For eight years, Vernadsky CFU has been actively working to strengthen international contacts and establish long-term relationships with foreign partners in the fields of science and education.

One of the most significant events for promoting and enhancing the university’s international profile is the annual international forum ‘Crimea in the Global Research and Education Community.’

“This is our traditional event, which symbolises the development of the international direction in the university’s activities and reflects the good relations formed between the university and research, educational, and cultural organisations in other countries,” noted Sergei Iurchenko, First Vice-Rector and Vice-Rector for International Affairs and Information Policy at Vernadsky CFU.

Since the forum was first held back in 2017, the number of international students from India at Vernadsky CFU has doubled, a number of contacts with foreign universities and public organisations have been established, several foreign delegations have visited the university, and numerous sports and creative events, and educational competitions and conferences have been held, including those focused on the integration of foreign students into the Russian-speaking educational environment.

The 8th International Forum kicked off in September with a round table discussion titled: ‘The Issues of Interaction between the Countries of the Black Sea Region in the Context of the Special Military Operation.’ Distinguished guests in attendance included Georgii Muradov, Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Crimea and Permanent Representative of Crimea to the President of the Russian Federation; Armen Oganesian, Editor-in-Chief of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia’s magazine ‘International Life’; representatives of leading Russian universities and relevant government bodies.

The formal opening of the forum allowed the honoured guests, international students, and alumni to exchange greetings and express their appreciation of and support to all the participants and organisers. Video greetings from the university’s graduates in Vietnam, Jordan, and Sudan were complemented by emotional and touching speeches from both home and international students. The opening event was wrapped up with a concert that created a warm and friendly atmosphere of unity among the various ethnic communities living in Crimea.

The international conference ‘Crimea in the Global Research and Education Community’ gathered an interested audience who delivered their presentations on the origins and distinguished features of and the prospects for international cooperation at Vernadsky CFU. The discussions covered current geopolitical matters and global events, Russia’s role in them, as well as issues related to the traditional values, Crimea’s role in the global information space, and training of future highly-qualified academic and teaching staff for China.

Among the educational initiatives of the forum was the themed quiz titled ‘Crimea in My Heart’ that was held for the international students of the Medical Institute named after S.I. Georgievsky. The quiz provided the students with the opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge and learn new things not only about their future profession but also about Crimea and the prominent figures in research, education, and culture that lived and worked in Crimea.

“One of the main challenges we face while working with international students is their social adaptation to our culture and to the new world they come to. This event is one of those that bring foreign students closer and help them easily overcome cultural barriers,” said Kaud Dia, Vernadsky CFU Rector’s Adviser for International Affairs.

As part of the forum’s opening event, a photo exhibition titled ‘Crimea – Ten Years in the Russian Federation (A History Essay)’ that showcased the changes in the peninsula over the past decade was held.

The exhibition organisers also highlighted the changes in the field of education.

“The high quality of education at Vernadsky CFU is already known not only in Crimea, Russia, but also across the world. This is evidenced by the fact that the university has an enormous number of international students from different countries. All of them have very good knowledge and a strong command of the Russian language. Of course, knowledge of the Russian language is important, but so is knowledge of the subject area. Vernadsky CFU provides this knowledge, thus confirming the prestige of Russian education in general,” commented Iuri Moskovskii, Chairman of the Commission for Migration Issues of the Council for Nationalities under the Government of Moscow and Secretary of the Board of Trustees of the Moscow Pedagogical State University.

The forum continued with the ‘Sporting Unity’ event, the traditional football and volleyball competitions among international and home students of Vernadsky CFU. Students from India, the Republic of Congo, Ghana, Zambia, Kenya, Nigeria, Russia, and other countries participated in the competitions.

“Sport is a process of mutual enrichment through exchange of experience, energy, and strength. By sharing their knowledge and perspective, our students understand how international students are living and feeling like in Russia. Whatever the students learn here, they will take back to their countries. While international students are here, we educate them; when they leave, they become ambassadors of Russia in their countries. The next-generation global image of Russia depends on how our interaction is realised,” said Gevorg Gabrielian, Head of the Office for International Affairs at Vernadsky CFU.

The series of meetings with students concluded with a lecture on ‘Modern Management Accounting and Value Creation in a Dynamic Business Environment’ by Ibrahim Medh, Doctor of Economics and Professor at the Department of Political Science and International Relations of Vernadsky CFU Taurida Academy. In the summer of 2024, Dr. Medh made the life-changing decision to move from Syria to Crimea.

“Each topic discussed during the International Forum has great theoretical and practical significance. We must think about how we can implement the results of these meetings to develop economic relations,” noted Ibrahim Medh.

At the end of forum, a group of Vernadsky CFU students and staff attended the English-language and French-language sections of the Sixth Annual Model UN in Crimea International Workshop Conference held as an educational simulation.

The forum attracted over 200 international guests, which further confirms Crimea’s standing as a leading area where human capital concentrates.

“Currently, Vernadsky CFU has students from 32 countries. I am more than confident this geography will expand over time and we will have students from Latin America, the number students from Africa, Southeast Asia, the Middle East will increase, and the university will welcome students from many friendly countries with which we maintain close political, economic and, most importantly, educational ties” stated Vladimir Kurianov, Vernadsky CFU Acting Rector.

Crimea is a limitless space of impulses and changes in the global and educational discourse. This is evidenced by more than 2,500 international students from 32 countries currently enrolled at Vernadsky CFU, 62 ongoing international agreements with foreign universities, institutions, and organisations from more than 20 countries, and about 100 annual international events held at the university.

The agreements in force and long-term cooperation with international graduates contribute to the establishing of lasting ties between the university and the global research community, as well as to strengthening of the university’s standing in the global educational landscape.

 This event was held as part of the Priority-2030 Strategic Academic Leadership Programme.