Moscow’s Mendeleev University operates the project “Popularization of the Russian language and Russian education in African countries” -By Kestér Kenn Klomegâh

In 2023, RKHTU named after D.I. Mendeleev, with the support of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, acts as the operator and key organizer of the project to popularize the Russian language and Russian education in African countries. As part of the implementation of Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of March 31, 2023 No. 229 on strengthening Russia’s position in the global humanitarian space, forming its positive perception abroad, strengthening the position of the Russian language in the world and its position as a language of international communication, Mendeleev University will provide organizational, information and methodological support of the program.

The goal of the large-scale project is to strengthen partnerships between the Russian Federation and educational organizations on the African continent. In the coming months, visits of teachers from educational organizations in the Republic of South Africa, Namibia, Tanzania, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Senegal, Mali, Ethiopia and Egypt to Russia are planned, as well as the implementation of joint cultural projects and educational programs. It is planned that more than 100 teachers from African countries will undergo advanced training courses, update their knowledge of the history and culture of Russia, and also visit different regions and universities in the Russian Federation.

Partner of the Russian Chemical Technical University named after D.I. Mendeleev in the implementation of the project “Popularization of the Russian language and Russian education in African countries” is the Institute of African Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

On October 18, a business breakfast was held at the Mendeleev Center Children’s Technopark with the participation of representatives of Mendeleev University, the Institute of African Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, representatives of the Namibian Embassy in the Russian Federation, as well as teachers from African countries and their colleagues from RKhTU.

The guests were greeted by the acting Rector of the Russian Chemical Technology University Ilya Vorotyntsev, Vice-Rector for Economics and Innovation Dmitry Sakharov, First Secretary of the Namibian Embassy in the Russian Federation Mweneni Shiveda. The moderator of the gala meeting was Daria Zelenova, senior researcher at the Center for Southern African Studies at the Institute of African Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences. She noted that a large number of representatives of African countries, including many professors, doctors of science and world-famous scientists, graduated from Mendeleev University and proudly bear the title of Mendeleevites. Daria Zelenova emphasized that it is RKHTU named after D.I. Mendeleev University, a university with centuries-old scientific and cultural traditions, is an important platform for interethnic dialogue and strengthening Russian-African interaction in various fields, primarily within the framework of the African Union and the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum.

A deputy of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee on Science and Higher Education, scientific director of the Russian Chemical Technical University named after D.I. Mendeleev Alexander Mazhuga.

“For more than 60 years, we have been productively interacting with African countries in the field of education. Russia is the country of choice for young people from African countries to receive high-quality education. The development of Russian-African educational cooperation became an important topic at the II International Parliamentary Conference “Russia – Africa”, held in Moscow. Education and science are the main areas on which the scientific, technological and economic sovereignty of our countries depends. The Russian language is one of the most widely spoken languages ​​in the world today. It is one of the five most widely spoken languages ​​in the world, along with English, Spanish, Chinese and Hindi. Today the Russian language is studied in universities and schools in more than 140 countries around the world. And the new configuration of forces and the multipolarity of the world will undoubtedly be accompanied by a significant increase in the meaning and sound of the Russian language ,” noted Alexander Mazhuga.

“Dear colleagues, we are pleased to welcome you to Russia, within the walls of the historical building of the Russian Chemical Technology University, which has been training chemists and chemical technologists for our country and the whole world for more than a hundred years. Of course, many are interested in why the University of Chemical Technology was chosen to implement the program. We often say that chemistry is a metascience, without which the development of modern civilization is impossible. The same applies to the development of international cooperation in the scientific, educational and technological fields. Historically, great Russian scientists have almost always exemplified high culture, broad-mindedness, erudition and love for their country. Our distinguished guests and colleagues will have to visit many cities of our wonderful country, to better know and love its culture and history. In the future, it is with your help that we will develop fruitful and interesting cooperation with scientific and educational centers of African countries,” Ilya Vorotyntsev, acting director, addressed the guests. Rector of Mendeleev University.

“As the leader of this project, implemented on the Russian side with the support and active participation of the Russian Ministry of Education and Science, I welcome you to our university, which is named after the great Russian scientist, chemist, engineer Dmitry Ivanovich Mendeleev. Dear teachers! Strengthening friendly ties between our states is an important task. Over the next few weeks, you will not only take advanced training courses, but also plunge into the hospitality and cordiality of the Russian land. I am sure that this experience will benefit your professional competencies, and RKhTU will make every effort to make your visit to Russia memorable and allow you to build long-term communications between our teachers and research groups,” emphasized Dmitry Sakharov, Vice-Rector for Economics and Innovation of RKHTU . DI. Mendeleev.

The Institute of African Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences was represented at the business breakfast by the head of the Center for Southern African Studies Andrei Tokarev, researcher at the Center for Global and Strategic Studies, chairman of the Council of Young Scientists Gleb Sugakov, and researcher at the Center for Sociological and Political Science Research Daria Turyanitsa.

Colleagues spoke about the work of the institute in terms of strengthening international cooperation. Today, the Institute for African Studies includes more than 10 research centers, and the institute itself has been working in Russia for more than 60 years.

At the end of the meeting, the guests were given a tour of the Mendeleev Center Children’s Technology Park, and university volunteers presented the guests with souvenirs.

Earlier, on October 17, an excursion to the Prosveshcheniye Publishing House was organized for teachers from African countries as part of the project. They attended the session “Evolution of the textbook: from printed to multibook format,” at which the guests were told about electronic forms of textbooks and their advantages. Electronic textbooks allow children to always have a textbook with them and complete assignments without having to carry a heavy briefcase, and also allow them to watch video lectures and take interactive self-tests. In addition, the teachers got acquainted with the history of the publishing house on an excursion specially organized for them, and examined the exhibition of historical publications, in particular, ancient primers.