Introduction
The second edition of the Russian Education Fair 2020 was organized by Ruseducation in collaboration with Russian Centre for Science and Culture with effect from 19th Sep to 20th Sep 2020 on a virtual platform.
The purpose of this Fair was to reach out to the student community in India especially to those who are seeking affordable and attractive opportunities for studying abroad and for apprising them of the benefits that would accrue to them if they choose Russia as their choice destination for pursuing their preferred courses of education.
The Fair provided ample opportunities to the students to interact with the University representatives and Academic Counselors virtually on a live platform. They could take a video tour, visit the photo gallery and see the testimonials of past and present students of the various participating Universities.
The virtual platform provided sufficient facilities to students for having live chats, video calls, downloading of brochures and uploading documents. Provisions were also made for passport and loan assistance, online admissions, and making payments for registrations through the online platform. Close to ten thousand virtual footfalls took place during the course of this well organized virtual fair
Participating Universities
The following Universities from Russia participated in the fair:-
Webinars
During the course of the virtual fair, a series of outstanding webinars were organized that provided comprehensive details of education in Russia. There were separate University-based presentations representing various participating Universities. A webinar was also conducted on the likely cutoffs pertaining to the just concluded NEET 2020 examinations. The webinars were very well received and appreciated by the participants as they invoked not only interest but also a lot of interactions through Question and Answer sessions. The webinars helped to allay the anxiety and apprehensions regarding the current pandemic, the future after NEET, the quality of medical education in Russia, and the mode of conduct of classes during pandemic, etc. The webinars were well attended and a runaway hit.
Round Table Conference
On the sidelines of the Education Fair, a virtual round table conference was organized. The purpose of the Round Table Conference was to deliberate on the various academic programs being offered by the Russian Universities and to exchange views on meeting the expectations of the Indian students as well as to focus on the challenges and ways forward during the ensuing pandemic of COVID 19. The Conference was graced by the following:-
- Veremeenko Sergey Alekseevich – Member of Parliament of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation
- Rozovsky Fedor Anatolyevich – Head of the Representative Office of Rossotrudnichestvo in the Republic of India
- Prof Sayed K. Washim – Chairman of Rus Education
- Mr Ratheesh K Nair, Honorary Consul of the Russian Federation, Director of the Russian Center for Science and Culture in Trivandrum
- Koryukina Irina Petrovna – Rector of the Perm State Medical University named after academician E.A. Wagner “
- Baulin Oleg Alexandrovich – Rector of FSBEI HE “Ufa State Oil Technical University
- Shvetsov Mikhail Nikolaevich – Rector of FSBEI HE “Mari State University”
- Nikonova Zhanna Viktorovna – Rector of FSBEI HE “Nizhny Novgorod State Linguistic University named after Dobrolyubov “
- R.K.Dhowan – Rus Education Co-Chairman, Admiral, Former Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Navy
- Kapoor Pawan – Vice Chairman of Rus Education, Air Marshal, Former Head of Medical Service of the Indian Armed Forces
- Soppa Igor Vladimirovich- Vice Chairman for International Activities Moscow Polytechnic University
- Sergeev Alexey Nikolaevich, Vice-rector for international activities of the Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education “Tver State Medical University”
- Barman Elena, Head of the Department of Education at the Russian Center for Science and Culture in India
- Mironchev Anton Olegovich, Dean of the Faculty of Foreign Students of the Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education “Orenburg State Medical University”
- Pastukhov Alexey Yurievich, Head of the Department of international integration and education at the St. Petersburg State University of Industrial Technologies and Design
- Babkin Ruslan Sergeevich, Director of the Centre for Pre-University and Special Programs of the Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education ,St. Petersburg Mining University
- Mishin Ilya Igorevich, Head of the Department of External Programs of the Centre for Pre-University and Special Programs of the Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education St. Petersburg Mining University
- Makarova Yulia Vladimirovna, Head of the International Cooperation Department of the Federal State Autonomous Educational Institution of Higher Education St. Petersburg State University of Aerospace Instrumentation
- Singla Dinesh, Director of Rus Education
The proceedings were commenced and moderated by Chairman Ruseducation, Pro Sayed K. Washim. He introduced the participants and requested them to provide their views and opinion on education prospects for Indian students in Russian Universities
Honorable Minister Mr. Veremeenko Sergey appreciated the efforts to organize the second edition of the Russian Education Fair wherein more than ten thousand virtual visitors registered to gather information about education in Russia. He welcomed the prospect of seeing more students in Russia pursuing higher education.
The Director for Russian Centre for Science and Culture, Mr. Fyodor Rozovsky welcomed all the participants and informed them that in the current pandemic India is just behind USA in the number of people afflicted by COVID 19 although the treatment facilities provided had encouraging results and the recovery rates are much higher. He informed about the conduct of NEET 2020 examinations in India wherein out of 1.5 million candidates who appeared 50 percent would pass and thus various Medical Universities in Russia can expect many students from India. He also informed that Aeroflot would resume the International Flights to Russia only by the end-March of next year. There would thus be a need to conduct classes online till International flights resumed. He also informed that since the first edition of the virtual Russian education fair, there have been a lot of developments that would simplify and support the admission of Indian students to Russian Universities. He thanked the participants for attending this all-important round table conference and expressed the confidence that COVID 19 will not hamper the spirit of Indian students from joining Russian Universities.
Ms. Irina Petrovna, Rector of Perm State Medical University admitted that the time of pandemic is challenging and the situation is not a normal situation both for the students as well as the staff. All students in Perm and those who have returned to India during the vacations shall continue their theoretical classes online. Once offline campus classes resume all will be required to go through the Practical aspects of the curriculum. She suggested that students could also attend some practical classes in India till the pandemic situation normalizes. She confirmed that all students in the university are healthy and are following all safety protocols for COVID 19 including masks, sanitizers and personal hygiene, etc.
Prof Mikhail Nikolaevich, Rector Mari State University expressed his happiness in being a part of this virtual forum. He informed that like Perm State Medical University all students in Mari and those who had left for India on vacations are being imparted online education through their Learning Management System. He said that they were quick to adopt and adapt this system of online education. He, too, expressed concern about the practical aspect of training since due to travel restrictions the students are unable to come to the University. At the same time, he said that the University is attempting to put as much material as possible online to keep the students’ academic interests alive. He also informed that the pandemic has had a moderate effect on education and not a single student of the University was infected from COVID 19.
Prof Oleg Aleksandrovich, Rector Ufa State Petroleum Technological University stated that they have special programs for Indian students wherein the medium of instruction is English. The University has also designed online programs for students who would not be able to come to Russia due to travel restrictions. They also have a preparatory faculty for the students to help them learn the Russian language.
Prof Zhanna Viktorovna, Rector of FSBEI HE Nizhny Novgorod State Linguistic University had joined the Round table Conference for the first time. She stated that the University is more than 100 years old and they have very effective programs in different international languages. They have programs in 16 different international languages. In addition, they conduct programs on International Tourism and all their students get exposure and learn in at least three different International languages. It was brought out that the University has tie-ups with many countries and they are just 2 hours away from Moscow.
Prof Igor Vladimirovich, Vice-Rector for international activities of the Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education “Moscow Polytechnic University” informed that their university has been made with the combination of 6 universities of Moscow. The University has 155 years of history behind it. The University is delivering about 70 programs in Russian language and two programs in the subjects of Marketing and Economics in English Language. The University currently holds around 2000 International students from 60 countries including India, Bangladesh, and the rest of Asia. He expected more students to join their programs from India and also informed that they too like the others have shifted to the online mode of education during this period of the pandemic.
Prof Aleksei Nicholaevich, Rector of Tver State Medical University expressed his gratitude for being a part of the Round Table Conference. He informed that TSMU has almost 1000 students from India pursuing their dream of becoming a doctor. He stated that the medium of instruction at Tver State Medical University is in English language and during this pandemic the University has shifted to an online mode of education exploiting all the features of various Learning Management systems like Moodle and Sphinx. He also informed that they have now a new website that gives maximum information to the students. He also expressed the hope that the situation shall return to normal so that the practical classes can commence. He urged that the Universities must help Indian students to find employability in Russia after their education so that they can stay in Russia after their education. This is a big advertisement for all the universities where students will be able to work while they study. He expressed the hope that Indian students shall choose Tver State Medical University for admission as TSMU is and shall continue to be a flag bearer of Indian students amongst Russian universities. He also informed that TSMU shall be also celebrating 550 years of the arrival of Tver Merchant, Afanasii Nikitin.
Prof Pastukhov Alexey Yurievich, Head of the Department of international integration and education at the St. Petersburg State University of Industrial Technologies and Design informed me that their university is one of the biggest universities in northwest Russia. The Professor informed that all the bachelors’ programs are in Russian language but the masters programs are in English in the fields of Fashion Designing and Economics
Prof (Dr) Mironchev Anton Olegovich, Dean of the Faculty of Foreign Students of the Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education “Orenburg State Medical University” started his statement with the traditional Indian Namaste and expressed the desire that soon we should be able to shift over to a normal version of Russian education fairs. He appreciated that the virtual platform had provided opportunities for Universities to tie up with each other. He expressed his appreciation of the efforts taken by Ruseducation in arranging chartered flights so that the Indian students could get home on vacations and also for arranging practical training in India. He informed that the University has also arranged short practical training sessions for the 260 students who did not travel to India out of the total of 900 Indian students enrolled. He also recommended that ways must be found for the students to get some work during their stay in Russia.
Prof Babkin Ruslan Sergeevich, Director of the Centre for Pre-University and Special Programs of the Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education, St. Petersburg Mining University, thanked all the organizers of this exhibition for inviting them to the exhibition and round table. He stated that the education system is changing due to various factors and therefore, the systems in the Universities had to change to online format since the end of March. St Petersburg Mining University has, however, shifted to a normal system of education with effect from 01 Sep 2020.
Mr. Ratheesh Nair, Honorary Consul of the Russian Federation, Director of the Russian Center for Science and Culture in Trivandrum informed that there are daily calls from interested parents and students who are desirous of pursuing their education in Russia. With the advent of the Russian vaccine Sputnik V, the students will be more inclined to go to Russia for their academics as now people will understand that Russian Universities have a well-developed Research framework
Prof Yulia Vladimirova, Head of the International Cooperation Department of the Federal State Autonomous Educational Institution of Higher Education St. Petersburg State University of Aerospace Instrumentation, informed that their University is a multi-profile University offering a range of courses to Indian students like Information and Computer Technology, Research, and radio Engineering programs. The University was formed in 1941 and has programs both in Russian and English language.
Admiral RK Dhowan (Retd), former Chief of the Naval Staff and Co-Chairman Ruseducation stated that the Universities and the students are all passing through challenging times and we need to adapt to the new norms of education. He informed that a large number of candidates appeared for NEET 2020 but due to limited seat options in India many qualified students are unable to get a seat in India and thus their requirements can be only met by traveling to Russia which provides the state of the art facilities for the students. In COVID Times the online mode of education has become the new normal. He appreciated the efforts taken by the Russian Universities in adopting the online system of medical education and was hopeful of further admissions this year in Russian Universities since in India it is every student’s dream to become a doctor. He thanked the participants for their cooperation and efforts.
Air Marshal (Dr) Pawan Kapoor (Retd), former Director-General of Medical Services, Indian Air Force, and Vice Chairman of Ruseducation informed that indeed COVID 19 is spreading in India. Out of a total number of global cases of around 31 million, India ranks next to USA with almost 5.5 million cases. Thankfully the mortality rate is lower and the recovery rate is faster. The Indian students are keen to join the Russian Universities and the online mode will help them to continue their education. There will however be a need to expand the avenues for practical training both in India and Russia and mechanisms can be explored by seeking the support of the Ministry of External Affairs and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in India.
All participants acknowledged that the Round Table Conference was well organized and appreciated the efforts and the Take Home Messages provided by the galaxy of the Rectors, Vice-Rectors, and Deans of various Russian Universities.
The RTC was concluded by Chairman Rus education by thanking all the dignitaries for their active participation and constructive contributions.
Overall the second edition of the Virtual Russian Education fair organized by Ruseducation in collaboration with the Department of Russian Centre for Science and Culture, the Russian Federation in India was a runaway success.
