Volga-Yangtze: new models of cooperation between Russia and China

The Annual Forum of the Volga-Yangtze Association of Higher Education Institutions took place on October 22-23. This year, it was held in a remote format. The main topic was the discussion of prospects and new opportunities for Russian-Chinese regional cooperation in the post-epidemic period. The event was co-organised by Sichuan University and R.E. Alekseev Nizhny Novgorod State Technical University. In the framework of the forum, UNN Vice-Rector for International Affairs Alexander Bedny and Head of the Department for the Development of International Cooperation Konstantin Kemaev made a report describing the experience of cooperation between Lobachevsky University and partner universities in China. On behalf of the UNN, they also put forward a number of proposals for the development of existing models of interaction with Chinese universities. Lobachevsky University launched a number of important initiatives, including the setting up of the Volga Yangtze Network University, the organization and conduct of the Russian-Chinese Student Olympiad "Volga-Yangtze", as well as introducing a scholarship program to support academic projects and student exchanges and providing unified access to MOOCs of the Association member universities.

Currently, the Volga-Yangtze Association of Higher Education Institutions includes 80 Russian and Chinese universities.