FEFU strengthens ties with China: third Joint Institute to open in Wuhan

Far Eastern Federal University (FEFU) and Central China Normal University (CCNU) signed an agreement on the establishment of a Joint Institute of Tourism Resources in Wuhan on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum. The project aims to deepen educational and scientific cooperation between Russia and China in the tourism sector and related disciplines and implies the launch of joint bachelor's and postgraduate educational programmes. The first admission of students is planned for 2027.

The FEFU and CCNU Joint Institute of Tourism Resources aims to combine the strengths and resources of both universities to train highly qualified, internationally oriented specialists. Joint educational programmes will be implemented at the bachelor's and postgraduate levels. Undergraduate students will be able to study current trends in the tourism sector and related disciplines, including economics and geography. Postgraduate programmes will focus on in-depth research in the field of tourism and recreation.

"The opening of the Joint Institute in Wuhan is an important step in the development of our strategic partnership with China. Tourism is a powerful tool for cultural exchange and mutual understanding between the peoples of Russia and China. The development of this sector, especially in the border regions and the Far East, contributes to socio-economic growth and the strengthening of comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation between the two countries. I am confident that combining our scientific and educational potential will allow us to train unique specialists who are in demand in the tourism industry in both Russia and China. The new structure will become the third joint institute of FEFU with leading Chinese universities, thus confirming the intensity and depth of our cooperation," said Boris Korobets, FEFU President.

The establishment of the Joint Institute with FEFU opens new horizons for our cooperation in the field of higher education. This project will not only provide students from both countries with access to unique educational programmes and international experience but also make a tangible contribution to the development of the tourism potential of our regions, deepening cultural dialogue and strengthening friendship between the peoples of China and Russia," said Zha Daolin, Deputy Party Secretary of Central China Normal University.

Earlier, FEFU launched the Joint Institute of Information Technology with Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications. The Institute offers bachelor's and master's programmes in information systems, media technologies, the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, and data engineering. China's first International Industrial Biomedicine and Pharmaceutics Institute also began its work this year in Guangzhou. The institute was created by joining the resources of universities and businesses: on the Russian side, Far Eastern Federal University and GEROPHARM, and on the Chinese side, Xinhua University and Guangzhou Trauer Biotechnology, with the support of Guangzhou Pharmaceuticals Holding.

Joint Institutes are part of a new large-scale project by FEFU – the Russian-Asian Faculty, which will become Russia's first platform bringing together joint educational programmes with universities in China, India, Vietnam, Indonesia and other Asia-Pacific countries under one roof. The project is focused on creating joint institutions and double degree programmes that build unique competencies for careers in both Russian and Asian markets. The programme portfolio will cover the entire spectrum of disciplines, from humanities and economics to engineering and technology, and student training will be structured according to a split-site model: several semesters at FEFU in Vladivostok, followed by a period at a partner university in the Asia-Pacific region.

The Far Eastern Federal University is consistently strengthening its international ties, confirming its status as a flagship of Russian education abroad and an expert hub for Russia's interaction with Asia. FEFU is the absolute leader among universities in the Far Eastern Federal District in terms of international student enrollment. Today, 5,000 foreign citizens are studying full-time in Vladivostok, and by 2036, the university plans to reach a new level: 8,000 foreign students. Over 125 years, FEFU has developed an extensive partnership network in the Asia-Pacific region, with more than 200 foreign universities and research centres. The key tool for FEFU's international activities is its network of offices in Asia-Pacific countries. The university has already opened four overseas offices in Hanoi (Vietnam), Beijing (China), Tokyo (Japan) and New Delhi (India). FEFU also has a branch in Japan and 15 Russian Language and Culture Centres in China.