7 Russian universities, including NSTU NETI, joined the Russian-Kyrgyz Consortium of Technical Universities.
The Intergovernmental Kyrgyz-Russian Commission on trade, economic, scientific, technical and humanitarian cooperation on its 14 and 15 meetings decreed to establish the Russian-Kyrgyz consortium of technical universities. The Department of International Cooperation of the Russian Ministry of Education addressed National Research University "MPEI" to devise the concept of creation and development of the Russian-Kyrgyz Consortium of Technical Universities. The Ministers of Education of Shanghai Cooperation Organization supported the concept at their fourth meeting held on October 11, 2012 in Bishkek. The Protocol between the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Education and Science of the Kyrgyz Republic on the establishment of the Russian-Kyrgyz Consortium of Technical Universities was also signed in Bishkek.
The Consortium was established in September 2013 as a voluntary Association of Russian and Kyrgyz universities that signed an Agreement on the creation of the Consortium and joined it later, sharing the common goals of supporting and developing joint educational programs. Currently, the Consortium consists of 30 Russian and 8 Kyrgyz universities developing bilateral joint educational programs. The seventh General Meeting of the Consortium participants was held on September 19-20. The General Meeting was attended by the representatives of 17 universities from Russia and Kyrgyzstan. According to the report of the Consortium Secretariat, Kyrgyz universities enrolled 298 students to the Consortium's joint educational programs in 18 areas of training in the past 2018/19 academic year, with 40 people studying at Isanov Kyrgyz State University of Construction, Transport and Architecture, and the rest at Razzakov Kyrgyz State Technical University. Ten Russian universities participate in joint educational programs. 75 students of the joint bachelor programs studied at the specialized bachelor courses in Russian universities. 27 students were enrolled in joint Master's programs.
In June 2019, 25 students of joint programs completed their studies; 20 students received two diplomas of the partner universities: Russian and Kyrgyz. Obtaining two diplomas finalizes the joint programs of Razzakov Kyrgyz State Technical University with National Research University "MPEI", the Ustinov Baltic State Technical University "VOENMEKH" and Kazan State Power Engineering University.
In 2019, 68% of bachelor graduates chose to continue their education at master's program of Russian universities (60%) and Kyrgyz universities (8%). 32% of graduates are currently employed, including 28% in the field of training. Graduates of master's programs are fully employed by September.
26 Kyrgyz students of joint bachelor programs will continue their studies at Russian partner universities in the new academic year 2019/20. Significantly, only 8 students received Russian quotas, with the partner universities being able to enroll 20 students in their state-financed programs. 14 Kyrgyz students will study at the master's program in Russian universities; 11 of them received the quotas.
RKCTU has prepared the draft of consolidated application to partner universities in 2020. It makes provisions for 96 student quotas for enrollment in 11 areas of training at Russian universities. This proposal includes 58 bachelor program students, 5 specialist program students, 26 master's program students; 1 person is recommended for enrollment in postgraduate course. There are also 6 quotas for the teachers of Kyrgyz universities to improve their skills at the programs of additional professional education. The Secretariat of the Consortium will continue working with the national education authorities of Russia and Kyrgyzstan to promote target quotas for the RKCTU in 2019 in line with the decisions of the intergovernmental Kyrgyz-Russian Commission on trade, economic, scientific, technical and humanitarian cooperation.
During 2018-2019, the Secretariat of the Consortium received 9 applications from Russian universities wishing to join the Consortium in order to develop joint educational programs with Kyrgyz universities. These 9 universities presented themselves at the General Meeting. Following the discussion and open voting, 7 new universities joined the Russian-Kyrgyz Consortium of Technical Universities. Among them:
Kuban State Technological University (KubSTU), Russia;
T.F. Gorbachev Kuzbass State Technical University (KuzSTU), Russia;
Novosibirsk State Technical University (NSTU NETI), Russia;
Perm National Research Polytechnic University (PNRPU), Russia;
Yuri Gagarin State Technical University of Saratov (SSTU), Russia;
Siberian State Automobile and Highway University (SibADI), Russia;
Southern Federal University (SFU), Russia.
In addition to the current issues discussion, a number of new agreements on the creation of joint educational programs were signed at the General Meeting of the Consortium, as well as protocols on admission of new students to joint educational programs in 2019. The Consortium's work plan for the 2019/20 academic year and the final minutes of the General meeting were approved.
