Memorandum on setting up BRICS Network University signed in Moscow

MOSCOW, November 18. /TASS/. A Memorandum of understanding for establishment of the BRICS Network University has been signed in Moscow. The document was inked by education ministers of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa after their joint meeting. First the initiative of setting up the Network University was set forth in November 2013 at a meeting of the BRICS member-states’ education ministers in Paris. According to Russia’s Minister of Education and Science Dmitry Livanov, who signed the document on behalf of Russia, "development of the initiative to set up the BRICS Network University will have a positive impact on the quality of Russia’s higher education, strengthen ties and cooperation between universities of our countries." He added that the institution is aimed at forming a generation of highly-qualifies, motivated specialists able to work in the environment of the BRICS emerging markets. Russia’s Deputy Minister of Education and Science Alexander Klimov said that the main goal of the educational institution being established is suppoting sustainable growth of the BRICS states via preparing highly-qualified specialists. According to Klimov, "national ministries of education bear the task of outlining a list of universities, which will be members of the universities." The initial plan is to engage not more than 12 higher education institutions from each country to participate in the project. "Those universities should be active at least in one of the focuses set by the agreement - energy, computer sciences, cybersecurity, BRICS researches, climate change technologies, water resources and economy," Klimov said, adding that the list is subject to further expansion. The main management system of the institution being founded, are international topic groups, which are created within each focus, he said. Klimov added that "the Network University will be mainly focused on organization of regular student swaps within agreed master and postgraduate programs" while "the quality of education in the Network University will be marked by a certificate." BRICS education ministers also signed the Moscow declaration on cooperation, which is aimed at outlining the main areas for future cooperation as well as further internationalization of higher education and academic mobility, development of professional and technical education. Read more