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Far Eastern Federal University (FEFU) has risen by 110 points in the QS World University Rankings 2019. Having settled within the 541-550 band, FEFU demonstrated the best result for the entire time of participation in the rankings since 2012. 

The dynamics of the Far Eastern Federal University's promotion in the global rankings is indicative, the more so as the competition among the world's research and education centers is growing: this year experts evaluated more than 4,700 universities. According to the FEFU President Nikita Anisimov, the result is due to a set of initiatives to improve the competitiveness of the university at the Russian and international levels. 

"FEFU initiated totally new academic and research projects, the quality of internationalization is improving, network interaction with international universities is expanding, and the optimization of administrative and managerial processes is continuing. We can talk about a rethinking of the place and role of the university, which inevitably led to the transformation of approaches to address the development challenges," said Nikita Anisimov. 

The QS World University Rankings is compiled using the methodology of the British company Quacquarelli Symonds and it is recognized as one of the most influential in the world. Achievements of universities are evaluated annually by a combination of indicators: the share of international students and faculty, the ratio of the number of students and faculty, citation index of scientific publications, the reputation in the academic community and among employers. 

According to the FEFU Vice President for Development Office, the university showed high dynamics in four of the six criteria over the past year. The main factor in the improvement of FEFU position in the rankings was the growth of international activity. 

This was facilitated to a large extent by the expansion of FEFU cooperation with leading international partners. In particular, it was agreed with Tokai University (Japan) to cross open representative offices of universities, the parties have launched exchange of students, are jointly developing two-diploma programs and a number of research projects.. 

FEFU representative office will appear soon in China, as it was decided at the talks in the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China. Far Eastern Federal University intends to open the office in one of the leading Chinese universities and make it a powerful point for working with educational centers, authorities and business, a platform for the development of scientific cooperation and the transfer of technology products. 

“Unique opportunities for research and study at FEFU attract more and more international students and scholars every year. A huge number of events are held with the invitation of leading international experts, and our researchers actively participate in international scientific networks. All this provides the university with not only statistical indicators, but also a qualitative effect: international recognition and reputation, determining long-term growth,” said Nikita Anisimov. 

High results of FEFU in the QS Ranking are also provided by improved quality of education at the university, which is strengthened by a modular training system. The new approach makes the educational process more flexible, synchronizes it with other Russian and international universities, and opens wide opportunities for academic mobility. 

In parallel, the university is moving to digital management of education. The new project 'Unified information educational environment and digital management of the educational process' allows students, faculty, and heads of academic programs to get complete and reliable information about the process and quality of education through various services. 

“Publication of the QS Rankings in June, prior to the start of the admission campaign, will allow entrants to orientate themselves in choosing a university, based on expert assessment and data from an authoritative source,” said Nikita Anisimov. “It is important to maintain the momentum and continue to move forward.  The pace of development of the universities and the growth of competition in the academic environment are very high.”

Far Eastern Federal University consistently improves its performance in major international rankings. Since 2013, FEFU has been in the Top 100 of the QS BRICS University Rankings (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) and the QS University Rankings: Emerging Europe and Central Asia. The university also takes 17^th place in the 2018 National Rating of Russian Universities.