A modern university in the context of the transformation of the global scientific and educational landscape: how to ensure sustainable development?
RUDN University is not only an educational institution, but also a platform for dialogue, knowledge exchange and the formation of new ideas," Oleg Yastrebov, Rector of RUDN University.
Ministers, rectors and vice-rectors of leading universities, heads of rating agencies and leading scientists gathered to discuss science trends in the post-global world, third-generation universities, international rankings, and networking universities.
Anniversary Conference in numbers:
• 2 days
• more than 1,200 participants from 76 countries
• 120 speakers
• 4 topics of the plenary session
• 16 round-table meetings
RUDN University Rector Oleg Yastrebov outlined 5 main trends that allow universities to maintain stability and develop competitiveness in the face of turbulence.:
- the university as a hub for technology,
- the pursuit of truth as an ideal of knowledge,
- internationalisation of science and higher education,
- university self-actualisation,
- the university’s contribution to achieving sustainable development goals.
We live in an era of rapid transformations, and the university's role as an institution for the development of society is more relevant than ever. Modern challenges require not only flexibility, but also the ability to quickly respond to transformations, innovate, and be open to international cooperation. RUDN University sees its mission in training specialists who can predict changes in the global context, respond to them, and contribute to the sustainable development of the Russian Federation and the world.
On the first day of the conference, a plenary session "Modern models of education: revolution or evolution" was held. There were four themes on the agenda.
Theme 1. Main directions of science and education development: realities of a multipolar world
Speakers:
- Denis Sekirinsky, Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation
- Kunsulu Zakarya, Advisor to the President of Kazakhstan on science and innovation
- Haja Ramatulai Wurie, Minister of Technical and Higher Education of Sierra Leone
The experts discussed the strategic directions of science development in the Russian Federation, the educational opportunities of the future with Artificial Intelligence, and blended learning features.
It is human intellectual potential that is becoming an increasingly valuable resource, not natural resources. Humans are developing AI, and this will lead to the transformation of industry, medicine, and public administration, she noted in her report “Creating a future with Artificial Intelligence: towards a knowledge-based economy.
Blended learning is the integration of traditional face-to-face learning with digital educational tools. It offers the flexibility of online learning while maintaining solid face-to-face interaction, providing students with a holistic and adaptive education. <...> I urge all of us — Governments, universities, teachers and students — to embrace this transformation an open mind and in a spirit of cooperation. Together, we can ensure that education remains a powerful tool for development, equality and innovation.
Theme 2. Third Generation University: university as a multifunctional and international hub of know-how, technological incubator
Speakers:
- Yaroslav Kuzminov, Academic Supervisor of National Research University “Higher School of Economics”
- Grigory Trubnikov, Director of the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (JINR), Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences
- Vladimir Shevchenko, Rector of National Research Nuclear University “MEPhI”
- Suresh Gosavi, Vice-Chancellor of University of Pune
- Luo Ligang, Vice President of Shanghai University of Political Science and Law
- Zhanseit Tuimebayev, Rector of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University
- Rafael Luque Alvarez de Sotomayor, Professor of ECOTEC University
- Valentine Ananikov, Head of Laboratory of Zelinsky Institute of Organic Chemistry, Academician of Russian Academy of Sciences
- Kotecha Ketan Virendrabhai, Director of Symbiosis Institute of Technology, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Head of Symbiosis Centre for Applied AI Symbiosis International
- Daniel García Rivera, Deputy Director of the Joint Institute for Chemical Research, University of Havana, Finlay Institute of Vaccines
The experts considered the issues of attracting funding for joint research, the transformation of the internationalization of higher education, and the role of scientific and educational hubs in the formation of specialists. Rafael Luque Alvarez de Sotomayor, Professor of ECOTEC University, made a presentation on "Shaping the Future of Global Leaders: Insights and Directions in Science and Education”.
The scientist spoke about the challenges and opportunities in shaping the leaders of the future in the field of science and technology. As effective motivation mechanisms for students, he proposed the integration of knowledge transfer and the study of "liberal arts and sciences" in education. The term "Liberal arts in education" refers to a traditional academic curriculum of Western higher education, which includes five main areas of study: art, humanities, social sciences, natural sciences and mathematics.
Push students to be innovative and creative, do not clip their wings – to create the leaders of the future.
The report by Valentin Ananikov, Head of Laboratory of Zelinsky Institute of Organic Chemistry, Academician of Russian Academy of Sciences, was devoted to the challenges of the modern digital era in science and education, with a particular focus on the chemical industry, chemistry science, and key areas of AI applications in chemistry.
Artificial intelligence algorithms are an integral part of the modern world. You can treat them with humour, you can criticise them, you can accept them or not, but the situation has already changed radically, these tools are firmly part of our current practice.
Daniel García Rivera, the first laureate of for Scientific Achievement in Chemistry, Deputy Director of the Joint Institute for Chemical Research, University of Havana, Finlay Institute of Vaccines, spoke on chemical technologies used in biotechnology and the development of vaccines and therapeutic agents.
We developed the first semi-synthetic monoclonal influenza vaccine in Latin America, which has been patented, approved and licensed, we have saved millions of children in Latin America. This was only possible because of the investments we make at the university in technology development and the close collaboration between the University of Havana and the biotechnology sector.
Education, as an important driving force of modern state-building, has become a fundamental and strategic pillar in China's emergence as a modern power in the Global South. In the era of globalisation, openness in education not only concerns the exchange and dissemination of knowledge, technology and culture, but to an even greater extent, it directly affects the growth of a country's influence in the international arena.
Theme 3. Best University and the challenges of international ranking
Speakers:
- Dmitry Grishankov, Head of the International group of Rating Agencies RAEX
- Riri Fitri Sari, President of the UI GreenMetric World University Ranking
- Alexei Chaplygin, Head of the Interfax research group “National University rankings”
The heads of rating agencies shared their vision of the BRICS university rating system, considered the challenges of world-class universities (Best Universities) and the position of higher education institutions in the new world order.
Theme 4. Regional organisations and network universities. Cultural mission of university
Speakers:
- Kurosh Jafarian, Vice-Chancellor for Global Strategies and International Affairs Tehran University of Medical Sciences
- Li Xin, Director of Institute of Eurasian Studies at the Shanghai University of Political Science and Law
- Osman Bilen, Professor at the Faculty of Theology of University of September 9th
The experts exchanged their experience on the issues of higher education in the era of transformation, ways of creating basic educational programmes on the SCO platform, global multilateral educational partnership within the framework of network universities.
The first research and practical conference ‘Functional Morphology of the Tissue Microenvironment: From Theory to Practice’, dedicated to the memory of Academician Mikhail Paltsev of the Russian Academy of Sciences, was held at RUDN. It brought together leading researchers from Russia, China and other countries.
The Skolkovo Foundation (VEB.RF), together with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation and the country’s leading industrial companies, announced the launch of the sixth cycle of Russia’s largest supplier ecosystem development program for industry, GreenTech Sustainable Development. Applications from developers of technological solutions will be accepted until October 20, 2025.
In November, RUDN University hosted the country's first scientific and practical conference, “Clinical Laser Medicine in Russia: Advanced Technologies”. The event brought together specialists from various fields of medicine and biophotonics. It was attended by more than 300 scientists, researchers, and practicing doctors of various specialties from Russia and 32 foreign countries involved in laser technologies, as well as over 650 representatives of the younger generation—students, interns, graduate students, and young scientists.
The first research and practical conference ‘Functional Morphology of the Tissue Microenvironment: From Theory to Practice’, dedicated to the memory of Academician Mikhail Paltsev of the Russian Academy of Sciences, was held at RUDN. It brought together leading researchers from Russia, China and other countries.
The Skolkovo Foundation (VEB.RF), together with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation and the country’s leading industrial companies, announced the launch of the sixth cycle of Russia’s largest supplier ecosystem development program for industry, GreenTech Sustainable Development. Applications from developers of technological solutions will be accepted until October 20, 2025.
In November, RUDN University hosted the country's first scientific and practical conference, “Clinical Laser Medicine in Russia: Advanced Technologies”. The event brought together specialists from various fields of medicine and biophotonics. It was attended by more than 300 scientists, researchers, and practicing doctors of various specialties from Russia and 32 foreign countries involved in laser technologies, as well as over 650 representatives of the younger generation—students, interns, graduate students, and young scientists.