossotrudnichestvo.

“Students applying through the Russian Government Scholarship undergo an internal selection process and now have the opportunity to study at some of the best universities in Russia, including NUST MISIS. The scholarship covers the full duration of their studies and provides a monthly stipend,” Olga Kim.

At the University of Science and Technology Beijing (USTB), the two sides discussed the revival of academic cooperation. As a result of the talks, an official USTB delegation is expected to visit NUST MISIS. A joint meeting is also planned for late May at the forum of the Association of Russian and Chinese Technical Universities.

The NUST MISIS delegation also traveled to the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in northern China, which borders Russia. This region is a key resource hub for the country with a well-developed mining industry, including rare earth element extraction. The delegation visited the top high school in the province where Russian is taught. High school students were introduced to the university’s academic programs and future employment opportunities. Meetings with the Inner Mongolia Industrialists Association focused on the skillsets of technical university graduates, while discussions with the leadership of Baotou University of Science and Technology explored potential collaboration with NUST MISIS as a key partner in the region.

“We aim to conduct career guidance activities for high school students in the region to identify talented individuals even before they graduate. To support this, the university will offer expert assistance in teaching Russian and core subjects. Our partnership with the Inner Mongolia University of Science and Technology will allow us to use their educational and research infrastructure to help prepare their graduates for the next stage of study at NUST MISIS. This kind of educational ecosystem will attract the brightest applicants from the region to our university,” Director of the International Affairs Office at NUST MISIS Dmitry Vasiliev.

Currently, international applicants can enroll in foundation programs at NUST MISIS to prepare for undergraduate studies. For those who already hold a bachelor’s degree, the university offers English-taught master’s programs.

“On International Francophonie Day, we invited representatives from French-speaking African countries to participate in a roundtable discussion to explore inter-university cooperation. French is taught at NUST MISIS from the 1st to the 4th year to students majoring in Linguistics. We have long-standing and good relations with many embassies, and we often hold joint events such as African Perspectives and Cultura Unida,” said Lilia Bondareva, Candidate of Political Sciences and Head of the Department of Modern Languages and Communication.

At MISIS University, students from Africa actively participate in events aimed at fostering intercultural dialogue, including conversation club meetings, the student festival “Day of Nationalities”, international youth conferences, and activities organized by the International Friendship Community, among others. The African Student Union at the university is one of the largest associations, with participants representing the traditions, values, and cultures of their countries both in internal venues and at international events such as the Russia-Africa Summit.

The roundtable participants discussed the necessary steps for deeper development of ties between Russian and African universities and the promotion of the French language.

The event was organized by the faculty members of the Department of Foreign Languages and Communicative Technologies at NUST MISIS: Galina Sosunova, Elena Sheldovitskaya, and Ekaterina Tretyakova.

The Consul General of the Russian Federation in Hong Kong, Anatoly Kargapolov, stated that with the rapid development of Russian-Chinese relations, there is a steady increase in interest in Russian education and the study of the Russian language as a foreign language in Hong Kong. The diplomat is confident that the active participation of Russian universities in such exhibitions will positively impact the strengthening of ties and the expansion of partnerships.

Andrey Voronin, Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs at NUST MISIS, noted: “The university consistently implements an international educational policy, focusing on the markets of friendly Asian countries. We offer 12 English-taught master’s programs. For those who want to immerse themselves in Russian culture, there is a preparatory department where foreign students study the Russian language, academic speech style, and specialized subjects depending on their chosen program for a year.”

The admission of documents to the preparatory department for foreign students will begin on May 1, 2025.

“NUST MISIS is ready to offer prospective applicants the best education in many specialties. Currently, we have students from mainland China, and we have established strong academic ties with University of Science and Technology Beijing and other Chinese universities. There are no students from Hong Kong yet, which is why we are here,” explained Olga Kim, head of international education at MISIS University.

The delegation was headed by Mai Nguyen Tuyet Hoa, the First Secretary of the Embassy of Vietnam in the Russian Federation, overseeing the education department. During meetings with authorities in the provinces of Lao Cai, Tuyen Quang, Nghe An (Vinh city), and Ha Tinh, promising areas of interaction were discussed: government scholarships for study in Russia for applicants from the republic, training personnel for public service, and joint research and commercial projects.

Vladimir Putin’s visit to Vietnam on June 19-20, 2024, contributed to the development of comprehensive cooperation in the fields of science, technology, culture, education, and tourism. The governments of the two countries signed an agreement under which Russia will provide 1,000 scholarships each year for Vietnamese citizens to study at universities in Russia.

Dmitry Vasilev spoke about the educational programs and opportunities available at the university for foreigners. In Lao Cai province, he met with representatives from various departments and visited a special school for gifted children that ranks 13th in the country in terms of the number of wins in various olympiads. More than three hundred schoolchildren expressed interest in studying in Russia and asked many questions.

In Tuyen Quang province, Dmitry Vasilev held a meeting with local administration staff and spoke with the rector of Tan Chao University and students from six schools.

“The meetings are productive, with active support from the embassy. Local authorities are interested in obtaining reliable and complete information about studying in Russia to convey it to schoolchildren and students. In some provinces, specialized centers have been created and are operating under the education departments. There is a lack of information about the opportunities that Russia provides for education in these provinces, so our delegation was received with great interest. We discussed new formats for working with local schools and establishing long-term partnerships. For example, we agreed with the leadership of Nghe An province to organize online meetings for schoolchildren with NUST MISIS teachers in mathematics and physics,” shared Dmitry Vasilev.

The presentation of MISIS University also took place at universities in Vinh and Tan Chao. The leadership of these universities supported the idea of conducting professional development courses for teachers, creating student exchange programs, and collaborating in the field of science. At Hanoi University of Mining and Geology, an agreement was reached to launch an academic mobility program that will soon be available to NUST MISIS students based on the existing memorandum between the two universities.

It is worth noting that Tran Hong Ha, Deputy Prime Minister of Vietnam, is an alumnus of the College of Mining at NUST MISIS. In September, he visited his alma mater on an official visit.

“Educational cooperation and cultural exchange help maintain connections between entire continents, and we see a continually growing interest among students from Latin America in education in Russia. The event ‘Cultura Unida’ proves that dialogue is interesting for both sides,” noted Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs at NUST MISIS Andrey Voronin.

Cultura Unida is an event where professionals and students from educational institutions around the world, studying Spanish and interested in Latin American culture, can engage in dialogue.

“Culture is a bridge that unites peoples, and it is a great honor for me to be at such a large-scale conference at NUST MISIS because it conveys significant humanistic values for everyone. Here we can get acquainted with the inner world of Russians and Latin Americans, hoping for mutual understanding. It is important to maintain the connection we have established with NUST MISIS in the field of education to achieve our common goals,” said the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Peru to the Russian Federation Juan Genaro del Campo Rodriguez.

The event was conducted entirely in Spanish. This year’s conference participants included the National University of Trujillo (Peru), the University of Holguín (Cuba), the University of Havana (Cuba), the Federal University of Latin American Integration (Brazil), Moscow State Linguistic University (Russia), as well as Lishui University (China) and China Agricultural University (China). Among the speakers from NUST MISIS were students from the Linguistics program.

“This is my second time at NUST MISIS. The university always makes the best impression, as do the talented students I have the opportunity to talk with. The conference fosters dialogue and reflects Russia’s interest in Latin American culture. I am here to strengthen our cooperation so that there will be even more such events in the future,” emphasized the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Federative Republic of Brazil to the Russian Federation Rodrigo de Lima Baena Soares.

The goal of the conference is to promote cultural dialogue and knowledge exchange among students and teachers from Latin America, Asia, and the Russian Federation. The event took place as part of Spanish Language Days. The online broadcast of the opening can be viewed on the official VK group of NUST MISIS.

“We have had close ties with China for many years, and given the thriving relations between our countries, we are optimistic about continuing our collaboration. Our university excels in materials science, metallurgy, mining, and other fields in both education and research, and we welcome proposals for joint initiatives,” said Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs at NUST MISIS Andrey Voronin.

Anhui is a leading innovator in China, boasting 125 higher education institutions. In terms of corporate investment in research and development, the region ranks 8th nationwide. Scientists there have made significant strides in quantum information, nuclear fusion, space exploration, and various advanced technologies.

“We see these meetings with Russian educators as an opportunity to fulfill agreements made by our national leaders, which is to maintain the spirit of eternal friendship, good neighborliness, comprehensive strategic cooperation, and mutual benefit. New industries are rapidly emerging, and we’re grateful for your willingness to collaborate,” said Qian Guilun, Director-General Department of Education of Anhui Province.

After the meeting, the Chinese delegation toured Laboratory “Superconducting metamaterials” at NUST MISIS, where a senior researcher Vladimir Chichkov briefed them on the university’s progress in quantum computing.

The parties considered the possibility of joint projects between NUST MISIS and universities in Namibia, as well as academic mobility programs and research initiatives related to natural resource extraction, green technologies, and developments in technosphere safety.

Itah Kandji-Murangi expressed interest in expanding cooperation: “The goal of our meeting today is to move towards discussing interaction between specific universities. Joint educational programs should contribute to the development of the Republic of Namibia. We have identified three priority areas: mining, engineering, and ecology. We chose NUST MISIS because this university holds leading positions in each of these areas.”

At NUST MISIS, 279 students from 35 African countries are studying in fields related to mining and technosphere safety. They actively participate in activities aimed at fostering intercultural dialogue, such as the conversational club “Let’s Talk”, the student festival “Day of Nationalities”, and more. The African Union at the university is one of the largest associations. This community proudly represents the traditions, values, and cultures of their countries both at internal events and international gatherings, such as the Russia-Africa Summit.

“NUST MISIS has developed a comprehensive program for international cooperation. It is important for us that after graduation, alumni return to their homeland not only with solid professional knowledge, skills, and competencies but also with warm and vivid memories of Russia,” emphasized Alevtina Chernikova, Rector of NUST MISIS.

The meeting was opened by Stepan Sokolov, Deputy Director of the International Cooperation Department of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation: “Today, we will discuss how current projects implemented in collaboration with Indian scientists and Russian initiatives can enhance our partnership. In 2023, a new competitive selection was announced with organizations from BRICS countries, resulting in support for 9 projects, 6 of which involve Indian organizations. Additionally, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of Russia and the Department of Science and Technology of India conducted a competition for research projects, approving another 4 initiatives with implementation timelines extending to 2025”.

The parties noted positive dynamics in implementing cooperation within the framework of the Roadmap for Russian-Indian collaboration in science, technology, and innovation and agreed to increase interaction. MISIS University expressed interest in further strengthening ties with Jawaharlal Nehru University, the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, and Maharaja Agrasen Institute of Technology. Joint research will focus on developing materials for alternative and renewable energy: electrode materials for sodium-ion batteries, thermoelectric materials for next-generation energy converters, as well as multiscale modeling of the deformation behavior of carbon fiber composites based on super-structural thermoplastics.

“Russia and India have managed to organize numerous joint projects thanks to cooperation. Both countries are confidently moving forward, expanding scientific and technical interaction and creating conditions for the realization of advanced scientific ideas, and we are confident that we will continue to address global challenges and make many significant discoveries”, said Pravinkumar Somasundaram, head of the International Cooperation Division at the Ministry of Science and Technology of the Government of India.

To strengthen partnerships between universities in both countries, agreements have been reached to work on conducting the following events in 2025: the first forum of university rectors from both countries and India Week in Russia, with a program covering scientific, educational, and cultural tracks.

The International Olympiad is conducted with the support of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation and Rossotrudnichestvo. Participants of Open Doors can be foreign citizens and stateless individuals, including compatriots living abroad who have or are completing a full secondary education for the bachelor’s track, a higher education level no lower than a bachelor’s for the master’s track, and no lower than a master’s or specialist’s degree for the doctoral track in the year the Olympiad is held, as well as candidates with a scientific degree (Candidate of Sciences, Doctor of Sciences, PhD) who are not older than 39 years for the postdoctoral track.

For those enrolling in a Russian-language program, winners and prize-winners will have the opportunity to study the Russian language for a year in preparation for their studies at NUST MISIS.

Open Doors is held remotely in Russian and English in three stages:

Selection Stage: from September 5 to December 2, 2024 (bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral tracks); from September 16 to December 25, 2024, for the postdoctoral track. The first (selection) stage is conducted in a portfolio competition format and involves an entrance test.

Second Stage (bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral tracks) will be conducted from December 3, 2024, to January 17, 2025, with identification and control over the independence of task completion (proctoring). The second stage for the Open Doors postdoctoral track will be held from December 26, 2024, to January 29, 2025, and will include a video presentation of the participants’ research results.

Third Stage (for doctoral program admissions) will take place from January 20 to February 21, 2025, in the format of online interviews with potential research supervisors according to the schedule. The third stage for the postdoctoral track will be conducted from January 29 to February 21, 2025, in the format of interviews with the heads of research projects.

As a result of the Open Doors Olympiad 2023/2024, 103 winners and prize-winners in the master’s track and 4 winners in the doctoral track chose to continue their studies at NUST MISIS.

Detailed information about the participation rules for Open Doors: Russian Scholarship Project can be found on the project website: od.globaluni.ru.

For questions regarding participation, you can contact NUST MISIS Professional Navigation and Admissions Office via email at e.li@misis.ru or by phone: +7 499 649-44-09.

Russia will chair the organization in 2024, and hosting events is crucial considering the accession of new BRICS member countries. The meeting at NUST MISIS aims to promote interaction and collaboration among scientific teams and organizations, including universities.

The event was opened with a welcoming speech by Sergey Salikhov, the First Vice-Rector of NUST MISIS: “This Working Group is one of the leading platforms for scientific and technological cooperation among BRICS countries, uniting the activities of all working groups by organizing funding for joint projects. Holding this meeting at NUST MISIS provides us with an additional opportunity to demonstrate our mutual interest in collaborative scientific activities within BRICS, which is the most dynamically developing international association”. He noted that NUST MISIS actively participates in BRICS activities: the University serves as the secretariat for the Russian part of the WG RI, BRICS GRAIN and is also the responsible organization and contact point for the WG STIEP BRICS. As a coordinator, the University is initiating the creation of a Flagship Project within the Working Group on Research Infrastructure.

Representatives from ministries, embassies, and relevant organizations from BRICS countries, including Brazil, Egypt, Iran, China, and South Africa, participated in the meeting.

From Russia, attendees included Anton Rykov, Deputy Director of the Department of State Policy in the Field of Scientific and Technological Development at the Ministry of Education and Science; Olga Molovtseva, Head of the Multilateral Cooperation and International Organizations Department at the Ministry of Education and Science; Albina Kutuzova, Coordinator for Science, Technology, and Innovation from Russia; as well as leaders and experts from Russian Center for Scientific Information and ICISTE.

The outcomes of the Working Group meeting defined further frameworks for cooperation among BRICS countries in science, technology, and innovation. The event took place ahead of a meeting of Senior Officials and Ministers from BRICS countries in the fields of science and technology.

During the meeting, NUST MISIS researchers presented promising industrial technologies to the guests. Torgom Akopyan, a senior researcher at the Department of Metal Processing at NUST MISIS, discussed the use of durable aluminum alloys in high-temperature industrial applications.

Vadim Tarasov, Head of the Department Engineering Management in Non-Ferrous Metal and Gold Production and Doctor of Technical Sciences, informed the delegation about technologies developed at MISIS University for the efficient extraction of non-ferrous and rare earth metals from ores and their recycling.

Associate Professor of the Department of Physical Materials Science Vladislav Zadorozhny delivered a presentation on “Storage, Extraction, and Generation of Hydrogen Using Magnesium-Based Alloys”, highlighting the use of composites in the energy sector.

Igor Savich, Professor at the Department of Geotechnology of Subsurface Development at NUST MISIS, discussed technologies for extracting essential minerals and metals.

Dr. Kali Sanjay, Chief Scientist and Head of the Hydro and Electrometallurgy Department at the CSIR Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology in New Delhi, noted that NUST MISIS is working on areas particularly interesting to India.

“In Russia, there is experience with resources that are not mined in India, such as nickel and cobalt, so we are interested in research that is promising for both sides. It is important for us to work together on new methods for extracting and processing critically important minerals, and I hope our meeting will be a starting point for long-term cooperation,” added Kali Sanjay.

Dr. Kannadka Ramesha, Director of the CSIR-Central Electrochemical Research Institute, remarked that there are many similar ideas between NUST MISIS scientists and his organization, expressing interest in future fruitful research.

The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) is an autonomous society headed by the Prime Minister of India, comprising 37 modern institutes and 3 separate units. It is one of the leading scientific and industrial research organizations in the world, covering nearly all areas of scientific and industrial work of national and international significance, such as aerospace, robotics, pharmaceuticals, etc. CSIR’s expertise and knowledge are embodied in its approximately 4,600 scientists, 8,000 technical staff, and 8,000 research students. The CSIR-Central Electrochemical Research Institute (CSIR-CECRI) is the largest research institution in electrochemistry in South Asia.

The Jawaharlal Nehru Aluminium Research Development and Design Centre (JNARDDC) is an autonomous body under the Central Government within the Ministry of Mines of India. Its goal is to implement available technologies for producing alumina and aluminum alloys both domestically and internationally, as well as to develop technical know-how.

The parties have agreed on a three-year bachelor’s program in economics, software development, and computer science at Wuhan College, followed by two years at NUST MISIS. In addition to professional courses in China, students will study Russian in order to attend classes in Moscow in the future. Both universities aim to provide students with a high-quality education that will be valuable in the international arena.

Rector of Wuhan College, Jiang Xingpeng, expressed his appreciation for the educational model and research capabilities of NUST MISIS.

“In China, the college system is considered part of higher education, students study for 3 years and receive a bachelor’s degree. We see that interest in 3+2 programs in China is quite high, they are supported both by students themselves and at the level of the Government of the People’s Republic of China, which supports such international educational formats. We are at the very beginning of the journey, but both we and our guests have enough enthusiasm to make our plans a reality,” said Dmitry Vasiliev, Director of International Affairs at MISIS University.

An exchange program and a joint winter school in materials science, aimed at deepening the knowledge and skills of engineering students, will also be part of the cooperation. Already this year, MISIS University plans to host several students from Wuhan for internships in IT, robotics, and other fields. The duration of the internships will be between one and two months.

Universities have common areas of scientific and academic interest, such as chemistry, materials science, metallurgy and mining. The parties plan to train personnel for industrial enterprises and conduct research that aligns with their interests.

“The Chinese school of chemistry is growing rapidly, and we were delighted to accept an invitation from our colleagues in China to visit Shenyang University of Chemical Technology in Liaoning Province. There, we got to know more about the laboratories and research being conducted at the SYUCT, and it was interesting to note that many of these projects involve refractory materials, which are in high demand among Russian enterprises. In addition, the laboratories conduct research in the field of engineering thermochemistry. Experiments are being conducted to create technologies for producing single-layer carbon nanotubes, the leader in production of which is the OCSiAl company based in Novosibirsk. We discussed possible areas for cooperation and were glad to hear that our colleagues see great potential in academic exchanges, internships, and teaching certain disciplines by NUST MISIS faculty”, — Dmitry Vasiliev, Director of International Affairs at NUST MISIS, said.

The next step will be the signing of a roadmap outlining specific events as the delegation from SYUCT visits MISIS University this year.

In addition to Shenyang University of Chemical Technology, representatives from NUST MISIS also visited Liaoning University, where they received an offer to launch joint international master’s and postgraduate programs. The two institutions agreed to establish direct contact at the institute and department levels in fields such as economics, materials science, and mining. Both parties intend to collaborate in areas such as materials science, physics, quantum engineering, and nanotechnology.