St Petersburg University and Hamad Bin Khalifa University set the first steps of cooperation between the two universities

In his welcoming speech, Professor Michael Benedik, Provost of Hamad Bin Khalifa University, noted that their university is interested in a successful collaboration between the two universities. He suggested that the cooperation should start with joint academic programmes in computer science, engineering, and mathematics.

In response to the proposal from the representative of Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Sergey Andryushin, Deputy Rector for International Affairs of St Petersburg University, said that St Petersburg University is one of the leading universities in Russia in the field of mathematics. He mentioned the university's participation in the International Congress of Mathematicians, which will be held in St Petersburg in 2022, and the work of the university's scientists. Among them are such famous mathematicians as Nikolay Kuznetsov, Nikita Morozov, Stanislav Smirnov and others. According to Sergey Andryushin, cooperation between St Petersburg University and Hamad Bin Khalifa University in this field can therefore be successful.

Today, St Petersburg University has three scientific divisions whose main focus is mathematics. These are the Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science, the Faculty of Applied Mathematics and Control Processes and the Mathematics and Mechanics Faculty.

Sergey Andryushin, Deputy Rector for International Affairs of St Petersburg University, also expressed interest in exchanges of students, professors, and scientists between the universities. 'Participants in such exchanges can be not only those who study the Arab world but also representatives of the universities in the humanities and natural sciences,' explained Sergey Andryushin. ‘They can organise joint research groups and write scientific articles for further publications.’

Professor Benedik told the meeting that Hamad Bin Khalifa University is English-speaking. They have only one academic programme taught in Arabic. Future exchanges will not include a language element in Arabic. The university teaches gender theory, cultural studies, linguistics, Middle Eastern history and economics of Islamic countries. It is therefore possible to organise exchanges for students and scholars if their research interests lie in those areas.

Students from Qatar who will come to St Petersburg University as exchange students will be able to study Russian. This was revealed during an online meeting by Veronika Koytova, Head of the International Academic Cooperation Department at St Petersburg University.

Oleg Redkin, Professor Emeritus of St Petersburg University, Head of the Department of Arabic Philology, was also present at the meeting with Professor Michael Benedik, Provost of Hamad Bin Khalifa University. Professor Redkin supported the idea of student exchanges, primarily in social sciences and cultural studies. He suggested several topics for future joint research between universities in Russia and Qatar. They include a detailed study of the Koran and other sacred texts of Islam, as well as the history of relations between Russia and the countries of the Persian Gulf.

As a result of the meeting, Sergey Andryushin recommended that: research areas be selected by professors from St Petersburg University and Hamad Bin Kalifa University in the near future; and a videoconference be organised between them to form future research teams.