RUDN University held a meeting of the International Advisory Board

On 27-29 September 2016, RUDN University held the first in-person meeting of the International Advisory Board. The Chairman of the meeting was Ian Sadlak, President of IREG - International Observatory on Academic Ranking and Excellence. Leading experts in the field of higher education, including heads of foreign universities, representatives of the scientific community, as well as heads of RUDN University strategic directions participated in the work of the Board.

During two days of fruitful work, the issues of University development on directions recognized as the most important and advanced for RUDN University were discussed. Among these issues were the accreditation of educational programs by international agencies, the intensification of academic mobility of teachers and researchers of the University and engaging young and leading foreign scientists in RUDN University. Heads of the strategic directions of the University presented the current status of completed projects, identified the main problems and proposed solutions. Among the discussed topics were reports on the strategy of RUDN University to develop contacts with employers, to promote the new brand of the University and to attract talented foreign students.

Members of the International Advisory Board supported the University plan of activities for the international accreditation of the University relevant educational programs for 2016-2017 and the submitted candidacies of research centers managers, adopted within the framework of the 5-100 Project. They also approved the procedure of selection of candidates for the position of young scientific-teaching staff, as well as the program of academic mobility of scientific-teaching staff and the plan of activities to attract international students.

In general, the experts made a positive conclusion concerning the strategy to increase the University competitiveness. However, they recommended to shift the emphasis from quantitative to qualitative indicators. According to the Board members, the University should provide the conditions for the development of social and humanitarian research projects, and actively develop academic mobility not only for scientific-teaching staff, but also for students of RUDN University.

Advisory Board noted the international cooperation as a key competitive advantage of RUDN University, and the development of international activities in the field of collaborative scientific research as one of the priority objectives of the University.