Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –
Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –
Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University took part in the work of the meeting of the III Interdepartmental Commission on Africa at the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, chaired by Deputy Minister Konstantin Mogilevsky.
The Polytechnic University was represented by Vice-Rector for International Activities Dmitry Arsenyev and Head of the Project Office of the Russian-African Network University Consortium Maxim Zalyvsky.
Deputy Director of the International Department of the Russian Ministry of Education and Science Stepan Sokolov made a report on key initiatives in the field of scientific and educational partnership with African countries: the creation of the Russian-Guinean Scientific Center, cooperation with Mali and Niger, engineering classes in Ethiopia.
The Polytechnic University coordinates the work of the Expert Group on the development of the concept of reforming higher education in Mali. Dmitry Arsenyev and Maxim Zalyvsky highlighted the main stages of the work already done to create a modern polytechnic university in the Bandiagara region. An analysis of the existing concept of the Malian side revealed the need to update it taking into account the strategic priorities of the country. SPbPU experts proposed to supplement the concept with areas that meet global challenges and the needs of Mali: agriculture, construction and architecture using local materials and knowledge, environmental management, medicine, art, culture and sports.
Nine working groups have already been formed with the participation of Russian universities of the Russian Academy of Sciences to develop educational and methodological programs. Expert visits to Mali are planned by the end of 2025 to assess the infrastructure and conduct training seminars.
Dmitry Arsenyev emphasized the importance of adapting projects to the needs of African partners: We focus on jointly developing solutions that take into account the unique needs of the Republic of Mali and are integrated into its national development strategy. This approach not only stimulates the transformation of educational systems, but also creates the basis for sustainable technological progress through the training of highly professional personnel who meet modern challenges.
The University of Bandiagara should become an educational hub combining Russian standards and local priorities of Mali. Representatives of SPbPU noted cooperation with the National Center for Artificial Intelligence of Mali: in 2024, its specialists were trained at SPbPU, and now programs for retraining teachers and supplying equipment are being developed.
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