News in Press-centre

As part of the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) at the Far Eastern Federal University (FEFU), a panel discussion “Universities as a driver of technology exports” was held. Representatives of business and the universities’ leadership community discussed what transformations are necessary for domestic education and science in order to occupy a competitive niche in the Asia-Pacific region (APR), what degree of technological openness is acceptable in interaction with Asian partners, and how important it is to develop the export of education.

The geopolitical and geo-economic challenges that Russia faces exacerbate the need for “turn to the East” to create new international scientific and economic ties. At the same time, it is obvious that a qualitative deepening of relations with partners in the Asia-Pacific region requires building a foundation of sustainable technological and humanitarian interdependence. And, according to experts, scientific and educational organizations play a key role in building these connections.

“Deputy Prime Minister - Presidential Envoy to the Far Eastern Federal District Yuri Trutnev is actively working to attract Russian economic leaders to our region. Large strategic enterprises are not only expanding their presence in the Russian Far East, but also entering new markets in the Asia-Pacific countries.  We initially introduce a partner to the market that promotes its existing products and creates demand for training and research teams for the development of projects. The same steps were applied to the launching of the Russian-Vietnamese Artificial Intelligence Center in Hanoi (Vietnam). Specialists from FEFU, Sberbank and Hanoi State University have already identified the first joint projects in the most promising and in-demand areas in the Asia-Pacific region,” said Boris Korobets, President of the Far Eastern Federal University.

Speaking about the landscape of science and higher education in the context of the international vector, experts discussed possible tools that will help replicate the best practices of universities. University representatives noted that business and educational organizations have different performance indicators. For a productive dialogue, universities and high-tech enterprises will have to calibrate their standards, set joint goals and develop new mechanisms for achieving them. President of the Southern Federal University Inna Shevchenko also proposed developing a special electronic platform where universities and technology partners from all over Russia could find common ground.

Deputy General Director, Director of the Department for the Development of Propulsion Systems and the Development of Academic Programs at BURO 1440, Yana Harlan, noted that the university, in the context of technology exports, should play the role of not only a platform that prepares students abroad to operate our products. Another important role of the university and international educational programs is to overcome cultural barriers and establish close interpersonal contacts between Russian and international students. “This social connection further helps solve a number of problems, helping to promote domestic companies in new markets,” the expert emphasized.

Let us note that today Russia is forming a request not only for the creation of new partnerships with Asia-Pacific countries, but also for new systems of training and development of personnel that will determine the development of the Russian economy in the conditions of international sanctions and restrictions. Obviously, this is also a growth point for higher education institutions. That is why the Far Eastern Federal University, as the center of modern Oriental Studies in Russia, has begun to transform Oriental Studies education. Today, language proficiency is not enough - we need specialists who understand the culture, social characteristics and specifics of legislation, the principles of building the economy of Asian countries. Through the university’s “Eastern Vector” policy, already this year a wide range of microqualifications - practice-oriented courses from teachers who know the specifics of business or the public sector of the Asia-Pacific region - have already been included in the educational programs of the FEFU Oriental Institute.