Rector of AltSU Sergey Bocharov takes part in the TASS press conference on the results of the Times Higher Education University Impact Rankings 2020
Rector of Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences Andrei Rudskoy, Rector of Plekhanov Russian University of Economics, Victor Grishin, and Rector of the flagship Altai State University, Sergey Bocharov.
“For the second year in a row, Altai State University has been included in the THE University Impact Rankings due to meticulous, thorough and systematic work of the entire university staff, primarily as part of the implementation of strategic projects included in the development program of the flagship university. One of the projects is consonant with the name of the ranking and is dedicated to the sustainable development of Altai territories in a cross-border space. It is aimed at targeted development of socio-economic strategies for municipalities of Altai Krai, which is carried out by AltSU research teams. They also commit themselves to further expert support. The other two, Altai-Biopharma and Altai-Agrobio, also correspond to the ideology of the ranking and unite those scientific projects, the expert activities that are currently being carried out by the flagship university of the region” said the AltSU Rector.
In the framework of the press conference organized online, its participants not only discussed topics related to the experience of interaction between the country's universities, the development of higher education in the localities and the participation of universities in international rankings, but also answered questions from TASS, Rossiyskaya Gazeta, and Vedomosti”, IIA “Russia Today” and other federal media. In particular, journalists expressed concern that because of the Unified State Examination, the best applicants go to metropolitan universities and do not return to their homeland, and the widespread transfer of the educational process online can cause the reduction of the teaching staff in the regions.
The rectors explained that such processes take place locally, but in general, measures are being taken to strengthen regional universities: the quota for budget places for regions has been increased, the flagship universities program is being implemented, and authoritative rankings show high positions of regional universities. A vivid example of this is Altai State University, which is constantly improving its educational base, taking into account the requirements of the economy and the demand for specific educational areas.
“We analyzed what specialties are in demand not only among our applicants, but also in the whole region, and we came to the conclusion that specialties related to IT, pharmacy and medical technology, biotechnology and immunology, as well as traditionally, experts in economics, law and in the field of agribusiness are in demand in Altai Krai” Sergey Bocharov answered. “It is necessary to develop not abstract educational programs, but those of practical importance, that is, those that are in demand from the real sector of the economy for solving specific problems”.
At the end of the press conference, the leaders of the three Russian universities included in the top 100 of THE University Impact Rankings 2020 global ranking agreed to join forces to achieve the goals of sustainable development of society and discuss the first steps of implementing this direction in the near future.
