Amid the apparent restrictions of extensive development models in both Russia and China, bilateral cooperation in science and education appears to be an increasingly ambitious objective aiming to build up the national innovative capacity of the two countries.
Possessing knowledge as such, ability to learn and contribute to the process of knowledge development is what differentiates developed societies from developing ones. As humanity watches global progress in robotics and artificial intelligence, the start of the Fourth Industrial Revolution was announced at Davos 2016. Innovation was also the focus of the 2016 Boao Forum for Asia. Seeking to keep pace with their peers internationally, Russia and China also prioritize science, education, technology and innovation.
The Strategy for Innovative Development of the Russian Federation for the period until 2020, as well as China’s official document entitled “Vision and Actions on Jointly Building Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road” list eff orts to expand international scientific cooperation and build up innovation capacity as top-priority objectives. Amid the apparent restrictions of extensive development models in both Russia and China, bilateral cooperation in science and education appears to be an increasingly ambitious objective aiming to build up the national innovative capacity of the two countries.
Conclusions and Recommendations
1. Amid the apparent limitations of extensive development models in both Russia and China, bilateral cooperation in science and education appears to be an increasingly significant objective in order to build up national innovative capacities. Furthermore, the promotion of academic cooperation between Russia and China is in line with the agenda for multitrack diplomacy between the two countries.
2. In order to boost the status of academic cooperation as a priority sector for collaboration between Russia and China, it would be advisable to declare the next series of cross-years to be “years of science, education and innovation”.
3. In order to attract Chinese students to Russian universities and vice-versa, it would be advisable to:
— shift the emphasis from the number of students and courses to the quality of students and courses;
— focus on engaging students in non-language (natural science, technical, engineering, etc.) courses;
— show flexibility in terms of the languages of teaching – Russian, Chinese and English, or a combination of these;
— combine long- and short-term educational programmes, including those in English;
— pay more attention to expanding career opportunities for graduates, gradually openingthe labour market to them.
4. In order to attract academic professionals and researchers from China to Russia and vice versa, it would be advisable to:
— encourage scientists from the two countries to establish working contacts with a view to conducting joint R&D;
— expand the possibilities for permanent and temporary employment for Russian and Chinese specialists at scientific and educational institutions of the two countries;
— organize grant support for programmes for lecturers and researchers;
— ensure the institutional flexibility required to effectively arrange academic trips (including academic sabbaticals provided domestically) and motivate specialists (trips are advisable only if they can improve career prospects).
5. To develop joint universities and research centres, it is necessary to:
— support existing projects on a priority basis;
— identify a single prestigious partner in China instead of spending limited resources on building relations with several secondary players;
— focus on the status of prospective Chinese partners as the top priority, their proven interest, motivation, and then on the geography factor and the economic situation in the region of cooperation;
— encourage the use of English in teaching and communication, engage English-speaking Russian and Chinese scientists and representatives of the Russian academic community abroad;
— show flexibility in terms of curricula and standards given the cultural differences between Russia and China.
Cooperation in Science and Education to Promote an Innovative Approach to Russia–China Relations, 1 Mb
Chineese version, 1,3 mb
