3 September 2024
Achieving the demographic and socio-economic
development goals in the Far East is impossible without the preparation of
qualified and in-demand specialists, high-quality higher education, and the
development of science. Universities in the Far East are becoming key catalysts
for regional transformation. Participants in the session entitled The Future of
Higher Education: On the Path to Development, held as part of the Eastern
Economic Forum, discussed the remaining challenges and what is needed to
develop higher education and the economy of the Far Eastern Federal District
(FEFD).
KEY CONCLUSIONS
The development of
universities is key to regional development
“I sincerely believe that universities are
full-fledged development institutions for each region, capable of solving a
complex range of tasks. First, they provide personnel for students in the Far
East, where 142,000 new jobs have been created, by preparing specialists with
the necessary qualifications at the right time. We also link the labour market
of all enterprises and create pathways for students who are studying in the
region,” Elvira Nurgalieva, Deputy Minister of the Russian Federation for the
Development of the Far East and the Arctic.
“The Governor of Kamchatka Vladimir Solodov
often says that for him, the university is an institution of development, and
we view the university in the same way. Of the 1,500 graduates each year, more
than half still leave to enrol at universities on the mainland. However, those
who remain and those who come are the very students whose numbers should
increase, they are our intellectual capital,” Aleksandra Lebedeva, Deputy
Chairman of the Government of the Kamchatka Territory.
Higher education must address
regional economic challenges
“To develop the regional economy properly, it is
essential to clearly understand its needs. <...> Firstly, a proper
database is needed to identify the technological demands of the region and
train specialists accordingly. Why can this be done here? Because no one from
the central regions of Russia, especially from Central Russia, will come here
to work,” Yury Kulchin, Chairman, Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of
Sciences.
PROBLEMS
Educational migration
“We have observed that educational migration
accounts for the largest share of migration in the Far East. People leave the
Far East because they do not have access to quality higher education. Parents
often follow their children,” Elvira Nurgalieva, Deputy Minister of the Russian
Federation for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic.
Local businesses are not ready
to invest in regional science and education
“I do not see a willingness from local
businesses, particularly in Kamchatka, to invest in higher education and
science, despite a law on preferential tax treatment for companies investing in
education having been in place for two years. So far, no one is queuing up,
which is surprising. <...> Meanwhile, we know that research and
educational programmes are being commissioned, but on the mainland. There is a
need to make local higher education and science attractive so that businesses
understand their importance and benefit,” Aleksandra Lebedeva, Deputy Chairman
of the Government of the Kamchatka Territory.
Insufficient government
interest in workforce development
“Medical universities currently fulfil a
significant proportion of government mandates, primarily for targeted students.
However, responsibility for the admission and attraction of these students
rests entirely with the universities, which is not correct. Regions should also
be involved, and I believe that directing and filling target admission quotas
should be a performance indicator for regional health ministers,” Valentin
Shumatov, Rector, Pacific State Medical University.
University development is
hindered by infrastructure
“University infrastructure, especially
dormitories, limits our growth. While we can plan the academic process until
20:00, the shortage of dormitory spaces restricts student intake. This year, we
even limited the admission of international students,” Valentin Shumatov,
Rector, Pacific State Medical University.
SOLUTIONS
Expansion of the ‘Priority
2030’ programme
“We launched the ‘Priority 2030’ programme
for the Far East, with 12 universities successfully participating. <... > Now, all 12 universities
have development programmes that align fully with the development strategy of
both individual regions and the macro-region. This covers logistics, medicine,
education, industry, and construction. Each university knows its role in
economic development and its contribution to workforce provision,” Elvira
Nurgalieva, Deputy Minister of the Russian Federation for the Development of
the Far East and the Arctic.
Collaboration among
government, business, and education
“We have united around the university in a
consortium, highlighting the alliance of government, business, and education.
With this consortium, we joined the ‘Priority 2030’ programme. <...> A
flagship programme has been developed in collaboration with Highland Gold, a
mining company that requested a programme to train talented engineers. They
know exactly what specialists they need and are ready to provide resources for
this purpose,” Oksana Martynenko, Rector, Transbaikal State University.
“For universities, it is crucial to receive support in
expanding their material and technical base, carrying out repairs, and so
forth. But even more important is ensuring access to the innovative
technologies used by modern enterprises,” Mikhail Salkov, Director of
Human Resources, GRK Bystrinskoye.
Developing educational
programmes for specific industry partners
“Employers have requested that the
proportion of practical training be increased to 15%, with some practical
training now conducted directly at enterprises. Programmes are tailored to the
needs of industrial partners. <...> This guarantees that students will
return to the companies that invest in their training,” Olga Petrova, Deputy
Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation.
“At some point, the SAP company, which has since left
the country, proposed an interesting approach that can be adapted for other
corporations. We are currently implementing this practice – coursework and
dissertation topics can be proposed not only by a university or a student but
also by future employers. This approach prepares students for specific
professions,” Andrey Rempel, General Director, Managing Company Digit Invest.
Entrepreneurship in the Far
East is essential for regional economic development
“We entered a competition and, for the second
year in a row, have been conducting training sessions across the Far Eastern
regions, equipping students with basic entrepreneurial skills. The aim is not
to cultivate future members of the Forbes club, but to make students more
competitive in the real economy of the Far East, encouraging them to be
enterprising and capable of effecting change in their regions,” Yury Marfin,
Rector, Pacific State University.
*This is a translation of material that was originally
generated in Russian using artificial intelligence.
For more information, visit the Roscongress
Foundation’s Information and Analytical System at roscongress.org/en.
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European business on the sidelines of international forums: prospects for cooperation
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EEF travelling session dedicated to scientific and educational partnership between the Russian Far East and Indonesia was held in Jakarta
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Yury Trutnev: EEF big contributor to development of Far East and President’s instructions
Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation and Presidential Envoy to the Far Eastern Federal District Yury Trutnev chaired a meeting in Vladivostok on preparations in the lead-up to the 10th Eastern Economic Forum, which is scheduled to take place on the campus of Far Eastern Federal University on 3–6 September. The EEF is being organized by the Roscongress Foundation.
