Top Universities of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa Officially Joined the BRICS Network University

Ekaterinburg, Russia, April 13, 2016 (Newswire.com) - ​On April 6-9, the first Forum of the BRICS Network University was held at Ural Federal University (Ekaterinburg, Russia) upon the initiative of the RF Ministry of Education and Science. More than 150 representatives of universities and Ministries of Education of Russia, India, China, Brazil and South Africa took part in the event. The Forum was the first official event held in the frames of the project.

According to UrFU Vice-rector for International Relations Maxim Khomyakov, the event pursued three main goals – meeting of the top managers of participating universities, working out action plans for the development of joint study programs in the priority thematic areas within the frames of international thematic groups and meeting of the international governing board.

“Development of relations with BRICS universities is a strategic project for our university. The potential of this collaboration is really great, and we should implement it to the full extent.  This is a complex of activities in the spheres of research, education and administration. BRICS countries share similar priorities and goals, and we plan that the joint projects will develop dynamically”, noted Maxim Khomyakov.

The Forum started with a plenary session during which the heads of delegations presented the participating universities from each country – the universities had been selected in the course of an open competition by the Ministries of Education. Welcoming remarks were made by the deputy Minister of Education and Science of the RF Alexander Klimov; Secretary, Department of Higher Education, MHRD of India Vinay Sheel Oberoi; VP of Beijing Normal University Chen Li; Head of International Affairs Office of Brazil Ministry of Education Aline Schleicher; Deputy Director-General: University Branch, Department of Higher Education and Training of South Africa Diane Parker.

The work of the Forum continued in the form of meetings where the delegates discussed the key aspects of the project’s development. Members of the international governing board discussed the organizational and regulatory issues whilst the members of six thematic groups were working on action plans for the development of joint programs. They discussed the fields for developing network Master and PhD programs taught in English that will be open for students from all 5 countries, expanding academic exchange within BRICS countries and organization of short-term programs: summer schools, internships etc.

As a result of the two-day discussions each international thematic group worked out an action plan for the development of joint programs; the presentations of these plans were made during the closing plenary. In accordance with the actions plans during the next academic year the participating universities will start their first summer and winter schools and explore the opportunities for expanding academic exchange on student and faculty levels. In a year the universities are planning to launch the first network Master and PhD programs taught in English.

The thematic priorities of the BRICS Network University are energy, computer science and information security, BRICS studies, ecology and climate change, water resources and pollution treatment, economics.

The Forum ended up with a solemn signing ceremony during which 45 universities expressed their willingness to participate in the BRICS NU project.

Reference

BRICS Network University is a research and educational project aimed at forming a common educational environment, developing academic mobility and training highly qualified professionals in the priority areas of development of BRICS countries. The Memorandum of Understanding for Establishment of the BRICS Network University was signed on November 18, 2015 in Moscow by the Ministers of Education of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. 

Source: Ural Federal University