A new academic year of St Petersburg University in Cairo
A delegation from St Petersburg University has visited the Arab Republic of Egypt to participate in the ceremonial events to mark the beginning of the new academic year. The delegation was headed by Marina Lavrikova, Senior Vice-Rector for Academic Activities at St Petersburg University, and Sergey Andryushin, Vice-Rector for International Affairs at St Petersburg University.
The visit contributed to strengthening the international network of partnerships and collaborations and promoting Russia’s educational initiatives abroad. Last year, St Petersburg University started to teach students in Cairo. It is one of the strategic projects of Russia-Egypt cooperation. In Cairo, the University offers three specialist’s programmes. Among them are the following: General Medicine, Dental Medicine, and Pharmacy. More than 340 University students successfully completed the first year and started their next year.
The founders of the project are St Petersburg University and Egyptian company Modern Group, which provides education services, pharmaceutical services and construction and building services. Upon successful completion of the courses, students will be awarded diplomas in accordance with the educational standards of St Petersburg University and international quality standards.
During the event, the University delegation met with representatives of the Egyptian educational community, students and teachers of the Russian language. Marat Gatin, Head of the Russian House in Cairo, emphasised the importance of supporting joint initiatives. Strengthening educational partnerships between Russia and Egypt contributes to improving the quality of training and learning and economic and social development of both countries, said Marat Gatin. He also focused on the history of the educational organisation and career opportunities for the University graduates in Cairo.
The number of students admitted in Egypt in 2024 was 400. Admission for the programmes was highly competitive. There were more applicants per available place than in previous years. This shows evidence of the high demand for the programmes and the growing authority of St Petersburg University as a centre that provides world-class education not only in Russia but also abroad, said Professor Ayman Shafei, Director of St Petersburg University in Cairo. According to Professor Ayman Shafei, the academic programme "General Medicine" is traditionally the most attractive among the applicants. The high demand for this programme is largely accounted by the fact that medical education is highly prestigious and much up-to-date. Moreover, there is a growing demand for qualified medical personnel in the African country.
Marina Lavrikova, Senior Vice-Rector for Academic Activities at St Petersburg University, addressed the first-year students with a welcoming speech, emphasising that St Petersburg University provides a unique scientific and educational environment to equip each student with opportunities to obtain theoretical foundations and practical skills. Students acquire not only deep understanding of their programme, but also are involved in research and scientific projects to develop skills useful for a wide range of careers, she added.
You have become part of our big family. We are sincerely glad to see you at our University and are confident that studying at St Petersburg University will be an important step on the way to your career achievements.
Marina Lavrikova, Senior Vice-Rector for Academic Activities at St Petersburg University
Earlier, Nikolay Kropachev, Rector of St Petersburg University, said that strengthening partnerships and collaborations with the African continent is a priority and commitment of St Petersburg University. During the meeting with the students, these University’s plans were also confirmed by Sergey Andryushin, Vice-Rector for International Affairs at St Petersburg University.
"St Petersburg University is one of the leaders in the global educational market and the oldest university in Russia, which celebrated its 300th anniversary in 2024. The University has rich scientific and educational potential. Exporting Russian education is one of our priority tasks. In this context, partnership with Egyptian educational institutions seems especially promising," said the Vice-Rector.
Sergey Andryushin also outlined next steps for the development of international cooperation. It is planned to hold seminars and workshops with the participation of leading teachers of the University, joint conferences covering issues relevant to Russia and partners from the Arab Republic of Egypt, and cultural exchange programmes for student to get acquainted with the traditions of both countries. Such initiatives will enable students not only to deepen their knowledge in various fields, but also to contribute to the development of their personal qualities, broaden their horizons and form friendly ties, said the Vice-Rector of St Petersburg University.
"The immediate plans of St Petersburg University are to ensure collaboration between the foreign branches of St Petersburg University, to form a single ecosystem of students studying abroad. We want not only to unite students, but to create a platform that provides them with comprehensive support: from assistance in adapting to new conditions and everyday life to joint educational and research projects," shared Sergey Andryushin. The key goal of the project is to introduce students from different countries to each other, strengthen international cooperation, initiate various interdisciplinary initiatives and informal communication, he added.
St Petersburg University has signed agreements with 26 African countries, including Zimbabwe, Kenya, Gambia, and Tunisia to name just a few. The cooperation is aimed at expanding educational opportunities and cultural exchange between Russia and Africa. One of the key areas is online courses to provide students and specialists with access to quality education without having to travel abroad. Currently, about 27,000 African citizens from 50 countries are students of online-courses at St Petersburg University.
Representatives of the Russian Embassy in Cairo focused on the importance of the University’s programmes in Egypt, expressing interest in further development, increasing the number of students and attracting students from other countries in the region. The successful implementation of the project could encourage broader cooperation in education, science and culture and contribute to strengthening bilateral relations between Russia and Egypt, they added.
At the end of the event to mark the beginning of the new academic year, a solemn award ceremony was held. The best teachers from among Egyptian colleagues who demonstrated outstanding results in teaching and research were awarded memorable prizes with the University’s symbols. Special congratulations were addressed to the Director of St Petersburg University in Cairo, Professor Ayman Shafei, who played a key role in organising and holding the event and, in broader terms, in developing cooperation. He facilitated a network of partnerships and collaborations and cultural interaction. Professor Sherin Abdelmalek, Deputy Director of St Petersburg University in Cairo, was presented an award for her active work and support of educational initiatives.