International Forums of University Rectors

As part of the development of cooperation with foreign universities, Moscow State University coordinates the organization of international forums of university rectors. In recent years, Moscow State University in close cooperation with the Russian Rectors' Union has held over sixty forums of rectors of Russian and foreign universities, gathered at forum venues more than two and a half thousand university rectors and senior managers, and initiated the signature of more than five hundred interuniversity cooperation agreements.

The forums of the university rectors of Russia and China (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2016, 2017, 2019), Russia and Japan (2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019), Russia and Iran (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018), Russia and Cuba (2015, 2017, 2018), Russia and India (2015, 2017), Russia and the countries of the Arab world (2018, 2019), Russia and Ibero-American countries (2009, 2011, 2018, 2019) are being held regularly. The Forum of Rectors of Russian and Kazakhstan Universities (2017) was held as part of the 16th Forum of Interregional Cooperation between the two countries.

The year 2018 was marked by the Fourth Forum of University Rectors of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Cuba, the Third Forum of Rectors of Russian and Ibero-American Universities, Russian-Chinese Pedagogical Forum, the 7th Forum of Rectors of Russia and Japan, Fourth Forum of Rectors of the Russian Federation and the Islamic Republic of Iran and the First Russian-Uzbek Educational Forum. 

The First Forum of Rectors of Russia and Great Britain (October 2019) at Moscow State University was the result of joint efforts of the Russian Rectors’ Union, Universities UK International, Lomonosov Moscow State University, British Council, and British Embassy Moscow. This highly important event brought together the representatives of 40 universities of Russia and 20 Universities of Great Britain to address both the challenges in the international collaboration in research and education and the opportunities both countries could get from it. 

Besides, the past year has seen the rapprochement of the CIS universities within the Forum of Rectors of Russia and Kyrgyzstan (March 2019) and the Forums of Rectors of Universities of Russia and Belarus (July 2019, October 2019).

The experience of International forums of university rectors allows MSU to maintain constructive relationships with foreign universities, contributes to the mutually beneficial use of higher educational institutions potential of the participant countries through the implementation of joint scientific and educational projects, and the development of academic mobility.

The 2021 agenda comprises the international forums of university rectors of Russia and the following countries: Japan, China, the United Kingdom, Belorussia, Tailand, Kyrgyz Republic, the countries of the Arab world.