MINSK, 9 October (BelTA) – The first forum of the association of universities of Russia and Belarus “Science and education in the context of great challenges of the modern world” will take place in Moscow on 10 October. Rectors of Belarusian and Russian universities will participate in this forum, BelTA has learned from the press service of Belarusian State University.
The Belarusian delegation will be headed by acting Chairman of the National Council of Rectors of Institutions of Higher Education, BSU Rector Andrei Korol. Attending the forum will be rectors of Russian universities led by Chairman of the Council of the Rectors of Russia, Rector of Lomonosov Moscow State University Viktor Sadovnichiy.
The forum will be the first official meeting of representatives of the leading higher education institutions of the two countries after the declaration to set up the association of universities had been signed in July 2019. The rectors will discuss the key areas of inter-university cooperation, prospects for consolidating educational, scientific and technological potential of the universities of the two countries. Andrei Korol and Viktor Sadovnichiy will draw attention to the key tasks of the association for the near future and proposals for greater cooperation between the universities. “This involves initiatives to increase the number of joint educational programs, to establish a coordinating council, to develop the legal framework and to determine productive forms of collaboration,” the press service stated.
Moscow is hosting the Friendship Days of Lomonosov Moscow State University and BSU on 9-11 October. The event will feature rectors, deans and scientists of the humanities faculty and natural sciences faculties at BSU. “The Friendship Days are aimed to strengthen the historical ties, traditions and inter-university cooperation in education and research. The program includes meetings of the heads of universities and faculties, scientific conferences and contests and also student science events,” the BSU press service added.
BSU and MSU will sign a number of documents to bolster ties. One of the memorandums provides for launching a joint inter-university publishing project “The works of MSU and BSU”. The project will facilitate the exchange of scientific and methodological knowledge. “It is considered strategically important for the leading universities of Belarus and Russia to hold breakout sessions of the history, philology, philosophy, physics, mathematics, chemistry and biology departments. Department heads together with scientists will discuss science and education potential, prospects for joint research programs and development of the common education space. Presentations of scientific schools and clusters of the two universities will also take place,” the press service said.
The finals of the international student history contest “The Common Path to the Great Victory: the Feat of People is Immortal” will take place during the Friendship Days of BSU and MSU. The projects of the contestants are dedicated to native and foreign history, ethnology, archeology and history of arts. Particular focus has been placed on the history of the Great Patriotic War. A student conference on the modern student government has also been scheduled. The participants will suggest their ideas of the development of the youth management system in universities.
Belarusian State University and Lomonosov Moscow State University cooperate closely in various areas. The first agreement on cooperation in science, education and culture was signed in 1995. Since then the universities have concluded many more agreements. Among them is the agreement on cooperation in science and education, a memorandum of intent on cooperation in space education and science.
