“Russia — Myanmar: Expanding Educational and Humanitarian Opportunities” Conference

“Russia — Myanmar: Expanding Educational and Humanitarian Opportunities” Conference

28 November 2022

On November 22nd–27th, the University’s delegation headed by the Vice-Rector for Students’ Development and International Affairs Stanislav Surovtsev visited Myanmar. The Republic held a conference titled “Russia — Myanmar: expanding educational and humanitarian opportunities”. The Russian delegation was comprised of the representatives of the leading Russian universities and organizations dealing with public diplomacy, education and science.

MGIMO University was also represented by the Associate Professor at the Department of Oriental Studies Ksenia Efremova and the Professor at the World Economy Department Denis Degterev.

On November 23rd and 24th, Nay Pyi Taw (Myanmar) hosted the receptions at the high level in the relevant ministries. On behalf of the MGIMO Rector Anatoly Torkunov, Stanislav Surovtsev met with such high-ranking officials as the Minister of Foreign Affairs Wunna Maung Lwin, the Minister of International Cooperation Ko Ko Hlaing and the Minister of Education Dr. Nyunt Phay. The Vice-Rector also held a meeting with the Ambassador of Russia to Myanmar Nikolai Listopadov. The talks concerned the most pressing issues of bilateral humanitarian cooperation: increasing flow of students from Myanmar to Russia, broader programs of student exchanges, as well as further training for current faculty and organization of special courses for Myanmar career diplomats.

During the meetings, Stanislav Surovtsev gave a comprehensive presentation on MGIMO University, talking about its academic and infrastructural resources, research and extracurricular activities, opportunities for foreign citizens, student mobility programs.

The meeting resulted in arrangements with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Myanmar on targeted enrollment of students from the Republic in the MGIMO BA and MA programs. The representatives of Myanmar also expressed considerable interest in organizing further training courses for diplomats at MGIMO University, as well as in the University’s Russian language programs.

On November 25th and 26th, Yangon hosted the main events of the conference titled “Russia — Myanmar: expanding educational and humanitarian opportunities”, namely, the roundtable at Myanmar Institute for Strategic and International Studies (MISIS) and the academic seminar with the representatives of Myanmar research institutions, organized by Thayninga. Within the framework of the academic seminar, the Associate Professor at the Department of Oriental Studies Ksenia Efremova and the Professor at the World Economy Department Denis Degterev presented their reports that sparked a lively discussion. The participants dwelled on the long history of diplomatic relations between Russia and Myanmar, peculiarities of studying languages and understanding cultures, exchanged opinions about challenges and opportunities presented by further activities in public diplomacy as well as cooperation between universities and NGOs. On November 25th, Stanislav Surovtsev, as part of the delegation, held a meeting with the President of the Russia–Myanmar Association for Friendship and Cooperation General Aung Toe.

On November 26th, the delegates visited the University of Yangon. The Myanmar side was represented by the Rector Tin Maung Tun and over 15 professors, heads of departments and faculty. Stanislav Surovtsev told about the MGIMO student mobility programs and opportunities for cooperation with the Myanmar universities in this area. The meeting resulted in arrangements concerning the student and faculty exchange programs with the University of Yangon.

Within the framework of the academic seminar, the Associate Professor at the Department of Oriental Studies Ksenia Efremova gave a lecture on the tradition of studying the Myanmar language in Russia, while the Professor at the World Economy Department Denis Degterev spoke about the information sovereignty.

Following presentations and meetings in the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, the Vice-Rector for Students’ Development and International Affairs Stanislav Surovtsev signed a cooperation agreement with Thayninga Institute for Strategic Studies. The arrangements concerning the signing of cooperation agreements with Myanmar Institute Myanmar Institute for Strategic and International Studies (MISIS) and the University of Yangon were also made.