The Summit commenced with the speech by Mr.Viktor Sadovnichy, the President of the Russian Union of Rectors and Rector of Lomonosov Moscow State University, who analyzed the multifaceted cooperation between Russia and African countries. This partnership has more than 600 large industrial facilities, built with the participation of Soviet specialists in the 1960s-1980s. Among them are such large ones as hydroelectric power plants in Egypt and Angola, a metallurgical plant in Algeria, an oil refinery in Ethiopia, a mining and processing plant in Congo. Mr. Sadovnichy reminded that almost all of these construction sites were staffed by specialists - the MSU graduates.
Graduates of Moscow University have become the scientific, educational and managerial elite of their respective countries. Several generations of African students studied at Universities of the Soviet Union, and young people from African countries still often choose Russian Universities for their higher education.
"The sphere of education, as well as cooperation in the fields of science and technology development, is again on the forefront of the agenda of today's Forum.” said Mr. Sadovnichy, speaking from the rostrum of the “Russia-Africa” summit. “Universities are an integral part of cooperation between many countries, including Russia and Africa.”
Mr. Sadovnichy proposed to consider the possibility of cooperation between African and Eurasian Universities in designing interactive cooperation between the Eurasian Association of Universities and the Association of African Universities, and emphasized that the MSU, as the oldest and largest University in Russia, is ready to expand its work with partners from Africa. "We are interested in implementing academic mobility programs, conducting joint scientific research, training students under the auspices of joint educational programs, creating joint laboratories and educational centers," the Rector said.
Furthering topics, raised by the Rector of the Moscow State University, Mr. Vladimir Platonov, the President of the Moscow Chamber of Commerce and Industry, presented to the participating Rectors and representatives of more than fifty leading Russian and African Universities the project of the MCCI on working with foreign students, studying in Russia, which is extremely promising from the economic, political and, finally, humanitarian points of view. It deals with questions of not only education, but also employment of foreign (including African) students in Russia.
Currently, foreign students of Russian universities have the opportunity to work in the Russian Federation without providing authorisation documents. However, the problem of employment for foreign students is quite acute, and their employment requisites need additional support and formation of entrepreneurial competencies that will facilitate adaptation to the Russian reality.
According to the survey, conducted by the International Employers' Club Association in 2022, more than 81% of foreign students reported having difficulties with finding employment in Russia. The main reason is the stereotypical reluctance of employers to hire foreign nationals despite having diplomas from Russian universities. Other reasons include language barriers, lack of experience, low pay, and the inability to combine work schedule with studies.
This being the case, to solve the problem of employment for foreign students, entrepreneurship training can be a worthy help. However, the organization and development of this area of work with foreign students requires taking into account the specifics of target audience and the development of unique educational programs that will result in their employment; it should include an international development of small and medium-sized businesses and active involvement as representatives for the promotion of Russian companies in foreign markets.
Chambers of Commerce and Industry, positioned at the intersection of three important spheres - business, government and higher education provide excellent opportunities to address these issues.
Mr. Platonov proposes to launch an educational project with th help of the Moscow Chamber of Commerce and Industry aimed at developing entrepreneurial competencies and career modelling skills of foreign students studying in Russian Universities, while focusing on the entrepreneurial environment of the Russian Federation. The International Employers' Club Association, MGIMO Career Center, RUDN Career Center, the All-Russian Association of Career Centers and the Association of Foreign Students of Russia are ready to become partners of the project.
The proposed project is designed, on the one hand, to promote entrepreneurship and employment of the most successful and talented graduates of Russian Universities, and, on the other hand, to improve Russia's world image and take into account the interests of our country in international affairs.
Today, in hundreds of countries there are associations of graduates of Soviet and Russian Universities, uniting people who know our language, culture, traditions, peculiarities of business relations, etc. Thus, since 1960, the Peoples' Friendship University of Russia, named after Patrice Lumumba, has trained hundreds of thousands of specialists from foreign countries. Now they work in 162 countries of the world. Most of them perceive Russia as their second homeland.
"We propose to use this factor to develop economic ties without waiting for current students to graduate and leave for their home countries. We want to give the willing students from abroad the opportunity to learn the peculiarities of doing business with partners in our country. The Russian CCI system unites more than 170 Chambers of Commerce in all the regions and a large number of municipalities, owing to which, we have the opportunity to quickly contact any part of the country and rapidly get the necessary information,” said Mr. Platonov. “This is simultaneously an opportunity to gain entrepreneurial skills, learn the peculiarities of the Russian foreign economic environment and, most importantly, gain contacts for Russian business.”
The project, presented by the Moscow Chamber, was received with interest by representatives of leading Universities of Russia and Africa, which participated in the Forum in the format of presentations and general discussions. It is planned to sign an agreement, dealing with this topic between the MCCI and the Russian Union of Rectors.