SPbU signs agreements with universities of Syria

SPbU helps to promote teaching of the Russian language in Syria

During the visit, negotiations with the Rector of Al-Baath University located in the city of Homs were held. There had been reached an agreement on joint and exchange programmes for students and academic staff. Graduated from St Petersburg University in 1991 Abdul Basit Al Khatib remembers University with warm feelings. He also noted that St Petersburg University provides high-quality research and education. The Rector conducted a tour of laboratories and scientific centres of Al-Baath University. Abdul Basit Al Khatib noted that, even although the equipment is often outdated, Syrian scientists continue to invent their own types of the equipment for scientific research.

After the tour, there had been a discussion, within which potential of SPbU Research Park was presented. All of its resources are available to Syrian scientists for conducting joint research and publications with colleagues from St. Petersburg. The Rector of Al-Baath University expressed his gratitude to Nikolay Kropachev, the Rector of St Petersburg University, and entire academic community of St Petersburg University for their help and opportunities for cooperation, noting the invaluable support Russia provides to Syria in protecting the country from terrorism and in preserving its statehood.

During the visit, an agreement between St Petersburg University and Al-Baath University was officially signed. After the solemn ceremony of signing the agreement, there had been a donation of books from the Publishing House of SPbU intended for students and schoolchildren studying the Russian language to the Language Centre of Al-Baath University.

Following the donation, the delegation of St Petersburg University visited Hama, the oldest city in Syria, and Al-Wataniya Private University located in it. The Rector of Al-Wataniya Private University expressed great interest in cooperation with St Petersburg University in the field of management and economics. After the meeting, the parties agreed to hold a videoconference for scientific and teaching employees of two universities to discuss the prospects for joint work.

During the visit to the Higher Institute for Applied Sciences and Technology (HIAST), a cooperation agreement between SPbU and HIAST was signed. The Rector of HIAST thanked St Petersburg University and Nikolay Kropachev for support and noted that two universities have a lot in common. For example, HIAST like SPbU has a special status that allows it to develop its own educational standards, issue its own diploma and enter into agreements with foreign partners. After the ceremony of signing the agreement, Vice-rectors of the Higher Institute for Applied Sciences and Technology showed the guests research centres and laboratories, heads of which presented their projects.

Scientists noted that cooperation with St Petersburg University is not only a unique opportunity for them, but also a matter of an urgent need. Achieving concrete results of scientific research is essential for rebuilding the national economy and ensuring economic development of Syria in the face of the ongoing struggle against terrorism and illegal economic restrictions.

Representatives of the Higher Institute for Applied Sciences and Technology expressed the intent to establish international relations with St Petersburg University as soon as possible. The most relevant for Syrian science and technology sectors today are the areas of: nanotechnologies and materials science, robotics, environmental studies, mathematics and computer science.

"Writing words together with a fine feather" taught at the Online School of St Petersburg University: project results for 2022

Also during the visit to the Syrian Arab Republic, a cooperation agreement with Damascus University was signed. St Petersburg University and Damascus University are cooperating closely to improve qualifications of Russian language teachers. In the future, universities plan to establish joint and exchange programmes.

Furthermore, negotiations with Nikolay Sukhov, Head of the Russian Centre for Science and Culture in Damascus, were held. The Centre supports Russian language teachers throughout Syria and organises language courses in collaboration with schools and universities. Nikolay Sukhov expressed his interest in holding classes of the Online School of St Petersburg University for school students and Russian language teachers at Syrian universities. During the visit, the Russian Centre for Science and Culture in Damascus received books of the SPbU Publishing House as humanitarian aid.

During the stay of the Russian delegation in the Syrian Arab Republic, the military police and the Russian Armed Forces provided its security. St Petersburg University expresses gratitude to them for their help and support.