On February 3, Soren Liborius, Head of Press and Information section of the Delegation of the European Union to Russia, visited Lobachevsky State University of Nizhni Novgorod (UNN) and met with members of the Rector’s Office and UNN Media Centre staff. He was interviewed (in Russian) about the cooperation with UNN and recent political developments. The video interview is available on UNN Media Centre Website. Below is a short excerpt from the interview:

UNN: This is not the first time you have visited Lobachevsky State University of Nizhni Novgorod. What are the links between the University and the EU Delegation to Russia?

Soren Liborius: I am very happy to be here at the University, because as you said, this is not the first time. We have a wide range of contacts with Russian higher education institutions, notably here in Nizhny Novgorod. We have many years of working with higher education institutions and we have active student exchange programmes, so-called ‘academic mobility programmes.’ The students here are very active, and we believe these contacts are very important, because this gives us inspiration. This provides inspiration for us and students. This is a very important element of our relationship.

UNN: In your estimation, how competitive is UNN on European scale?

SL: For all I know the students here are good and active, and they work in different directions within our programmes. We are glad to keep our programmes running. I think the most important are the networks which we are building with different universities and students. And when we examine what professional paths students pursue, we are pleased to observe that they follow the same directions as before. They become diplomats and businessmen, and it is important that there are people who promote contacts between us and students.

UNN: Today’s world situation is marked by political nervousness. Will the contacts between European universities’ community and Russian universities continue?

SL: Definitely. Despite the political developments, what unites us is not less important, that is to say, contacts among universities and academia are good and useful for students and societies, and bear in mind that it is always possible to find areas that unite us as we have a common history and a common future. Although this is how the world changes, we are and will remain neighbours that are interrelated not only economically but also through educational contacts and our common history: I think that in all ages great Russian scientists had good contacts with their European colleagues, and vice versa.