SPbPU and RAFU: a new stage in the development of the concept of higher education reform for the Republic of Mali

In 2025, Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, as the coordinator of the consortium of the Russian-African Network University (RAFU), led a project to reform higher education for the Republic of Mali, as well as the development of a concept for the creation of the Bandiagara Polytechnic University.

This project was initiated in accordance with an agreement between the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research of the Republic of Mali and the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation. 10 leading universities participating in the RAFU joined the project, each of which coordinates the development of basic educational programs in 1 of the 10 areas of study that are priorities for Mali. Polytechnic University has taken over the areas of «civil engineering» and «ecology».

At the moment, a large amount of organizational work has already been completed, expert groups have been formed in each area, and educational and methodological complexes have been developed for more than 30 educational programs of the future Bandiagar Polytechnic University.

The key event in this process was the visit of the official delegation of the Republic of Mali to SPbPU, which arrived as part of the Digital Research Leadership program at the RAFU Summer Multidisciplinary University.

The delegation included key specialists responsible for the establishment of Bandiagara University: Ousmane Mariko, Adviser to the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research of the Republic of Mali, Professor Yakuba Dao, coordinator of cooperation between universities in Mali and the Russian Federation, Ousmane Guindo, Rector of the newly created Bandiagara Polytechnic University, as well as future heads and coordinators of its faculties: Salif Nabunan Dembele, Abubakar Bengali and Ali Kansai.

During the visit, an official meeting was held with Andrei Rudskoi, Rector of SPbPU, Chairman of the RAFU Presidium, Academician of the RAS, which was attended by Dmitry Arseniev, Vice Rector for International Affairs, Marina Petrochenko, Director of the Institute of Civil Engineering (ICE), Issa Togo, Honorary Consul of Mali in St. Petersburg, Associate Professor of the ICE, and Alla Mazina, Secretary of the Presidium of the RAFU. Strategic issues of reforming the national education system of Mali were discussed. The Rector of SPbPU acquainted the representatives of Mali with Russian approaches to modernize the transformation of engineering education and the creation of modern university campuses.

The practical part of the visit was that the delegation completed a short-term internship program in the field of Digital Technologies in Civil Engineering, supervised by SPbPU. The main working meeting was held at the SPbPU Civil Engineering Institute. It was attended by Maxim Terekh, Deputy Director for Educational and Methodological Work, Ksenia Strelets, Director of the Center for Additional Professional Programs, Yuri Lazarev and Galina Kozinets, directors of higher schools, and Mikhail Romanov, responsible for international activities.

The colleagues from Mali were presented with the key competencies and infrastructure of the Civil Engineering Institute. As part of the acquaintance with the material and technical base of the university, the delegation was given a tour of advanced laboratories. The guests visited innovative sites, including the MetaCampus Polytechnic Center, the laboratory of additive technologies and 3D printing, the Vysota scientific and educational center, as well as modern laboratories for environmental monitoring, hydraulics and innovative road construction materials. This made it possible to clearly demonstrate the practical possibilities of the university for the modernization of higher education in Mali.

As part of the same RAFU Summer Multidisciplinary University, the Malian representatives visited other universities participating in the RAFU, overseeing the areas of agricultural technology, veterinary medicine and animal husbandry — St. Petersburg State Agrarian University and St. Petersburg State University of Veterinary Medicine. During the visit, Russian colleagues demonstrated their educational and scientific capabilities, which can form the basis for the transformation of these areas in Mali.