St Petersburg University establishes a branch in Egypt

The document was signed by Sergey Andryushin, Deputy Rector for International Affairs, and Waleed Mohammad Nabil Daabas, General Director of the Modern Group, Deputy Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Modern University for Technology and Information (Egypt).

’There is quite a high demand for Russian education abroad, particularly in the Middle East, especially in the medical field. There is a great shortage of medical personnel in this region, and we are ready to fulfil it,’ said Sergey Andryushin. ’This is another big step in the development of internationalisation of St Petersburg University as well as export of Russian education and educational services of St Petersburg University. This is fully in line with the objectives set by the President and the Government of the Russian Federation. In this sense, we are moving in the wake of Russian policy and are promoting the University’s interests in developing international activities. I should note that this year we are opening a branch in Uzbekistan’.

The establishment of the new branch of St Petersburg University was made possible thanks to a decree by the President of the Arab Republic of Egypt allowing the opening of branches of foreign universities in the country. The University will be supported by the Modern Group JSC, one of the largest groups of companies in Egypt, specialising not only in higher, secondary and primary education, but also in pharmacology, construction and several other fields. This will ensure that the new branch of the University has all the necessary resources to function effectively and train highly qualified personnel in the medical field.

According to Professor Piotr Yablonsky, Vice-Rector for Medical Activities of St Petersburg University and Honorary Citizen of St Petersburg, the opening of the University’s first medical branch in a foreign country will not only be a significant event, but also a challenge. In order to implement the training of future medics at the highest level, it will be necessary to adapt the academic programmes of St Petersburg University to the realities of another country, select the teachers and assess the level of training of Egyptian applicants.

There are many challenges, but our academic programme “General Medicine” is by far the best in the country, and I am pleased that our Egyptian colleagues have recognised this.

Piotr Yablonsky, Professor, Vice-Rector for Medical Activities of St Petersburg University

’The challenge for us is not to change it, but to adapt it. Our second focus will be dentistry and high medical technology. In addition, our partners would like to open a medical college, faculties of pharmacology and physiotherapy,’ said Piotr Yablonsky. ’I am the head of the working group, which, together with the University’s Academic Affairs Department, is working on adapting the academic programmes. Two of them, “General Medicine” and “Dental Medicine”, are ready and have been forwarded for translation.’

The University’s enrolment plan for the branch will be based on the needs of the Egyptian economic sectors for highly qualified personnel. Diplomas for graduates of bachelor’s, master’s and clinical residency programmes will be awarded in accordance with the academic programmes of St Petersburg University and generally accepted international standards of quality in higher education.

After the signing ceremony, the guests were introduced to the facilities of the Resource Centres of the University Research Park, and the company representatives were told about working methods and were presented the results of the research. The delegation visited the Institute of Translational Biomedicine, the Centre for Molecular and Cell Technologies, the Pirogov Clinic of High Medical Technologies and the Simulation Centre where future dentists receive practical skills.