Belgorod State University - BelSU in the Global Education Market

Belgorod National Research University is one of the exemplary modern education institutions in the Eurasian region, welcoming students fom all over the world. For more than 30 years we've been providing quality education to international students and have gained broad experience not only in teaching the content knowledge in the fields studied, but also in creating good study environment. Due to positive changes in recent years (creation of new educational, recreational, medical and research facilities) National Research University “BelSU” became a more attractive destination for internationals, currently hosting 600 students from 58 countries. As the education provider, BelSU has topped the reputation ranking among Russian higher education institutions, for being highly competitive in helping internationals to meet the demands of global labor-market. Now we proudly announce the number of 4000 highly qualified international alumni from 98 countries of Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America.

NRU "BelSU" offers comfortable conditions for both education and accomodation. We consider modern research facilities, spacious and light lecture halls with up-to-date equipment, laborotories, computer equipped classes as the key compoments of good academic perfomance. But, the important fact is the living conditions of those, coming to study in a forein country. University campus comprises 4 hostels with all conveniences designed to host over 3000 students. Recreational facilities, including gym, chess club, cafeteria and a dance hall are all available in the building of the hostel. To keep in touch with the whole world, the hostel also provides broadband internet access for all students.

For the new-comers, Belgorod State University provides preparatory language courses within the pre-university training program at the International Faculty. Being one of the leading preparatory departments in Russia for the unique educational methodology, the International Faculty was approved by the Latin American-Russian Association of Higher Education as the Basic Preparatory institution for all Latin America. International Faculty provides a choice of several preparatory courses aimed to meet the specific needs of the fields studied during continued education in Russia. These courses form the basic language competence for the succesion in the following sciences: humanitarian, economical, technical, medical-and-biological. Widely recognised certificates of course completion are granted to those, complited the preparatory or short-term Russian language courses. Apart from preparatory department, the faculty trains specialists in the field of Russian philology - "Russian as Foreign Language".

Belgorod State University has 4 pre-university training centre affiliates abroad: in China (province Shandong, cities Dongying and Dezhou), center in Kito (Ecuador) and in San-Paulo (Brazil). This is a good opportunity for the international students to get to know Russian language and culture without leaving their homes, under the guidance of highly qualified and motivated teaching staff from Russia. The centre affiliates mission is not only to teach the language but to simplify the procedure of admission as well. The entrance examination is held by the teaching staff at the centres to select those, eligible to proceed their education in Russia.

Understanding our mission to meet the rapidly changing demands of global labour market we seek opportunities of integration into the international education community, entering into agreement with foreign academic institutions and foundations, being involved in the processes of unification of academic degree standards. Involvment in TEMPUS IV internationalisation program enables BelSU to enhance co-operation with EU academic community, to increase the amount of exchange programs and to make itself known as a strong player in the European education market, through adoption of EU academic management and quality expertise systems.

Belgorod State University joined Shanghai Cooperation Organisation University network (existing in China, Russia, India, Iran, Pakistan, Kazakhstan) in 2009 making a meaningful step to further integration into global education market. Within the SCO University framework BelSU is involved in the processes of further academic and teaching staff mobility development, establishing mechanisms for recogniton and equivalency of documents on education around the world. Modern nanostructural technology centre as well as wide sprectrum of research projects in this field, carried out by highly qualified staff, were a solid reason for BelSU to be chosen by the SCO comission as one of the three basic institutions to train professionals in the field of nanotechchnology for the whole Eurasian region. This lead to an increase in the number of students (both international and russian), opportunities for a free access to other academic institutions' experience in this field and the establishment of unified course curricula for the whole Eurasian region.

One of the top priorities in the field of international cooperation is the establishment of strategic long-term partnership with chinese academic institutions. Since 2001 the agreements have been signed with the following chinese universities: Dezhou University, China University of Petroleum in Beijing and Dalian University of Foreign Languages. To strengthen the networking between the sides and enhance second language acquisition opportunities, Dezhou University and BelSU proposed an initiative of joint degree programms, hosted by BelSU. During further negotiations, a new academic training course in the field of Philology within "Russian as foreign language" has been developed.

A great contribution to language teaching development in BelSU was the agreement with one of the top German universities - Bremen University, enhancing annual student exchanges and broadening research perspectives in the field of Linguistics.

A long-standing partnership between the University of Oldenburg and the faculty of Biology and Chemistry, provided unprecedented opportunities for an open dialog between the researchers, carrying out joint research in the field of Applied Chemistry. Annually, the sides carry out teaching staff exchange to share the latest experience in the filed studied and in teaching methodology.

To integrate into modern education market, it's very important to organize the process of students' knowledge acquisition in the languages that are used by a significant percentage of world population. To follow this statement, Belgorod State University entered into the agreement with one of the most respectable English language schools – Emerald Cultural Institute (Ireland, Dublin) - to provide opportunities for its students and faculty staff to improve their knowledge of English. Annually, summer school programs designed for students and specific needs of teaching staff are attended by a number of lecturers and students to acquire basic or specific skills in English for further practical application.

National Research University “BelSU” is a leading academic research institution in Russia, dedicated to advancing knowledge, education and all sort of opportunities for intellectual and professional development. The high standards are the result of both highly qualified staff and extensive resources, available for all students of this respectable and widely recognized university. Numerous international alumni prove bright future perspectives in a global labor-market and great cultural and life experience during their study in Belgorod State University.

E-mail: InterStudy@bsu.edu.ru

Information is given 20.03.2012