International Cooperation within the Framework of the BRICS Programme

The Department of Research and International Affairs of Volgatech continues to develop cooperation with its strategic partner, Fujian Normal University (FNU) of the People's Republic of China. In October 2023, Professor Eldar Kurbanov visited the College of Geography, Geoinformatics, and Future Technology at FNU in order to strengthen partnerships and expand interuniversity cooperation.

Cooperation between Volgatech and FNU has been actively evolving since 2014 in the form of scientific research, joint publications, summer schools, joint conferences, applications for international grants. In 2019-2022, Volgatech and FNU jointly participated in the BRICS GEMOECO research project. The institutions are planning to develop mutually beneficial academic mobility as well as launch joint study programmes such as, for example, the "Geomatics" study programme delivered in English.

One of the notable advantages of the FNU is its ultra-modern campus, built over the past two decades using the financial support of the provinces and the government of the People's Republic of China. It can fit up to 40 thousand students and contains everything necessary for work and studies. The laboratories of the college are equipped with scientific apparatus to carry out advanced research in the fields of climate change, assessment of soils, vegetation cover, and the environment. An agreement was reached on the use of these laboratories for joint research in the framework of upcoming research projects.

Meetings were also held with the management, professors, and students of the FNU. During the meetings, the representtives of both institutions discussed the main areas of cooperation of the upcoming BRICS projects and summer schools for Chinese students at Volgatech.

Colleagues from China also organised a visit to the Institute of Intelligent Engineering Technology Research at Sunlight College of Fuzhou University to participate in a research seminar, during which the research outcomes in the fields of remote sensing technologies, GIS, ecology, and smart engineering were presented. The exchange of views sparked lively discussions among the participants, opening up opportunities for future cooperation.

The Department extends its gratitude to the College of Geography, Geoinformatics, and Future Technology at Fujian Normal University for the organisational and financial support of the visit of Prof. E.A. Kurbanov.