The curtains of the second Russia-Africa summit, held in the historic city of St. Petersburg, unveiled a landmark agreement that paves the way for a sweeping collaboration in higher education between Russia and nations across Africa. The signing of a groundbreaking memorandum of understanding during this milestone summit has laid the bedrock for the establishment of eminent Russian universities and educational institutions on African soil. This visionary venture is geared to orchestrate a seamless exchange of knowledge through meticulously crafted training initiatives and shared experiential learning, ushering in a new era of enduring partnership across the two regions.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, echoing an unwavering commitment, affirmed Russia's dedication to nurturing the higher education systems of African countries, encompassing a spectrum ranging from general education to vocational training. Ambitious blueprints are already unfurling to train educators, mentors, and technical experts, alongside the establishment of collaborative educational institutions that amalgamate the essence of both Russian and African national education programs.

The vanguard of this transformative collaboration is to be helmed by the St. Petersburg Mining University, serving as the torchbearer through the Russian-African Network University. In tandem, a consortium comprising technical universities will be woven into existence, poised to deliver collaborative training tailored for professionals within the pivotal mineral resources sector – a testament to the strategic gravity of this mutual cooperation.

President Putin, underscoring the pivotal role of honed expertise, spotlighted the staggering fact that a formidable 35,000 African students are presently pursuing higher education at Russian universities. This number is poised for an exponential ascent, spurred by heightened financial backing from the Russian government and newly inked agreements with various African governments. Remarkably, the allocation of the federal budget for funding African students has surged by an extraordinary 150 per cent within the last triennial span, with projections charting a trajectory to encompass over 4,700 students in the forthcoming academic year.

The horizons of Russia's visionary endeavours extend to the materialization of open education centres across 28 African nations. These centres will be dedicated to sculpting a skilled cadre of educators for preschools, primary schools, and secondary institutions. In a remarkable stride, Russia is contemplating the establishment of schools within African territories, envisioning a multifaceted curriculum that includes subjects taught in the Russian language.

The summit's resolute commitment to educational advancement was palpable, underscored by a riveting panel discussion that delved into "Cooperation in Higher Education in Modern Geopolitical Conditions." The emergence of new, resilient ties between Russian and African universities was rightfully hailed as a cornerstone of the summit's pivotal dialogues.

Collectively, the overarching aspiration is to amplify the spectrum of personnel training across key sectors of Africa's burgeoning economy. This mission, tightly aligned with a steadfast dedication to sustainable development, stands poised to usher in a new era of joint research and educational hubs in realms of mutual interest within scientific and technological progress.

The resounding echoes of the summit were palpable, with a congregation of over 8,000 participants affirming the commitment to mutual collaboration spanning education, culture, science, sports, and youth exchanges. The envisioned projects are poised to bestow a robust foundation for the sustained, symbiotic blossoming of this strategic partnership. As the curtains drew on the summit, the resonating refrain was clear – education, a potent bridge builder, shall continue to forge indelible, enduring ties between the two vibrant and interlinked regions.

 

Article by Nyokabi Wanjiku

Photo/Google

https://www.kbc.co.ke/russia-to-set-up-universities-schools-in-africa/