Students from 160 countries study at the Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia (RUDN). RUDN University is the most international and multidisciplinary university in Russia. More than 30,000 students receive education here. More than 100 professions can be mastered in 16 educational departments: faculties, institutes, academies and higher education. More than 200,000 RUDN University graduates work in all countries of the world. Oleg Yastrebov, Rector of RUDN
University, talks about how the university lives today. Here are the interview excerpts:
RUDN University turns 65 years old. Can you tell us about the main stages of the university’s formation?
Oleg Yastrebov: The Peoples’ Friendship University was founded on February 5, 1960 by the decision of the Government of the USSR.
On February 2, 1961, the University was named after Patrice Lumumba, one of the symbols of the struggle of the peoples of Africa for independence. Students and scientists were free to study and engage in scientific research outside the political context, firmly following the great principles of friendship and mutual support.
On February 5, 1992, by a decision of the Russian Government, the University was renamed the Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia. On March 23, 2023, the Minister of Science and Higher Education of Russia, V.N. Falkov, signed Order No. 313 on renaming the Peoples’ Friendship University of
Russia and returning the Patrice Lumumba name to it. The corresponding changes were made to the University’s Charter.
Today, RUDN University is the most multidisciplinary university in Russia. They study here to become doctors, agronomists, lawyers, and economists. How does academic globality manifest itself? Oleg Yastrebov: At RUDN University, students can study programs not only in
Russian, but also in English, French, Spanish and Chinese. There are more than 70 foreign language programs at the university. In partnership with leading Russian and foreign universities, more than 170 network programs of higher education are being implemented, including within the framework of network universities of the CIS, SCO and BRICS.
In 2023, RUDN University opened new areas, including Bioengineering and Bioinformatics, Oriental and African Studies, and Clinical Psychology. In 2024, the university opened a new faculty of artificial intelligence. The first applicants enrolled in the faculty receive education in the field of data management, intelligent systems and artificial intelligence.
Historically, RUDN University has attracted international students to study. Which countries are the most likely to come to Russia to study?
Which areas remain the most popular among international students?
Oleg Yastrebov: There are more than 12,500 foreign students studying at RUDN University. The largest number of students from non–CIS countries are from China, Iran, Vietnam, Nigeria and Afghanistan. As for the CIS countries, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kazakhstan are the leaders in terms of the number of students.
RUDN University enrolled more than 5,000 foreign citizens in the 2024 admissions campaign. The largest number of first-year students from non-CIS countries are from China, Ghana, Vietnam, Turkey and Afghanistan. Turkmenistan ranks first among the CIS countries, followed by Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Belarus and Azerbaijan. This year, for the first time in a long time,
Japanese citizens began studying at RUDN University.
Traditionally, the most popular bachelor’s and specialist’s degrees among foreign applicants are: in Bachelor’s and specialist’s degrees — in the fields of Medicine, Dentistry, Economics, Law, Management; in the Master’s degree – in the fields of International Relations, Management, Law, Economics, Architecture.
Today, education is focused on the synergy of technology and accessibility. What does this mean for you as an international university?
Oleg Yastrebov: RUDN University has its own platform for remote learning of the Russian language. A foreign applicant can start studying it before coming to Russia at the Digital Preparatory Faculty. Every year, more than 1,000 users from 70 countries learn the language on the RUDN University platform. Various modules are being implemented as part of the Digital Sub factory: Russian language (all levels), scientific style of speech (biomedical, humanitarian, engineering, technical and technological, economic and natural science profiles), general education subjects (mathematics, computer science, history, social studies, literature, chemistry, biology, physics).
Russian studies upon arrival in Russia, international students can study Russian full-time at the RUDN University’s Institute of Russian Language at the so-called preparatory faculty. On average, students of the preparatory faculty study from 6 to 9 months, and upon graduation they reach the level of knowledge of the B1 language. This level allows foreign citizens to enrol in higher education programs at Russian universities and complete their studies.
Training specialists for more than 160 countries around the world – which case illustrates the connection between Russian education and a foreign employer best?
Oleg Yastrebov: We have established a partnership with our industrial partner Jospong Group from Ghana. It unites 60 companies in the field of agriculture and ecology. We received a request from them to train specialists in the fields of Agronomy and Ecology. This year, more than 120 students have started studying for a master’s degree at RUDN University.
We are also implementing partnerships in the research field. RUDN University scientists are involved in the development of specialized wheat varieties that will
be resistant to the hot climate of Ghana.
If we are talking about the priority areas of research of RUDN University scientists, these are mathematics, chemistry, medicine and human health, information telecommunication systems and networks, ecology, nature management, agriculture. In some of these areas, we are among the top 50 universities in the world.
Foreign graduate students are researching the problems of water quality management in countries with tropical climates, conducted by a graduate student from Ecuador; technologies for protecting new wheat varieties from diseases for growing in countries with hot climates, developed by a graduate student from Mali; features of using generative artificial intelligence in news journalism, conducted by a graduate student from China.
30,000 students is almost like a small town. Which university infrastructure updates are a priority for you?
Oleg Yastrebov: RUDN University is a city within a city. The university’s campus has 14 dormitory buildings and more than 10,000 beds. Over the past 10 years, the university has built 2 dormitories. For the last 3 years, RUDN University has been undergoing a complete reconstruction and overhaul of two high-rise dormitories and one 5-storey one at its own expense. It is planned to build two new buildings on the campus.
In 2024, the Peoples’ Friendship University metro station opened near the Rudn University. The nearest academic building is a 2–minute walk away. There are 6 academic buildings in the station area, a sports and recreation complex with its own stadium, an Interclub creative space, and a clinical and diagnostic center. Twomore academic buildings are located near Tulskaya and Shabolovskaya metro stations.
The University stands for digitalization. All educational and residential buildings have a Face ID access system. RUDN University has its own Multifunctional Center (MFC) and its own mobile application through which you can receive the MFC’s electronic services, find out the latest news from the university’s life, and view the schedule and academic performance.
RUDN University actively develops volunteerism – more than 3,500 student volunteers help sponsored orphanages of the university, work as translators at international events, conduct environmental actions and clean-up days, and help international students adapt to life and study in Russia.
Source: Kestér Kenn Klomegâh and Anastasya Zhuravleva| Contributors
