Russia and Pakistan strengthen cooperation in higher education and science

The Russian higher education side was represented by Alexander Tolparov, Director of the Department for International Cooperation of the Russian Ministry of Education and Science, as well as delegates from the Peoples' Friendship University of Russia, the Pushkin State Institute of Russian Language and the Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University.

In the course of expert consultations the parties discussed the current state and prospects of strengthening bilateral relations in the sphere of higher education and science.

It was agreed to further develop joint scientific and educational projects on climate change, development of higher education after COVID-19, online distance learning, academic exchanges of students and teachers, as well as the accession of Pakistan to the SCO Network University.

In addition, it was decided to update the international legal framework for bilateral cooperation in science and higher education, including the issue of bilateral recognition of education documents and degrees.

Expert work on draft documents will be carried out through the Working Group on Cooperation in Education, Science and Technology established under the Commission, the Russian part of which has been given to the Pakistani side.

Among the key areas of cooperation is the provision by the Russian Government of an annual quota for training in the areas of training that are in demand for the Pakistani economy. In the academic year 2023/24, the number of places under the quota doubled to 50. Now more than 380 Pakistani students are studying in Russian universities, 90 of them on quota.

Popular fields of study include political science and regional studies, law, electrical and thermal engineering, mechanical engineering and medical science.