Published on: 2026-09-16
Source: Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University –
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The in-person stage of the professional retraining program “Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Technologies” has started at Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University within the framework of the Summer University of the Russian-African Network University (RAFU). The attendees are 15 representatives from Mali. The program is aimed at training teaching staff for the country’s National Center for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (CIAR-Mali).
The delegation was headed by the Deputy General Director of CIAR-Mali, Danioko Fadaba. At Polytech, the Malian representatives were received by the Vice-Rector for International Affairs Dmitry Arseniev, Associate Professor of the Higher School of Cyber-Physical Systems Management Vyacheslav Potekhin, and the Honorary Consul of the Republic of Mali in Saint Petersburg, Associate Professor of the Higher School of Hydraulic Engineering and Energy Construction of the Engineering and Construction Institute, Issa Togo.
One of the key tasks of our university is training highly qualified specialists capable of responding to modern challenges and contributing to the development of science and technology. I am confident that studying at the Polytechnic University, familiarizing oneself with the modern laboratory infrastructure and leading educational practices, will allow program participants to expand their professional competencies and use the acquired experience for further development of Mali’s educational system. We expect the program to become a foundation for strengthening professional and academic ties between our universities and implementing joint educational and scientific initiatives. I wish the participants successful studies, new professional achievements, and hope that the experience gained at Polytech will become an important milestone in the development of cooperation between Russia and Mali,
The on-campus stage of the program includes modules “Artificial Intelligence Technologies,” “Industrial Artificial Intelligence,” “Cyber-Physical Systems,” and “Industrialization and Innovation.” Participants will become acquainted with Polytech’s laboratory facilities, as well as its educational and scientific projects.
Representatives of Mali will visit the Supercomputer Center of SPbPU and participate in a conference dedicated to artificial intelligence in education.
I am convinced that for education and science to develop, universities must actively participate in this process. The transformation of Mali’s higher education system, involving SPbPU and the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of Russia, opens up opportunities for students to learn from Polytech’s experience, and education becomes not only theoretical but also connected to the real economy. We are very glad that you are here. The knowledge you acquire will help you grow and respond to the challenges of the times,” emphasized Issa Togo.
Danioko Fadaba emphasized the importance of cooperation with Polytech for the development of CIAR-Mali: We are a young center taking our first steps in this field. It is a great honor for us to be here at the Polytechnic University. Our goal is to create an independent system that will help us move forward confidently.
SPbPU is the coordinator of the Russian-African Network University, established in 2023. The consortium includes more than 180 universities from Russia and Africa, including 27 universities from Mali. The cooperation of Polytech with Malian partners has been ongoing since 2017, when an agreement was signed between the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research of Mali and SPbPU.
In September 2024, a delegation from the National Center for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics of Mali already participated in the RAFU Summer Multidisciplinary University at Polytech.
Training representatives from Mali at SPbPU is aimed at developing engineering education and the country’s research potential, as well as strengthening cooperation in the field of high technologies. Students will be able to use the knowledge and competencies gained at the Polytechnic University to develop educational programs at the National Center for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics of Mali.
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