Russian universities as a locomotive for the Malian train

 International Conference “Russian-Malian Education: A Ticket to the Future” is taking place in Bamako, the capital of the Republic of Mali.

On May 27, representatives of Russian universities took part in working sessions at Ahmed Baba Private University. Its president, Ousmane Drameh, discussed the prospects for cooperation with his Russian colleagues. During the event, cooperation agreements were signed between the University. Akhmed Baba and Southwestern State University (Kursk), Grozny State Petroleum Technical University named after. acad. M. D. Millionshchikova, South Ural State Humanitarian and Pedagogical University (Chelyabinsk), Belgorod State Technological University named after V. G. Shukhov.

Ekaterina Pakhomova, Vice-Rector for Research and International Activities at Southwestern State University (SWSU), while presenting her university, noted: “This is a classic university. We train specialists ranging from technical specialties to the humanities and vocal arts.”

The vice-rector recalled that the region is famous for Kursk magnetic anomaly. There is a large nuclear power plant on the territory of the Kursk region. And at the moment, a new replacement station, Kursk NPP-2, is being built. The specialization of the university is largely related to these features of the region. For example, SWSU trains specialists for the construction and operation of nuclear power plants and specialists in mining industry. These same specialties are of great interest to Africans.

The first stage for Malians to gain knowledge at SWSU is the preparatory faculty for teaching students the Russian language. According to E. Pakhomova, students from eighty countries study here: Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the CIS.

“SWSU conducts extensive scientific activities, including African countries,” says the vice-rector for scientific work and international activities. — Now we are ready to launch a satellite jointly with Zimbabwe. At the moment, testing and preparation of a tracking station for these satellites are underway. We are now doing the same with Tanzania.”

Pakhomova assured that the university is ready to expand the space of cooperation with African countries, including the Republic of Mali and the Private University.

Musa Magomadov, head of the international department of the Grozny State Petroleum Technical University, said that  Grozny State Petroleum Technical University named after academician M.D. Millionshchikov was the first specialized oil university in the Soviet Union. “However, international community is quite young, 175 foreign citizens are studying,” says Magomadov.

The priority areas of the university are the environmental agenda. The University is one of the operators of carbon test mine (monitoring of carbon dioxide emissions, climate active gases).

The head of the international department noted that the region is actively moving closer to the African continent. “And the first sign is that the House of Africa was opened a month ago. On May 25 we celebrated African Liberation Day there.”

Musa Magomadov adds that  Grozny State Petroleum Technical University a university with a very old tradition of technical mentality. This is mainly oil and gas, construction. “95% of the objects of the Chechen Republic that were destroyed during two military campaigns are being restored by graduates of our university,” says the head of the international department.

 The university has a modern campus and comfortable dormitories for students. “In the very heart of Grozny, 250 meters from the Zero Kilometer, we have a hostel with 850 beds,” says M. Magomadov.

Irina Ponomareva, head of the international department of the South Ural State Humanitarian Pedagogical University (SUSHPU), presented her university as follows: “Our university is one of the largest pedagogical universities in the country, which currently trains 12,300 students in all areas of activity, the field of pedagogy and more. We work in the field of preschool education, basic education, and train personnel for higher educational institutions. In addition to 10 faculties and 2 institutes, we train specialists in the fields of management, economics, tourism, and hospitality services. At the moment, 1,284 foreign students are studying at our university.”

The head of the international department of SUSHPU also reported that the Chelyabinsk university has been working with Ahmed Baba  University as part of the grant project implementation. “Last year, 336 citizens of Mali were trained at the open education center of the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation,” says I. Ponomareva. — One of them was opened on the basis of Ahmed Baba university. And 256 attendees came out of these walls. The joint project was very successful. It was continued in 2024. Moreover, we will not share project implementation between two universities, it will involve Ahmed Baba University only". We are talking about preparatory faculty courses for 140 hours of Russian as a foreign language.

Sergei Glagolev, rector of Belgorod State Technological University named after V. G. Shukhov (BSTU) says: “A new page is opening in relations between Russia and Africa. Russia has always maintained close ties and helped African states. We have always been open to cooperation." This cooperation implies a new qualitative level of solving the problems that have accumulated in Mali.

 President of Ahmed Baba Private University named  Ousmane Drameh told the Russian guests about the man whose name the Malian university bears. Ahmed Baba is a scientist of the 15th-16th centuries who wrote more than 50 books. He did a lot for the development of religion and culture.

Ousmane Drame noted: “Not only our university, but in general all higher education structures in Mali are proud of the development of inter-university cooperation with Russia. We would like to develop mobility programs among lecturers’ and academic staff. Including the field of artificial intelligence, non-renewable energy as well as climate change. We are particularly vulnerable here due to the advance of the Sahara Desert. We are a pre-industrial country. And we need a large number of engineers.”

When signing agreements with Russian universities, the host party assured the guests of the event: “We promise you to be a good train that will not interfere the locomotive movement!”

 Source - "Readus"