Baikal State University welcomed a representative delegation from Liaoning University of Shenyang (China) headed by Vice-Rector Prof. Shi Baodong. The Chinese delegation also included Ma Shuang, Head of the International Department of Liaoning University, Jin Xudong, Director of the Department of Archaeology and Museology of the Historical Institute, Qiu Yi, Deputy Head of the International Department, and Zhang Dunhui, Head of the Department of Confucius Institutes.
During the meeting, the first vice-rector - vice-rector for research of BSU Oleg Gribunov on behalf of Rector Viktor Ignatenko welcomed the guests and noted that Baikal State University has a long and productive relationship with educational organizations of China.
Mikhail Kuz’min, Vice-Rector for International Relations of BSU, made a presentation of the main activities of the university to the foreign colleagues. He emphasized that BSU actively cooperates with Chinese universities in scientific and educational activities. Since 2017, the university has been publishing a scientific journal "Russian-Chinese Studies". BSU implements a wide range of dual degree programs with Shenyang Polytechnic University, Beijing University of Foreign Economics and Trade and Manchurian Institute of Russian Language. The university is also a member of prestigious international associations, such as the Silk Road University Alliance, the “One Zone, One Road” Initiative University Alliance, the Russian-Chinese Association of Economic Universities, and many others.
The Chinese delegation enjoyed a video about Baikal State University in Chinese.
It should be noted that the cooperation agreement with Liaoning University was previously concluded in 2013, but interuniversity relations were interrupted for a short period due to the pandemic. During the meeting, both sides showed high interest in resuming cooperation, expanding it and taking the arrangements to a new level.
Currently, the leadership of the two universities is interested in implementing new double degree programs in Russian and English in such popular fields as economics and management, developing cooperation in the field of academic mobility of students and teachers, holding joint language summer and winter schools, as well as organizing scientific conferences and implementing joint research projects.
Mr. Shi Baodong, Vice-Rector of Liaoning University, expressed a special interest in joint implementation of bachelor's degree programs in English. In response to the proposal of the Chinese colleague, Vice-Rector for International Relations of BSU Mikhail Kuz’min stressed that the most promising is the launch of English-language programs in economics and management, which have the highest demand among foreign applicants.
Anna Litovkina, Dean of the BSU International Faculty, told about the currently available Russian-Chinese programs in economics, linguistics, tourism and law, 2+3, 1+4 programs and language schools. Both parties exchanged business cards, memorable souvenirs and thanked each other for the desire to cooperate.
The parties agreed to sign a cooperation agreement in the nearest future, within the framework of which working groups will be organized for detailed elaboration of each direction of joint activities.