The Russian interdepartmental delegation paid a working visit to the Syrian Arab Republic. During the visit, a meeting was held to discuss cooperation between the two countries in the field of science and higher education. The event was attended by representatives of the Russian and Syrian relevant ministries, universities and scientific organizations, the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Damascus.
Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation Natalia Bocharova discussed with the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research of the SAR Bassam Ibrahim concrete steps to develop bilateral scientific and educational cooperation.
Natalia Bocharova noted that Russia is committed to systematic work with Syrian colleagues in the field of science and higher education. Now almost 2.4 thousand Syrian students are studying in Russian universities — twice as many as in 2018. The most popular areas of study among Syrian students are computer science and computer engineering, medicine, biological sciences, as well as economics and linguistics.
The increase in quotas for Syrian students by one and a half times in the 2022/2023 academic year, from 500 to 759 people, is a clear example of the desire to make the Russian higher education system more accessible to young Syrians.
"We are ready to train specialists in priority areas for the national economy and social sphere according to the specific requests of the Syrian side," Natalia Bocharova stressed.
According to the Deputy Minister, special attention should be paid to those partnership formats in which Russian and Syrian universities closely cooperate on the implementation of double degree programs, as well as socially significant projects for the restoration of the Syrian economy and the provision of educational and methodological assistance in learning Russian.
The Russian Ministry of Education and Science is ready to consider the proposal of the Syrian side to establish a Russian-Syrian University and a school attached to it on the territory of Syria, as well as a medical university with an ophthalmology clinic in partnership with Russia.
In her speech, Natalia Bocharova noted the need to update the intergovernmental agreement between Russia and Syria on mutual recognition of education, qualifications and scientific degrees. The agreement will create favorable conditions for continuing education and professional development of holders of foreign diplomas in Russia and Syria.
Within the framework of the visit, a scientific and practical conference "Russia - Syria: Cultural and educational foundations of cooperation" was also held. The participants of the event discussed instruments of cooperation in the humanitarian field, topics of new joint projects in priority areas for the two countries, as well as mechanisms for training highly qualified specialists.
"One of the most important areas of Russian-Syrian cooperation in the humanitarian field is the popularization of the Russian language in Syria and Arabic in Russia. The Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation will support the initiatives and initiatives of Russian and Syrian universities and scientific partner organizations in this field," Natalia Bocharova stressed in her speech.
As part of the working trip, six Russian universities and scientific organizations signed new cooperation agreements. The Presidential Library named after B.N. Yeltsin signed memoranda of understanding with the National Library named after H. Al-Assad and the University of the city And the Nikitsky Botanical Garden — the National Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences has opened its representative office in Damascus.
To date, 43 documents on cooperation have been signed between 28 Russian universities and 17 Syrian organizations. The Ministry of Education and Science of Russia is also involved in the implementation of Unified roadmaps for work in the field of support and promotion of the Russian language in Syria for 2019-2022 and 2023-2025.
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