Russian studies: a risky business?

“The number of foreign undergraduate students in Russia is shrinking,” said Russian Deputy Science and Education Minister Vladimir Fridlyanov ahead of the Second World Forum of Foreign Alumni of Russian (Soviet) Under­gradu­ate Colleges and Universities, which took place in Moscow from October 1 through 3.

Furthermore, an increasing number of students from the Africa and Latin America are passing up chances to study in Russia, despite the fact that for many of them education is free of charge, while a degree from a Russian university enables them to land a good job in their native countries.

The problem is that the real price of education in Russia is becoming exor­bitant – sometimes one must even pay with his life. Between two and five foreign students are killed in Russia every year, and there are dozens of as­saults.

“Before 1991, there were 126,000 foreign students in Russia,” Fridlya­nov said. “Today their number has fallen to 90,000. About 7,000 foreign students are enrolled at higher educational establishments in Russia every year, both on a fee paying basis and free of cost, mainly at Moscow State University (MGU) and the Russian University of Peoples’ Friendship (RUDN).”

With respect to students from Europe, the education official said that the outlook for an increase in their numbers remains uncertain, adding that any positive dynamics here are contingent on better accommodation and personal security conditions.

Nevertheless, foreign alumni who came to the forum from 110 countries had mostly happy memories about their student days in Russia. Interrupting one another, they spoke, in perfect Russian, about their life after graduation, as well as their achievements. There are chiefs of state, government ministers, univer­sity professors, diplomats, bankers, doctors, and teachers among them.

“This forum is an opportunity to meet my former fellow students,” said Mai Guyen, a teacher of Russian. “I graduated from Kazan University almost 15 years ago, but I have always kept in touch with them. I still send them my best wishes on February 23 (Fatherland Defenders Day) and March 8 (International Women’s Day). On the New Year, I always decorate a fir tree at home. My children adore Ded Moroz (Farther Frost) and Snegurochka (Snow Maiden).”

Isa Dabbah, a professor of law from Jordan, organized a Russian culture society in his motherland. “I love Russia,” Isa said with unfeigned sincerity. “Every two or three years I come to Moscow no matter what. I cannot live with­out Moscow, I am almost Russian. My favourite poet is Pushkin, and my fa­vourite songs are ‘Katyusha’ and ‘Moscow Nights.’”

Apart from meetings and reminiscences, the forum’s participants dis­cussed problems of country specific training, putting in place a system of easily readable and comparable degrees, ensuring fair recognition of qualifications, and providing people in the CIS countries with an opportunity to receive a higher education in Russian.

Addressing the opening session, Dmitry Medvedev pledged that the Russian government would do all it can to increase the number of foreign students in Russia. “These are our supporters and ideological soul mates,” he said. “The country has really changed, but just as before, it is still proud of its alumni and regards them as partners in this new era.”

What is the principal mission of the foreign graduates from Russian universities according to our officials?

Medvedev also urged the alumni to participate in joint projects and use their authority as representatives of national intellectual elites to perform their principal mission, which he described as “to carry the light of humanism and enlightenment and promote peace and accord between people coming from different cultural, religious and ethnic backgrounds.”

Gabriel Aniset Kochofa, president of the Association of Foreign Students in Russia, who is originally from West Africa and is now dean of the Russian I. M. Gubkin State Oil and Gas University, invited everyone to follow his example – to study, get married and stay in Russia.

Yekaterina Rozhayeva

Moscow News 11/10/2007