Year-end meeting of the Council of Rectors of Tatarstan features President Rustam Minnikhanov
The convention was held on 26 December.
Rector Lenar Safin, who also chairs the Council of Rectors, spoke about the general situation with higher learning in Tatarstan and Kazan Federal University.
Despite many problems arising from new political realities, the University has been able to maintain its targeted parameters. Among others, the ratio of non-public funding in the overall revenue rose from 62 to 66 percent.
Tatarstani universities have succeeded in the federal government’s new initiative – advanced engineering schools. Such entities were opened at KFU (in partnership with KAMAZ), Kazan Technological University (with SIBUR, Gazprom, and Ammoniy), Innopolis University (with Gazprom, Rostelecom, MTS, and VK) and Almetyevsk Petroleum Institute (with Tatneft and Gazpromneft). Kazan State Power Engineering University partnered with Rosatom.
Five local universities are participants of the Priority 2030 strategic program. Kazan Federal University recently confirmed its place among the top recipients of the grants.
Among some of the more prominent achievements, Kazan Technical University launched its KAI-1 satellite from Baykonur on 9 August. Kazan Technological University offered promising solutions in catalysts for polyethylene production.
“When talking about Kazan University, wide interest was piqued by our thermoplastic working under temperature from -190 to +240 C. We already have a test production line for 5 tons of this material per year. Our scientists also offered preliminary results of a test drug for spinal muscular atrophy. A driverless tractor produced in cooperation with Minsk Tractor Plant was shown to the public,” said the Rector.
Local students were very active in this year’s Student Startup competition. 797 applications were filed, and 135 students won grants of 1 million rubles each.
As for educational export, the year’s highlight goes to KFU with its newly opened branch in Jizzakh, Uzbekistan, which now has 360 students.
Speaking about plans, Lenar Safin noted, “We plan to open three technology parks – in industrial design, in automotive production, and in biomedicine. KFU works on establishing new overseas branches in Cairo, Egypt, and Shymkent, Kazakhstan. We also hope to make tangible advancements in small collaborative robots for shipbuilding and aviation building.”
Next year, KFU also plans to open a competence center of the Volga Federal District as part of the Russia – Country of Opportunities Presidential Platform.