Rector Lenar Safin: “Research and educational cooperation with the nations of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation is an important part of Kazan University’s international development”

The Rector spoke during the first day of the Russia – Islamic World KazanForum 2023.

One of the sessions was dedicated to the cooperation between Russia and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. The moderators were Dr Safin and Rector of Moscow State University Victor Sadovnichy.

In his greeting, Rector Safin noted, “Kazan Federal University considers interaction with the countries of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation as an important area of its international activities. Currently, KFU is a partnership with 195 leading OIC research and education centres. Among the key areas of cooperation are basic and applied research in a wide range of fields, including engineering and energy, physics and astronomy, medicine, social sciences and environmental sciences.”

In 2022, KFU joined OIC’s excelllence consortium. Cooperation with Pakistani colleagues has already kicked off. Just half a year, Kazan University hosted Islamic Cooperation Youth Fourm’s scientific congress as part of Kazan’s year as OIC Youth Capital. A similar event is scheduled for autumn 2023.

Another achievement is opening KFU’s first overseas branch in Jizzakh, Uzbekistan in October 2022. Over 360 students have been enrolled as of now. This year, KFU is expecting a branch opening in Cairo, Egypt.

“KFU has positive experience in the University of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the CIS Network University. We suggest opening a similar network university with partners from Russia and the nations of OIC,” proposed Dr Safin.