Over the past five years, the number of applications from applicants from African countries to study at Russian universities in agricultural specialities has increased fivefold. Such data is provided by Rossotrudnichestvo. Today, more than 1.6 thousand students from 45 African countries are studying in educational institutions subordinate to the Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation. The greatest interest is shown in the fields of agronomy, veterinary science and agroengineering. In the next academic year, it is expected that quotas for African nationals will almost double.
Growing interest in agricultural specialities
According to the Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation, African students represent a wide geographical spectrum – from Egypt and Algeria to Cameroon and Mali. In the meantime, most of them choose practice-oriented specialities that have a direct application to agricultural development.
The growing need for these specializations is due to the reality that there are a variety of factors why African governments need to invest in agricultural sector development. Though there is available fertile land, the majority of regions still lack exposure to modern technologies, agricultural equipment and skills.
Russia as a platform for agrarian education
Russia is one of the significant players in the global food market, being one of the largest providers of grain to African countries. According to the Russian Ministry of Agriculture, almost half of Russian wheat exports are going to Africa. Supplies of mineral fertilisers have also doubled.
The development of the agro-industrial complex in Russia contributes to the formation of a high-quality educational base: students have access to modern laboratories, technologies and scientific projects. This makes studying at Russian universities attractive for foreign citizens interested in applying their knowledge in practice in their home country.
Demographic factor and the need for knowledge
African countries are experiencing rapid population growth, especially in the young population. This increases the demand for education in key sectors, including agriculture. Ensuring food security is a major challenge for many countries and requires knowledge, technology and trained professionals.
According to experts, Africans’ interest in studying in the agricultural sector is also due to the fact that Russia has accumulated considerable experience in this field, which can be useful in an adapted form in different climatic and economic conditions.
Developing international co-operation
The increasing number of foreign students in agricultural fields is part of a broader trend to develop international educational and economic co-operation. Joint efforts are aimed at training specialists capable of solving applied problems in the field of food and agricultural sustainability.
Against the backdrop of this dynamic, Russia plans to continue to support educational programmes and expand the number of quotas for foreign students, including those from Africa.
