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Factors of Russia’s Integration into Global Educational Space

Author: Tatyana G. Ozyornikova, Dr. Sc. (Econ.), Prof., Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs & International Activities.

Abstract: Nowadays entering the international market of educational services is becoming a topical task for Russian universities, yet its fulfillment encounters a number of problems. The paper specifies the “western” and “eastern” directions for activities so as to take into account the specifics of trends and factors determining the conditions of cooperation between Russian universities and their foreign partners. Russia’s cooperation in the sphere of tertiary education with western universities is considered at the example of European countries including France. As the main trend the paper points out principally unilateral nature of academic mobility and detects its causes. The influence of new political circumstances on the development of cooperation between Russia and European countries in the sphere of higher education is recognized. Eastern direction of activities of Russian universities is examined at the example of China which is a new world economic leader and Russia’s strategic partner. The paper assesses the key factors influencing the development trends in cooperation between Russia and China in sphere of higher education. Additionally, major economic factors behind the growth of Chinese economy, development of education system in PRC, improvement of living standards in the country as well as trends in the spread of Russian language are analyzed. The factors reflecting the conditions of higher education development in Russia which are especially important for cooperation with Chinese universities are stressed. Finally, the article concludes about the change in the format of cooperation, determines the conditions for its development, namely improvement of Russia’s investment appeal, state support of international presence of Russian higher education institutions, and innovative activities of Russian universities in terms of providing educational services for foreign citizens.

Keywords: internationalization of world education; Bologna process; academic mobility; joint educational programs; double diploma; international cooperation of universities.