The RussiaAfrica Economic Forums business programme will feature a session devoted to humanitarian and social cooperation between Russia and African countries «Russia and Africa: Science, Education, and Innovation for Economic Development».
The following
individuals have announced to take part in the session: Minister of Science and
Higher Education of the Russian Federation Mikhail Kotyukov, Deputy Chairman of
the Federation Councils Committee on Science, Education, and Culture Igor
Morozov, Vice-President Yuriy Balega,
Russian Academy of SciencesPeoples Friendship University of Russia Rector
Vladimir Filippov, Commissioner for Human Resources, Science, and Technology of
the African Union Commission Sarah Mbi Enow Anyang, Kenyan Cabinet Secretary
and Ministry of Education George Albert Omore Magoha, Minister of Science,
Technology, Higher, Technical and Professional Education of the Republic of
Mozambique Jorge Nhambiu, Minister of Higher Education, Science, Technology and
Innovation of the Republic of Angola Maria
do Rosario Braganca Sambo. The meeting will be moderated
by Irina Abramova, the Director of the Institute for African Studies of the
Russian Academy of Sciences and a corresponding member of the Russian Academy
of Sciences.
«We expect the diverse humanitarian cooperation
between Russia and Africa to further expand, particularly in higher education
and scientific research. We are already working on opportunities and ways to
increase the number of students from African countries at Russian universities.
Along with the memorandums on research, scientific, and technical activities that
have already been signed with Guinea, Uganda, and South Africa, similar
documents are being prepared for signing with Mozambique and Namibia. The
memorandums provide for joint work in such fundamental sectors of the African
economy as agriculture, the sustainable use of subsoil, and the environment.
New projects are also being developed in such high-tech areas as telemedicine
and satellite technologies», Kotyukov said.
Abramova also noted the high level of interest that
African representatives have in Russian education: «The number of students from
African countries who choose Russian universities is growing each year. Foreigners
are attracted to our education thanks to its strong scientific base and high
educational standards, especially in the field of exact sciences. The number of
students from Africa at our universities increased by 130% over the eight years
from 2010 to 2018.» Abramova also underscored the need to expand and deepen
scientific ties between Russia and Africa. This above all concerns the wide
range of biological and medical inventions, agriculture, new technologies used
in mining and geology, the exploration of the worlds oceans, and humanitarian
research.
The session participants
will discuss what Russia can offer African countries today in terms of
developing science and education, above all as part of the implementation of
the African Unions Agenda 2063, and what new opportunities Russian can gain
from scientific and educational cooperation with countries of the African
continent.
The Roscongress Foundation is organizing the events in
the RussiaAfrica format.
A detailed version of the RussiaAfrica Economic Forum programme is
available here.