Far Eastern Federal University plans to increase share of foreign students to 10,000 by 2020 - rector

VLADIVOSTOK, March 20 (Itar-Tass) - The number of foreign students at the Far Eastern Federal University (FEFU) by 2020 will reach at least 30 percent of the total number of students. It is about 10,000 people. This is envisaged by the plan of events (roadmap) on improving the university’s competitiveness about which FEFU Rector Sergei Ivanets spoke at a briefing in Vladivostok on Wednesday. At present, about 1,500 foreign students, mainly from China, are learning in the university. According to the rector, the university would also in the future give special attention to the attraction of young people from this country. In particular, a network of agents will be created for the attraction of applicants, agreements will be concluded with more than 60 international recruiting agencies. The FEFU intends to attract foreign students by high educational standards, the development of new learning programmes and by the attraction to reaching of well-known experts and teaching staff. Thus, according to Ivanets, the share of foreign professors, teachers and scientists among the university staff by 2020 should reach 20 percent against 1.5 percent in 2013. To this end, a new unit that will deal with the attraction of foreign specialists will be formed within the university this year. Last year, the FEFU became the participant of the federal programme aimed at improving competitiveness of Russia’s higher education. It is planned for the period from 2013 to 2020. On March 15, 2014, a special commission approved a development programme proposed by the university, which will secure additional funding for it. This year, the university will get 600 million roubles for the implementation of its roadmap. Implementing its programme the FEFU plans by 2020 to join the ranks of the world’s best universities according to the most respected ratings.