Global Universities in the Globalizing World
The main topic of the meeting is the Third Mission of Universities. Vladimir Filippov presented the report “Global Universities in the Globalizing World”.
The Council was established 8 years ago to hold international consultations once every two years with the leaders of the world's leading universities, to discuss current trends and challenges for the development of higher education in the world.
The Council includes 45 invited leaders from leading universities in the world - from Europe, the USA, Canada, Australia, Brazil, Chile, India, China, Japan and Russia. Rector of the RUDN University is the only member from Russia in this Global Council of University Leaders.
The number of foreign ambassadors of Russian education and science has reached 47. In October 2026, 12 more teachers, scientists, and public figures received this honorary status - from Brazil, Israel, Kazakhstan, Cameroon, China, Lebanon, Moldova, Mongolia, Nigeria, Peru, Syria, and the Central African Republic. Five of them studied at Peoples' Friendship University of Russia.
Last week, RUDN University welcomed a delegation led by Gao Song, President of Peking University. The visit marked his first international trip since assuming office as the rector of the university, which ranks 13th globally.
In RUDN’s main building, Russian speech has mixed with Arabic and strict business suits with national attire. The reason for this is the 100th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Russia and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The university hosted a large-scale event “The Century of Friendship, Cultural and Scientific Exchange between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Russian Federation”, which brought together diplomats, scientists, rectors of leading universities, and students.