On March 26, a meeting between international recruitment agencies and leading Novosibirsk universities was held at the site of the new NSU campus. The event aimed to identify new channels for attracting students, enter unexplored international markets, and establish a presence there to increase interest in studying at NSU and other Russian universities. The meeting was attended by 10 representatives from Novosibirsk universities, including NSU, SibSUTIS, NSAU, STU, NSMU, SIBSTRIN, and NSPU. There were 11 representatives from recruitment companies: six—from Russia, Iran, Turkey, and India—attended in person, while five—from Turkmenistan, India, Bangladesh, and Nigeria—joined online. The event was part of the Novosibirsk Region Universities’ Open House for Recruitment Companies, which took place in Novosibirsk on March 26 and 27, 2026.
Bogdan Voronovsky, CEO of the Association of Eastern European Universities (EEUA), participated in the event as a guest expert.
“The meeting at Novosibirsk State University is an excellent example of constructive dialogue between universities and recruitment companies. Such initiatives allow universities to better understand the needs of foreign markets, build long-term partnerships with agents, and, as a result, increase the number of international students and collectively promote their region,” commented Bogdan Voronovsky.
Speaking about the goals and outcomes of the meeting, Evgeny Sagaydak, head of the Education Export Department, noted:
— During the meeting, we were able not only to learn about successful international practices but also to agree on common approaches and tools for working with international applicants for universities in the Novosibirsk Region. Participants received up-to-date information from representatives of recruitment agencies about new methods of student recruitment and were introduced to models of cooperation applicable under current conditions. Such cooperation and ongoing dialogue contribute to an increase in the number of international students and strengthen the position of Russian education abroad.
Russian education is popular in many countries around the world, including India. Currently, there are about 35,000 Indian students in Russian universities, and Russia ranks sixth among the countries where Indians study. In recent years, interest in studying in Russia among Indian students has grown significantly: the number of students increases by 30–35% annually. The most sought-after field of study is “General Medicine,” and programs in engineering, veterinary medicine, economics, and Russian as a foreign language are also popular.
— Russian education is in high demand in India for several reasons—the combination of affordability, quality, and historical ties plays a key role. Russia is particularly renowned for training specialists in medicine, engineering, and the natural sciences. Many universities offer programs in English, which reduces the language barrier. Degrees from Russian universities are recognized in India—this is important for students who plan to return and work at home. Educational cooperation between Russia and India has a long history dating back to the Soviet era. Russian universities have established a solid reputation among Indians,” commented Andrey Chistokhvalov, a representative of the Russian Education Agency in India.
He added that, following the meeting, cooperation agreements will be signed with Novosibirsk universities to attract students from India. Therefore, a significant increase in the number of students from that country is expected as early as the fall of 2026.
The meeting was also beneficial for the participating universities, as it allowed them to see an international student coming to study in Novosibirsk through the eyes of a recruiter and understand what could be improved in the universities’ work to attract more students from different countries to the region.
— We had the opportunity to identify which factors in university educational programs are attractive to prospective applicants and which, on the contrary, are unattractive. These factors include logistics, infrastructure, payment methods, academic advising, and admissions coordination. The idea of holding joint academic competitions to secure quotas, under which funding is provided for international students to come study here, was very useful. Also useful, of course, was the recruiters’ perspective on the fields of study and majors that are popular among international students in various recruitment countries,” said Ekaterina Barancheeva, Head of the Department of International Affairs and Academic Mobility at NSPU.
According to Ekaterina Barancheeva, the most promising programs right now are English-language programs with dual majors, where the diploma lists two fields of study, as well as programs that are as practice-oriented as possible. Additionally, it is important for programs to be tailored to the educational and career paths that students from a particular country choose based on their preferences.
Novosibirsk is a leading scientific and academic center, so, of course, programs at Novosibirsk universities are in demand in other countries. However, it is not only the education itself that matters, but also other factors that influence the attractiveness of education in a given region.
— If universities and the Russian educational system support students—whether in terms of helping them adjust, finding employment, or even during their studies—as well as through participation in volunteer projects and by integrating them into our social and cultural environment, students will be more interested in coming to our region. In other words, it’s not just the education itself that matters, but also infrastructure issues, aspects related to daily life, payments, and logistics. All of this, of course, influences the arrival of international students,” added Ekaterina Barancheeva.
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