On April 7-8, 2016, the first Forum of the BRICS Network Universitywas held in Ekaterinburg, Russia, Hohai University delegation, headed by Vice President Xingying Chen, attended the forum withrepresentatives of universities and Ministries of Education from Russia, India, Brazil and South Africa.
According to Ural Federation University Vice-rector for International Relations Maxim Khomyakov, the event pursued three main goals - meeting of the top managers of participating universities, working out action plans for the development of joint study programs in the priority thematic areas within the frames of international thematic groups and meeting of the international governing board.
The Forum started with a plenary session during which the heads of delegations presented the participating universities from each country and the welcoming remarks were made by the deputy Minister of Education and Science of the Russian FederationAlexander Klimov.
The work of the Forum continued in the form of International Thematic Groupswhere the delegates discussed the key aspects of the project's development. The thematic priorities of the BRICS Network University are energy, computer science and information security, BRICS studies, ecology and climate change, water resources and pollution treatment, economics.Prof. Peifang Wang, dean of Environment College, and Prof. Yue Yuan, dean of Energy and Electrical Engineering College attended the discussion in the thematic groups of water resources and pollution treatment, and Energyrespectively.
Vice President Chen also signed Memorandum of Understandingwith Prof. Vladimir N.Zamolodchikov , Vice President of Moscow Power Engineering Institute.
As a result of the two-day discussions each international thematic group worked out an action plan for the development of joint programs; protocol of joining BRICS Network Universitywere signedduring the closing plenary.
The delegation visited Lomonosov Moscow State University on April,9. Vice President Yuri A.Mazei met with the delegation.Both sides outlined the general development of the university respectively, expressed expectations for more extensive cooperation in scientific research, students exchange between two universities.After the meeting, the delegation visited Academician of Russian Academy of Science Valery V.Lunin.
BRICS Network University is a joint research and educational project aimed at creation of a unified educational environment, development of academic mobility and training highly qualified professionals in the areas of activity that are of high priority to the member states.
The Memorandum of Understanding for Establishment of the BRICS Network University was signed on November 18, 2015 in Moscow by the Ministers of Education of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
