A UNN delegation comprised of senior university administration and coordinators of dual degree programmes paid a three-day visit to France to negotiate undergraduate and postgraduate taught dual degree arrangements with its partner, the University of Rouen.

Throughout the years, this partnership has witnessed rapid development with over 70 Russian students being sent out on placement for training. Close collaboration between academics from the both universities has produced joint research projects, joint international conferences and publications.

During the visit from January 26 to 28, the UNN delegation led by Alexander Bedny, Vice-Rector for International Affairs, Kirill Balandin, Assistant Rector, and Mikhail Rykhtik, Director of the Institute of International Relations and World History, held talks with Christel Outreman, Vice-President for International Relations at the University of Rouen, Xavier Braud, Director at the Faculty of Law, Economics and Management, Prof. Gerard Duthil and International Services staff. The two sides made arrangements to cooperate on joint degree programmes.

Besides the joint programmes in Economics, UNN offers French students the chance to engage with academics at the forefront of research in political and social sciences. One of the coordinators of PhD research programme ‘Socio-political Processes In The Context of Globalization’, Prof. Mikhail Rykhtik gave a lecture to students of the University of Rouen entitled: ‘The Contemporary Foreign Policy Of The Russian Federation.’

He, together with Alexander Bedny, UNN Vice-Rector for International Affairs, made presentations to help students and staff fully understand Russian higher education, UNN position in research and a wide variety of academic programmes that UNN offers. Alexander Bedny also told the audience what changes were put in place at UNN owing to its participation in Russian Government’s Global Competitiveness Enhancement of Russian Universities Initiative (5-100 Project).

Other UNN delegates included Olga Smirnova, Head of UNN French Centre, which coordinates joint projects between the two universities.