The Office of International Affairs of Vernadsky CFU marked Africa Day – observed on 25 May each year – with the international round-table discussion themed “Cooperation of Vernadsky CFU and Crimea with African Countries”.

Africa Day is annually commemorated at the university with an array of versatile and exciting activities, including a traditional friendly football match between the teams of domestic students and international students and graduates from African countries.

“Africa is a key strategic area for our university, which has been clearly stated in the Vernadsky CFU’s Office of International Affairs Mission Statement years ago. Even back then we realised that Russia would have to make this pivot to the East and have a long and severe conflict with Europe and North America. Over the years, our university has educated and graduated over one thousand people from various African countries. I very much hope that this tradition will go on,” said Aleksandr Mashchenko, the head of the Office of International Affairs at Vernadsky CFU.

The round table was attended by a number of the Vernadsky CFU administrative and academic staff members, researchers, and international students from African countries.

The attendees discussed the issues related to stay and study of students from African countries in Russia, enhancing collaboration with the university’s community of students from African countries, and development of cooperation with African countries in research, culture and education.

There are about 3,000 international students currently studying at Vernadsky CFU, including over one hundred international students from twelve African countries, such as Algeria, Benin, Botswana, Cameroon, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Republic of the Congo, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Development of friendly ties with Africa discussed at Vernadsky CFU