Published on: 2026-07-15
Source: Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University –
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An expanded meeting of the Interdepartmental Working Group on Cooperation with African Countries was held at the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, chaired by the Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, Konstantin Mogilevsky. The members of the working group reviewed the results of the first half of 2026 and discussed issues related to the preparation of the third “Russia – Africa” summit, which will take place in October 2026 in Moscow.
The first report was presented by Dmitry Arsenyev, Vice-Rector for International Affairs of St. Petersburg Polytechnic University of Peter the Great. He presented a report on the activities of the consortium “Russian-African Network University” (RAFU). Konstantin Mogilevsky highly appreciated the development dynamics of the consortium during the time St. Petersburg Polytechnic University has been its coordinator: Over three years, the consortium has been transformed beyond recognition. We sincerely hope that the Polytech team, led by Rector Andrey Rudsky, will continue to actively participate in African projects and maintain the connection with this direction.
In his speech, Dmitry Arseniev noted that today the RAFU consortium includes more than 70 African universities from 17 countries, as well as over 100 Russian universities and six research centers. The geography of the participants is constantly expanding.
Special attention was given to the 5th Summer Multidisciplinary University (SMU) of 2026. For the first time, it is held in a new format: it includes not only students already studying in Russia but also those who have come specially from Africa. For ten countries (Algeria, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Egypt, Morocco, Namibia, Niger, Tanzania, Central African Republic, and South Africa), 19 educational programs were developed in four areas: engineering and energy, medicine, agriculture, and sustainable development.
Dmitry Arseniev also reported on the second flagship project — the modernization of higher education in the Republic of Mali. At the instruction of the Russian Ministry of Science and Higher Education and at the request of the Malian ministry, leading Russian universities participating in RAFU are assisting in the reform of the system, including the creation of the Polytechnic University of Bandiagara and the development of the National Center for Artificial Intelligence. Eight targeted programs have been launched for Mali — from advanced training in renewable energy to six-month professional retraining in robotics and AI.
Other speakers presented a wide range of initiatives: from humanitarian and educational projects to applied programs and scientific research. The common thread was the pursuit of comprehensive, systemic collaboration based on historical memory, personnel training, joint developments, and economic partnerships with African countries. Participants also individually emphasized the importance of systematic work on the historical assessment of the consequences of colonialism and the slave trade.
Summing up the meeting, Konstantin Mogilevsky noted: Our common goal is to build a comprehensive system of cooperation with Africa based on already established successful practices, one that would meet Russia’s long-term interests. The key elements of this system will be the training of national personnel, the development of a network of Russian language centers, and the opening of preparatory faculties — these will lay the foundation for future scientific and educational projects.
All proposals will be summarized and presented at the October “Russia — Africa” summit, and work on the systematic integration of educational and scientific initiatives will continue with the active participation of Russian universities and research centers.
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