Joint university programs between China and Russia are taking a center stage in promoting bilateral cultural cooperation and exchange, with academic representatives highlighting how these cross-border institutions are pioneering a unique and highly integrated model of learning at a time that marks the China-Russia Years of Education.
According to Chinese Ambassador to Russia Zhang Hanhui in February this year, the two countries have designated 2026 and 2027 as the China-Russia Years of Education which aims to inject new momentum into bilateral exchanges in education and people-to-people cooperation.
Starting this year, the China-Russia Years of Education are set to feature hundreds of exchange events, building on the success of previous thematic years dedicated to culture, sports and sci-tech innovation.
As part of this initiative, representatives involved in joint university programs from the two countries have shared insights into the unique features and advantages of this collaborative education model.
Li Hezhang, rector of the Shenzhen MSU-BIT University, a joint project between Beijing Institute of Technology and Lomonosov Moscow State University, described the institution as the first China-Russia university established by consensus between the leaders of the two countries.
"Russian faculty members are a core force in our university's talent training and teaching efforts. They work together with our Chinese instructors, as well as with other internationally recruited faculty members of various nationalities, to jointly develop and refine our talent cultivation programs, and jointly implement our teaching plans," Li said in an interview with China Central Television prior to Russian President Vladimir Putin's state visit to China on May 19-20.
Chen Jinjun, dean of the St. Petersburg Institute for Shipbuilding and Marine Technology at Guangdong Ocean University, also emphasized the practical benefits of bilateral cooperation.
"There are about seven Russian teachers on a long-term basis, mainly responsible for teaching the Russian language. For specialized courses, we consistently maintain a rotating group of 15 to 20 teachers. Each semester, around 15 professors come in succession to complete the teaching tasks for professional subjects," Chen said.
China, Russia deepen educational ties through joint university programs
