In Moscow, the Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation Natalya Bocharova met with the Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Innovation, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Raymor Machingura. As a result of the event, the parties signed an interdepartmental memorandum of cooperation in the field of higher education.
Natalya Bocharova noted that the main direction of interaction between the two countries in this area is the training of highly qualified personnel for the Republic of Zimbabwe in Russian universities. Today, 487 Zimbabwean students study in Russian universities, 160 of them are funded by the federal budget within the framework of the quota of the Government of the Russian Federation. 65 scholarships were allocated for budget-funded places in Russian universities for citizens of Zimbabwe in 2021–2022.
Among the most popular specialties that Zimbabwean students choose to study at Russian universities are aircraft engineering, electrical engineering, and power engineering, general medicine, pharmaceuticals, mechanical engineering, construction, dentistry, architecture, biology, mechatronics, and robotics.
During the meeting, Natalya Bocharova invited Raymor Machingura to consider the possibility of joining the Republic of Zimbabwe to the work of the Russian-African Network University (RAFU).
RAFU was founded on August 20 of this year by 12 Russian universities, which actively cooperate with African countries. Its activities are aimed at the formation of a single educational and scientific space, as well as the development of academic and student mobility and intercultural dialogue. RAFU also coordinates joint scientific and scientific-practical activities, project and grant activities, expeditions, and scientific and technical work.
