SHILLONG, July 8: In continuation of the initiatives set in motion during the official visit of Vice-Chancellor of North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU), Shillong, Prof Prabha Shankar Shukla, to the Embassy of the Russian Federation in New Delhi, a high-level virtual meeting was recently held to strengthen Indo-Russian academic cooperation.
The discussions primarily focused on establishing a Russian Language Centre at NEHU and exploring avenues for future collaboration in education, research, and student mobility. The virtual meeting brought together senior leadership from NEHU and prominent representatives from the Russian academic and cultural ecosystem. The NEHU delegation comprised NEHU VC Prof Shukla; Director General of the Indian Institute of Sustainability (IIS), Meghalaya, Dr BK Mishra; Pro Vice-Chancellor of NEHU’s Tura Campus, Prof Fameline K Marak; and Dean of the School of Technology, NEHU, Prof Md Iftekhar Hussain.
Representing Russia were Rita Filippova, Vice-Chancellor for International Affairs, Ufa University of Science and Technology (UUST); and Ekaterina Dynyak, Head of the Russian Language Educational Centre at the Russian Centre of Science and Culture (RCSC), New Delhi.
The meeting centered on charting a roadmap for operationalising the proposed Russian Language Centre at NEHU and launching collaborative academic programmes, including joint degrees, student and faculty exchanges, internships, and short-term certification courses.
Addressing the gathering, Prof Shukla emphasised NEHU’s dedication to forging impactful international partnerships for the benefit of students from the Northeast, particularly those from tribal communities. “This initiative is not just about language instruction; it is about empowering our students to stand shoulder to shoulder with their global counterparts. Through cultural understanding, academic rigor, and mutual respect, we can build a future of shared progress between India’s Northeast and Russia,” he stated.
Rita Filippova reaffirmed UUST’s strong interest in collaborating with NEHU:
“We are eager to welcome tribal students from Northeast India for internships, short-term academic programs, and collaborative research at Ufa. Likewise, we look forward to sending our students to NEHU to benefit from its diversity and academic excellence.”
Dr BK Mishra highlighted the significance of multilingual education within the broader framework of sustainability and inclusive development.
NEHU Tura’s Pro-VC Prof Marak expressed her full support for the initiative. “As the in-charge of NEHU Tura Campus, I am happy to support the establishment of the Russian Language Centre. We are eager to facilitate student exchange programs, cultural immersion, and other collaborative academic activities. The Tura Campus stands ready to provide all necessary support to ensure the success of this important initiative,” she said.
Underscoring NEHU’s academic strengths in science and technology, Prof Hussain proposed: “We are keen to explore joint degree programs, particularly in engineering, biotechnology, and applied sciences. These collaborations will greatly enhance our students’ global career readiness and foster innovation through international partnerships.”
Ekaterina Dynyak pledged strong support from the RCSC for the development of the Russian Language Centre, including training materials, curriculum design, and faculty exchange.
“Our mission is to build lasting educational bridges. We are excited to support NEHU and ensure that Russian language and culture become accessible tools for both academic and career growth.”
In a related development, NEHU is preparing to sign a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with global placement expert “Dr. Skill”, aligning the university’s academic excellence with real-world employability and global workforce integration. As part of the initiative, Dr. Skill will also facilitate connections with Russian industries to create job opportunities for students from the Northeast, further strengthening the region’s career ecosystem.
The establishment of the Russian Language Centre and continued Indo-Russian collaboration mark a transformative step for NEHU.
