Vyacheslav Stepanov takes part in X Congress of Russia's Union of Rectors

The forum took place at the Lomonosov Moscow State University (MSU). It was also attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who heads the MSU's board of guardians

As reported by the press service of Pridnestrovie's State University (PSU), the Congress participants discussed the issues of developing the system of higher education, measures aimed at improving the quality of education and enhancing universities' infrastructure, as well as supporting science in the higher school.

According to President Putin, universities should stop entrants hunting and stop admitting even fee-paying "ignorames". "Our higher school must provide good up-to-date and appropriate education," said the Russian president.

Russia's minister of education and science, Dmitry Livanov, brought up the question of closing private universities and branches of state universities which cannot provide education on an appropriate level. The ministry first monitored institutions of higher education in 2012. As a result, 30 universities and 262 branches were found inefficient and subject to reorganisation. Based on last year’s monitoring results, 373 universities were found inefficient, and 45 more universities and 373 branches were subject to optimisation.

In the course of the discussion it was stated that many Russian universities would soon provide only bachelors' programmes to students; graduate and post-graduate courses would be available only at Russia's strongest universities. It was also said that Russian universities would face a decrease in the number of students in the years to come. The Russian Union of Rectors drew attention to the problems of school education and especially to the quality of teaching Russian.

The acting rector of the Shevchenko Pridnestrovian State University, Prof Vyacheslav Stepanov, held a number of important meetings, at which he could exchange views with colleagues on several operational issues. During the meeting with Russia's education and science minister some basic strategic tasks were declared aimed at acquiring the status of the Russian-Pridnestrovian university. Besides, the strategic goal of the PSU was revealed, namely implementing the mission of a leading research, educational, methodological centre in Pridnestrovie, which makes a considerable theoretical and practical contribution to the innovative development and competitiveness of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic.

At the meeting with the chairman of the education committee, the parties discussed the issues of allocating budget quotas to the university's students and post-graduate students for studying in the Russian partner-universities. They also referred to the prospects for the Russian World foundation operating in Pridnestrovie and the possibility of using the PSU as a ground for the Russian School Abroad project.