Cooperation discussed with Shandong University
Representing the Chinese university, Ren Xiangrong, Deputy Director of the International Affairs Department, and Yu Yuhui, Coordinator of the International Affairs Department, along with institute representatives, participated in the event.
Timirkhan Alishev, Vice-Rector for International Affairs, spoke on behalf of Kazan University’s leadership. Olga Vershinina, Director of the International Office, and Konstantin Fedotov, Head of the Cooperation Development Unit, also participated in the discussion.
The guests were introduced to the program of the ongoing Kazan Global Youth Summit, in which Shandong University is participating, joining the rectors’ forum and visiting the PRO Science project.
The parties discussed the implementation of joint educational programs in Russian language training, mechanical engineering, materials science, and engineering. The universities also reviewed their summer school activities. According to the Vice-Rector, in addition to international students, professors could also participate in the event, giving lectures to students.
“This format of joint summer schools is interesting,” said Dr Alishev.
A shared vision for the development of the China-Russia University of Advanced Technologies (CRUTech), with Kazan and Shandong universities serving as flagship institutions, was discussed. Olga Vershinina elaborated on the project, “The goal is to create a large consortium of universities. It will pool its efforts to provide high-quality specialist training. Its primary mechanism will be joint educational programs. In addition to training, scientific cooperation will also be implemented. Enterprises and employers will likely be involved in the consortium later. The industrial sector also makes a significant contribution to specialist training, so they will be involved in subsequent stages. Now it’s important to get started, establish academic ties, select the joint programs we will implement, and recruit students.”
Wang Qinxiang, Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Russian Language at Shandong University’s Institute of Foreign Languages, proposed an integrated 3+2 education model. Under this model, students complete the first three years of their undergraduate program at Shandong University and the remaining two years of their master’s program at KFU.
The universities exchanged gifts and took a group photo. Guests were given a tour of the Kazan University’s History Museum.
KFU’s enrolment of Chinese nationals for the 2025 and 2026 academic years totaled 1,668 individuals. The university actively collaborates with more than 80 educational and scientific organizations in China across 20 provinces and three municipalities (Beijing, Chongqing, and Shanghai), and also participates in seven key Russian-Chinese associations.