The session of the International Council on Competitiveness Enhancement of Leading Russian Universities among Global Research and Education Centers (Project 5-100 International Council) was held in Tomsk, Russia on March 20-21 and was chaired by Dmitry V. Livanov, Minister of Education and Science of the Russian Federation.

The Russian Government’s Project 5-100 aims to enable 5 Russian universities to enter top 100 world universities by 2020. Positions of Project 5-100 participants in the three world’s most authoritative rankings (QS, Times Higher Education and ARWU) will be the measure of the project’s success. Lobachevsky State University of Nizhni Novgorod – National Research University (UNN), together with other 14 promising universities, is supervised by Project 5-100 International Council, which is comprised of six Russian and six non-Russian members. The latter are trusted members of the international academic community.

On March 20-21, the members of Project 5-100 International Council reviewed reports by 15 Russian universities about the implementation of their programs of global competitiveness as Project 5-100 participants and their plans for 2015/2016.

On Saturday, March 21, the Council considered the Roadmap of Global Competitiveness of Lobachevsky University which was presented by UNN delegation led by Rector Evgeny Chuprunov.

The delegation included Mr. Alexander Grudzinskiy (UNN First Vice-Rector and Project 5-100 Manager), Mr. Kendrick D. White (UNN Vice-Rector for Innovation), Mr. Alexander Bedny (UNN Vice-Rector for International Affairs), Mr. Nikita Avralev (Vice-Rector for Public Relations), Ms. Olga Petrova (Deputy Director of UNN Institute of Economics and Entrepreneurship and Head of Project Office for Project 5-100) and Mr. Waldemar Siwinski (IREG Observatory on Academic Ranking and Excellence’ Vice President and member of UNN International Council).

Prior to going into a detailed review of the Roadmap of Global Competitiveness of Lobachevsky University for 2015-2016, Mr. Alexander Grudzinskiy, UNN First Vice-Rector and Project 5-100 Manager, reported on progress of implementation of Project 5-100 at the University in 2014.

Following the report, Mr. Kendrick D. White, UNN Vice-Rector for Innovation, made a brief speech to Project 5-100 International Council.

Invited external consultant for Lobachevsky University, Mr. Waldemar Siwinski gave his assessment of the Roadmap and the University’s activities. He praised the quality of the Roadmap and the prospects for advancing the University’s position in the international market of education, science and innovation.

At the end of the presentation, the members of UNN delegation responded to questions from members of Project 5-100 International Council.

Project 5-100 International Council approved UNN Roadmap for 2015-2016.