DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY of Lobachevsky University through 2030

Approved by the decision of the Academic Council of Lobachevsky University on June 16, 2021

BACKGROUND

Underpinning the strategic development of the National Research Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod during the period of the UNN-2020 Strategy was its participation in major national projects that determine the development of the entire system of higher education in Russia.

National projects in the field of education

The strategic transformation of UNN in the framework of the state policy in the field of higher education started when it won the competition for participation and implementation of the objectives of the Priority National Project «Education» in 2006. In 2009, UNN became the winner of an open competition among Russian universities to obtain the status of a National Research University. The implementation of the Program for the Development of UNN as a National Research University made a significant contribution to its strategic development in 2009–2018.The participation of Lobachevsky University in the "Project for enhancing the competitiveness of the leading Russian universities among the world's leading research and educational centres" (Project 5-100) has become a determining factor in the strategic development of the University. The Project 5-100, prepared and implemented as part of the Presidential Decree "On measures to implement state policy in education and science" (No. 559 of May 7, 2012), was designed to maximize the competitive position of a group of leading Russian universities in the global market of educational services and research programs. Lobachevsky University was among the first group of  winning universities in the competition to participate in the project and to carry it out from 2013 to 2020. Through its participation in key government programs and projects aimed at supporting the country's leading universities, Lobachevsky University has reached an entirely new level of development as an internationally recognized classical university in Russia - a major scientific, educational, socially oriented and cultural center of the country. UNN is represented in all leading global and Russian university rankings. In a number of subject areas, such as life sciences, natural sciences, information technology, social sciences, UNN has made significant progress  in major international rankings and occupies leading positions in Russian rankings.

Development and optimization of the university structure

During the implementation of the UNN-2020 Strategy, major structural and organizational transformations were implemented to improve the efficiency of educational and research activities, to enhance internationalization and to develop socio-economic interaction.

With the aim of consolidating the efforts of scientists and teaching staff members in the priority areas of science and education, large institutes were created on the basis of the existing structural units: the Institute of Information Technology, Mathematics and Mechanics, the Institute of Economics and Entrepreneurship, the Institute of International Relations and World History. Some previously independent research and higher education institutions, including the Radiophysics Research Institute, merged into Lobachevsky University. A new area of research and education - medicine and biomedicine - emerged at the university.

The Institute of Biology and Biomedicine was established on the basis of the Faculty of Biology. The Institute of Neurosciences, as well as a conventional and SPF vivarium were created. UNN is the lead organization in a consortium of several leading Russian universities and institutes of the Russian Academy of Sciences, implementing the project «Reliable and logically transparent artificial intelligence: technology, verification and application in socially significant and infectious diseases».

Functional interaction with the Russian Academy of Sciences

UNN’s close functional interaction  with the Nizhny Novgorod institutes of the Russian Academy of Sciences has a long history. All institutes of the Russian Academy of Sciences in Nizhny Novgorod  emerged on the basis of educational and research divisions of the UNN. Their establishment was initiated by leading scientists who continued to maintain the unity of research issues and a common scientific and educational relationship with the university. In 2000, the Nizhny Novgorod  Joint   Education and Research Center of the University and Institutes of the Russian Academy of Sciences was set up, comprising  the UNN and four RAS institutes. One of the organizational innovations was the establishment of the Advanced School of General and Applied Physics, which is a faculty of the UNN, and is based on the facilities and scientific resources of one of the largest academic institutions in the country: the Federal Research Center  "Institute of Applied Physics of the Russian Academy of Sciences".

The faculty is a unique system of functional integration of academic science with higher education. In the framework of a consortium that was set up with the Institute of Applied Physics of the Russian Academy of Sciences as the  lead organization, the UNN and the IAP RAS have established a world-class research center, the Photonics Centre.  In the field of chemistry, a research, education and production cluster has been formed together with leading academic institutions (Institute of Organometallic Chemistry RAS, Institute of Chemistry of High-Purity Substances RAS) and the country's largest petrochemical complex (Lukoil, Sibur, Russvinyl, Orgkhim). In recent years, UNN has concluded a number of direct agreements with the institutes of the Russian Academy of Sciences, including agreements in the socio-economic sphere.

The third mission of the university

Lobachevky University is successfully addressing the tasks of interaction with society and the region. The university has laid the foundations for an innovation ecosystem. The Center for Innovation Development was built on the UNN campus, the Innovation and Technology Center and the  Technology Commercialization  Center  are functioning. A national-scale system for the development of youth innovation has been created on the basis of the Student Business Incubator. Small innovative enterprises aiming at the commercialisation of UNN scientists' research results have been established and are in operation.    Lobachevsky University has general agreements on cooperation in education, science and training with high-tech companies, including Russian companies representing the well-known international companies Intel, IBM, Microsoft, Huawei, etc.

One of the most important partners and a major employer for the university is the Russian Federal Nuclear Center (RFNC-VNIIEF,  Sarov), the largest research institute in Europe. The University provides lifelong learning opportunities for people of all ages. UNN offers numerous professional development and retraining courses, available also in an online format.  UNN encourages and promotes the development of community volunteerism among students.

Strategic challenges

In today's socio-economic environment, the University faces a number of problems that make it difficult to maintain its leadership position. These challenges include the growing competition for development resources with other leading universities of the country and the world, as well as with the institutes of the Russian Academy of Sciences, a shortage of highly qualified and motivated research and teaching staff, an inadequate system of domestic and international academic mobility, underdeveloped  mechanisms for the transfer of scientific and technological results to the real sector of the economy, the lack of long-term research funding as an instrument of state scientific policy, the lack of a university campus that meets modern requirements for classrooms and laboratories and for living conditions for students and teaching staff.

National development programs

In designing the University' vision for 2030 and in defining its new goals and development priorities, the university is guided by the national development programs of the Russian Federation, in particular, the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of July 21, 2020 No. 474 «On the national development goals of the Russian Federation through 2030», the Strategy of scientific and technological development of the Russian Federation, approved by the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of December 1, 2016 No. 642, The long term (2021 - 2030) program of basic research in the Russian Federation approved by the order of the Government of the Russian Federation of December 31, 2020 No. 3684-r. In addressing the needs of the Nizhny Novgorod region, the university staff is guided by the «Strategy for the socio-economic development of the Nizhny Novgorod region through 2035», approved by the Decree of the Government of the Nizhny Novgorod region dated December 21, 2018 No. 889.

LOBACHEVSKY UNIVERSITY-2030

The goal of the university's strategy is the sustainable, effective development of Lobachevsky University as a classical research university, which prepares (also jointly with scientific organizations)  human resources for priority areas of the Russian Federation’s scientific and technological development, for various sectors of the economy and the welfare sector, develops and implements breakthrough research, new creative and socio-humanitarian projects,  and provides for the introduction of high technology into the economy and the social sphere.

Lobachevsky University-2030 will function on the basis of the concept of the three university missions - the development of education, science and interaction with society. Lobachevsky University-2030 will continue to be the center of cooperation of leading scientific organizations and organizations of the real sector. It will formulate and address major interdisciplinary scientific and educational problems. New areas of advanced research will go through a full cycle from the creation of world-class scientific and educational consortia to the generation of breakthrough technologies in order to improve the quality of life of the population and ensure the technological leadership of the Russian Federation.

Lobachevsky University-2030 is a research university with advanced scientific and laboratory equipment, a developed system of inbound and outbound academic mobility, and an internal system for supporting scientists at all stages of their careers. UNN scientists will carry out basic and applied research in priority areas as defined by the state policy in the field of science and education and ensure that the university holds a leading position among Russian universities in terms of research activity and the results of technology transfer to the real sector of the economy. UNN will continue to develop cooperation with enterprises in the framework of contract research and commercialization of R&D products, including such work performed jointly with large state-owned companies and institutes.

Lobachevsky University-2030 will continue to develop all levels of education, aimed at providing graduates with fundamental knowledge that reflects the state of the art in science, developing their creative research skills, digital economy competencies and entrepreneurial qualities, which will facilitate  the implementation of research results in the economy and social sphere.

Lobachevsky University-2030 is a large scientific and methodological center for training highly qualified personnel for all sectors of the economy. To this end, a wide range of educational programs for bachelor's, specialist's, master's, postgraduate studies, and additional professional education will be implemented. The university will continue to develop and implement educational programs that provide training in accordance with the priority areas of the strategy for the scientific and technological development of the Russian Federation, it will continue to update its educational programs  to meet the requirements of the digital economy. Priority will be given to the training of highly qualified personnel in master's degree programs, including targeted master's programs.

Lobachevsky University-2030 is a major scientific and methodological center for targeted training of personnel with highest academic qualification (candidates and doctors of sciences) for science, education and  knowledge-intensive sectors of the economy. Individualization of postgraduate programs will provide a variety of professional trajectories for graduates in both academic and corporate segments of the labour market. The training of research and academic  personnel will be carried out in the UNN research schools on the basis of integrated "Academic Masters-Postgraduate School" programs,  which provide for the inclusion of students and postgraduates in research projects. The training of personnel with highest academic qualification for industry, business and services will be carried out on the basis of network practice-oriented programs of targeted postgraduate study within the framework of institutional partnerships with organizations and enterprises in the region, in Russia, and in other countries of the world.

Lobachevsky University-2030 is a university that provides training for teaching staff for all levels of secondary and higher education. University graduates will be prepared to teach in institutions of secondary and higher professional education using modern approaches based on active and e-learning methods.

Lobachevsky University-2030 will have a balanced. creative university staff. The policy of attracting and retaining personnel  through the creation of a well-developed  motivation system will become the basis for human resource management at the university. Along with an ongoing policy of rejuvenation of the workforce, it will pursue a policy of  preserving staff with extensive professional experience. The policy of gender equality, tolerance and multiculturalism will remain the key principle of personnel management.

Lobachevsky University-2030 is a socially responsible university that engages in socially useful activities, civic, patriotic and moral education of its students.

Lobachevsky University-2030 is a global university. UNN research products and training at UNN will be in wide demand not only in Russia, but also abroad. The number of university research and teaching staff actively collaborating in international projects and participating in international events, as well as the number of foreign students and postgraduates studying at UNN will increase significantly.

Lobachevsky University-2030 will provide a comfortable living environment for students and academic staff through the development of its campus with the use of modern technologies, including social technologies.

Lobachevsky University-2030 is a center of cultural and spiritual life, a source of dissemination of scientific knowledge among a wide audience.

AREAS OF DEVELOPMENT

Achieving a new level implies the development of both UNN’s traditional areas of activity, and new in-demand areas in line with the national goals and strategic objectives of the Russian Federation. Priority development areas are broad areas of research, educational and innovation activities, which involve combining the efforts of research and teaching staff of the university’s various departments as well as representatives of partner organizations in the framework of bilateral cooperation and multilateral consortia. Priority areas will include areas in which UNN has significant scientific and educational groundwork. One of the most important resources for the development of the University is to strengthen its human resources potential. A well-developed system of involving young people in research, educational, innovation  and social activities, supporting employees at all stages of their careers, increasing the attractiveness of UNN as a place of work in the context of growing competition for personnel will provide an opportunity to increase the scope and range of tasks to be solved. Enhancing the performance of each university staff member remains a priority, thus enabling tasks and activities to be performed in addition to the traditional functional duties.

UNN will concentrate its efforts on the development of those areas that will secure its place among universities that are at the forefront of education, science and innovation. The results of educational, research and innovation activities that meet the most pressing needs of society and the state will ensure UNN’s economic development. All this, including the improvement of staff performance, will provide the basis for the salary growth.

The UNN Academic Council may amend the Strategy should the demands of society and the direction of economic development change.

Priority areas of scientific and technological development

The priority of Lobachevsky University’s development in the field of science is basic and applied research in all areas of science at a classical university, as well as research-based teaching, including activities aimed at improving the fundamental mathematical culture. The main focus is on contributing in a meaningful way to the achievement of the national development goals of the Russian Federation through 2030: ensuring the longevity and quality of life of the population, a comfortable and safe environment, digital transformation of the economy, and the country's scientific and technological leadership.

The list of UNN’s priority research areas at the time of the adoption of Strategy 2030 includes:

• Mathematics, supercomputer computing, data analysis and artificial intelligence
• Digital biomedicine and agricultural technologies
• Wave physics, quantum technologies and environmental sciences
• Materials science
• Digital society: socio-economic and humanitarian problems of the application of information and communication technologies
• International and political aspects of socio-economic and humanitarian problems, communications, mass media.

Priority areas in education

• Student-centered learning (including project-based learning, interdisciplinary educational programs)
• Lifelong learning (including additional professional education)
• Development of network forms of educational programs
• Research education (training of personnel with highest academic qualification)
• Entrepreneurship education
• Distance learning technologies, e-learning, the use of e-learning platforms (Learning Management System).

Priority areas in youth policy and educational work

• Development of a civic education system, support for the activities of youth public associations, creating conditions for the development of volunteerism
• Personal approach to the education of students, support for talented youth, the development of corporate culture among students
• Providing opportunities for the implementation of individualized trajectories of development, taking into account the abilities of each student.

University management

• Development of a management system based on the principles of a project-oriented university
• Development and optimization of the university’s internal structure in order to address new major scientific and educational tasks
• Development of the university management system enabling participation in large-scale scientific, educational and innovative associations (clusters)
• Development of a personnel motivation system in order to attract and retain highly qualified academic, administrative and support staff.
• Digital transformation of the university management system.

Internationalization

• Attracting foreign students and postgraduates to full and exchange education programs, increasing the number of double degree programs with foreign universities (export of education)
• Participation in international projects in the field of education, science and innovation
• Development of a system of partnerships and networking with the world's leading scientific and educational centers and corporations, participation in international scientific and educational consortia
• Development of world-class scientific and educational schools, attraction of leading scientists and educators
• Teaching Russian as a foreign language and promoting the Russian language in the global educational space
• Expanding the range of educational programs in foreign languages, taking into account the scientific and educational priorities of the university and trends in the international education market
• Development of an open online education system aimed at the global educational market.

The implementation of Strategy-2030 will require the harmonious use of global scientific and educational approaches to development on the basis of national educational identity, as well as the development of the university's traditions as an effective integrator of scientific, educational, economic, social and cultural processes. The main results of the Strategy-2030 implementation will be:

• Increasing the contribution of Lobachevsky University to the socio-economic development of the Nizhny Novgorod region and Russia
• Strengthening the position of Lobachevsky University as a leading university in Russia, competitive in the global scientific and educational space
• Development of a comfortable internal environment for educational, scientific, economic and social activities of the university