Key achievements and ambitious goals: interview with the Head of International Affairs Division of SUSU Olga Yaroshenko

2017 was full of international events such as participation in the international exhibitions where Delegation of South Ural State University demonstrated a highly professional level and our stands with the new logo with Griffin and Lion attracted attention, because it symbolizes University’s new global goal – to be the leading university not only at regional but also at the world level, developing the communication both in the West and in the East. Olga Yaroshenko, the head of the International Affairs Division of SUSU, told about the success of the University in the international arena.

– What are the fields of work of the International Affairs Division?

The International Affairs Division performs developing and implementing the strategy of the University international activity, facilitating the process of the University internationalization, coordinating the activity of international development and cooperation departments, interacting with foreign partners, international organizations, national embassies and consulates, national cultural centers and associations, and also ministries and government services. Our Division is also responsible for implementing the education programs for foreign students, expanding and supporting the exchange programs for students and academic staff, as well as facilitating the participation of the University departments in the international collaboration programs. Besides, we implement the international interdisciplinary projects jointly with foreign partner universities.

– What is the International Affairs Division staff?

– Our Division includes 5 departments with the staff of 20 highly qualified professionals. We meet all the requirements of the international division as our staff includes employees from Yemen and China. I’m sure that it’s one of our competitive advantages because we can work recognizing the mentality of our target auditory and, thus, easily engage with foreigners.

The Department of Migration Service for Foreign Citizens, which is well-known by all foreigners, controls the residence process of foreign citizens at the Russian Federation territory from the very beginning. The Department interacts both with other university departments and with external services in the area of migration support of foreign citizens during the entire period of their study or work.

The main fields of the International Scientific Collaboration Department work include the establishment of international recruiting system of foreign scientists; creation of a platform for the development and enhancement of collaboration with partner countries in the field of higher education internationalization. The Department’s tasks include the creation of support service for foreign specialists working at the University, provision of flexible collaboration forms regarding the terms and involvement, organization of employee’s participation in scientific and education projects within the framework of international programs and grants.

International Relations Department organizes the official visits of foreign citizens and delegations considering the events’ protocols. The Department is also responsible for the support of international interuniversity contracts and agreements. At present, the University has 150 contracts and agreements with leading partner universities from 38 near- and far-abroad countries.

International Students Department is responsible for the enrollment of international students on the main academic programs. The Department also provides the information support for applicants and students regarding the programs offered by the University, and involves international students into extracurricular activities. The main achievement of the former year was entering new education markets: we had the first students from Venezuela and Morocco who enrolled at the university due to the education program (scholarship) funded by the budget of the Russian Federation.

We are also proud of our Credential Evaluation Centre which is responsible for the recognition of foreign education and qualification, foreign degrees and titles. The Centre also provides consulting on the issues of legalization of foreign and Russian education. To collect a correct package of documents required for getting Russian education, international students don’t have to send documents to Moscow at the National Evaluation Centre. The whole procedure is provided by the University on-site.

The main objectives of the Rankings Promotion Department are the development and implementation of a complex of events for introducing the University to Russian and international rankings, promotion of the university in rankings, managing the university’s reputation in the international academic community and cooperation with international and Russian ranking organizations (Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), Times Higher Education (THE), Round University Ranking (RUR), U-MULTIRANK, Interfax, Expert RА, etc.).

– What’s the number of students, academic and research staff at the University? What are the partner countries?

– At present the University has 1900 students from 48 countries. Most students are from Kazakhstan, China, Uzbekistan, Iraq and Tajikistan. There are 200 students at the Preparatory Faculty from different countries – from Algeria to Ecuador.

The Division assisted the employment of 121 foreign academics and researchers from Serbia, Bulgaria, India, Indonesia, France, Switzerland, Sri-Lanka and other countries in 2017. For example, Manus Patrick Henry, professor of the University of Oxford, is the head of the Laboratory for Self-Monitoring and Self-Validating sensors and systems at SUSU.

– What significant advances has the International Affairs Division achieved in 2017?

– One of the key important achievements is the Forum of Rectors of Russian and Kazakhstan Universities that was held at SUSU. It demonstrates the recognition of the University achievements and opens the prospective for global international cooperation. Special attention was given to the official signing of collaboration agreements in the presence of Ministers of Education of both countries. 40 collaboration agreements were signed between universities and different education and research organizations of the Republic of Kazakhstan. It’s important that South Ural State University signed 11 agreements with Kazakhstan Universities and this proves the high profile of our university.

Moreover, according to the strategy of the University promotion in international subject rankings there were signed agreements with authoritative ranking agencies – THE and QS. This facilitates solving one of the most important tasks set for SUSU as the participant of Project 5-100, namely, improvement of the University’s recognition at the international level. SUSU has entered the top-600 best world university for the first time according to the Worldwide Professional University Rankings RankPro. What’s more, the university was listed in the top ten of the National Ranking of the Russian Federation Universities. It improved its standing in the ranking of the classical universities of Russia, having climbed from place 13 to place 9 in 2017. SUSU also climbed up in QS World University Rankings BRICS. The results achieved by SUSU in 2017 confirm that the chosen way of the University development was right, and prove that our graduates are competitive and in high demand in the labor market.

– What are the Division’s plans and goals?

– We have quite ambitious goals, for instance, entering THE ranking. The university has a strong potential for this. For us entering rankings is not a goal in itself but it motivates us to meet new international achievements. Another goal is the creation of the International Association of SUSU Graduates dedicated to the university’s anniversary, the development of Student Ambassador Program and opening a regional office of the Association of International Students. We are also planning to extend the Preparatory Year programs up to 1,5 years and continue the active involvement of the world-class academic and research staff from the leading universities.

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