Russia plans collaboration with Africa on education

A Russia-Africa Economic and Humanitarian Forum Summit has discussed plans to collaborate with African countries on education and science.

A statement by the Roscongress Foundation said this was made known during a panel discussion titled, ‘Building a common future: Educational and scientific opportunities of Russia for Africa.’

In his opening remarks, Vice-Rector for Youth Policy, Social Work and International Relations at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations, Stanislav Surovtsev, spoke of a new desire on the part of Russia to collaborate in education with the countries of Africa. “It is very important that we lay the foundation for fruitful and mutually beneficial cooperation right now,” he said.

President of the Pan-African Movement, Kemi Seba, added that the educational models imposed by the West remained in force on the African continent, saying, “We have African school programmes, but they are European and American, and we ought to have our own”. Seba said that cooperation in the 21st century should be devoid of ideology and should be equitable and mutually beneficial.

Also, Governor of Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Area – Yugra, Natalya Komarova, stated that Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Area –Yugra was prepared to increase the number of students it took in from Africa in a variety of fields ranging from oil and gas, energy, and medicine to IT.

“There are already more than 400 international students studying with us, approximately 20 from Africa, and we are prepared to do more in this respect [to increase the number of students from Africa in Yugra],” Komarova said.

Core Team Member of Friends for Leadership at the Center for International Promotion Foundation, David Okpatuma, emphasised on the importance of educational co-operation between Russia and Africa.