SPbPU offered Venezuela cooperation in education and science at a meeting with Minister Mujica
The Committee on Science and Higher Education of St. Petersburg held a working meeting with a delegation from the Ministry of Higher Education of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. Representatives of the friendly Latin American country were welcomed by Andrei Maximov, Chairman of the Committee. Representatives of six St. Petersburg universities took part in the meeting. Vladimir Khizhnyak, head of the International Cooperation Department, represented Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University.
The Venezuelan delegation was led by Minister of People’s Power for Higher Education Ricardo Mujica and included ministry officials Gasparri Rey, Director General of the Department of Integration and International Relations, Jimenez Cubillan, Director of Bilateral Meetings of the Department of International Relations, and Andres Gonzalez, First Secretary of the Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela in the Russian Federation.
During the meeting, Andrei Maximov briefly spoke about St. Petersburg, which is one of Russia’s largest scientific and educational centers. It accounts for over ten percent of the country’s scientific potential and is home to more than 350 scientific organizations, including about 60 organizations of the Russian Academy of Sciences and other state academies.
Mr. Mujica noted that Venezuela has adopted a program to develop cooperation with Russia in the field of science and education. In accordance with this program, the number of students from this country in Russian universities should increase tenfold in the near future, from 200 to 2,000, at a minimum. The ministry has set up a working group to create an inter-university network of Venezuelan and Russian universities. There are plans to create joint programs and dual degree programs. The priority areas of training are artificial intelligence, nanotechnology and new materials, agro-biotechnology, mineral extraction, and others. The creation of cultural and language centers in both Venezuela and Russia is also being considered. Another pressing issue is the training of highly qualified personnel.
Vladimir Khizhnyak spoke about St. Petersburg Polytechnic University and proposed areas of cooperation. He noted that the university has a small number of students from Venezuela, but that the university’s institutes are ready to accept many more representatives of this country in numerous training programs, including those taught in English. Summer and winter school programs may also be of interest to students from Venezuela. Joint supervision of graduate students, participation of leading professors in dissertation councils, and the visiting professor program are also a good start for cooperation.
Mr. Mujica responded to SPbPU’s proposals with a willingness to visit our university and an offer to conclude a cooperation agreement with the National Scientific University, which was recently opened and enjoys strong support from the country’s government. He also noted that there are 25 polytechnic universities in Venezuela and that he is ready to assist in establishing contacts with them. The country has adopted a 15-year program to support polytechnic universities.