Tiraspol, 6 December. /Novosti Pridnestrovya/. Pridnestrovie is integrated into Russia's educational space, with schools employing Russian curriculums and standards. Therefore, the development of contacts with Russia in the sphere of education is very important, the rector of Pridnestrovian State University, Stepan Beril, said at a meeting of the Academic Council. Beril spoke about the visit of the Pridnestrovian delegation, led by the president, to Moscow.
Lomonosov Moscow State University (MSU) has been PSU’s partner for over 12 years. The rectors of the two universities extended a cooperation agreement and signed regulations on MSU's methodological centre at the Pridnestrovian university.
"It was a landmark visit. MSU rector Viktor Sadovnichy praised PSU's activities to support education and science in the university and in the country's educational sphere as a whole. In the presence of Pridnestrovian President Vadim Krasnoselsky, we signed working documents that will turn into a programme of actions within our cooperation agreement," noted Beril.
The discussion of the practical interaction between the two universities will continue in the near future in Pridnestrovie. A representative delegation of MSU is scheduled to visit the country.
Beril also said that a competence centre in the area of online education would be established in PSU. A similar centre had been established and had been successfully functioning in Sevastopol.
The establishment of a working group on the interaction between the educational systems of Russia and Pridnestrovie was discussed at Russia's education ministry.
"Training of PSU's post-graduate students at Russian partner universities in 2018, advanced training of teaching staff and equipping of schools with computers — these issues should be elaborated and brought to a meeting with Russia's education minister Olga Vasilyeva. The meeting has been agreed and will be held in the near future," said Beril.
The popularisation of blue-collar jobs is another area of work both in Russia and Pridnestrovie. In 2012, Moscow joined the international movement WorldSkills and created the union World Skills Russia. Its main activities are the organisation of a WorldSkills competition, which is the largest competition of this kind. A Pridnestrovian team may take part in it soon.
"We discussed the possibility of students of the secondary and vocational institutions which are part of PSU taking part in international WorldSkills competions. As you know, Russia is considering reviving the prestige of working professions. Russia has won the 2017 competition and will organise it in 2019. We'll have to consider the conditions under which the students of the Bendery branch and Engineering and Technical Colledge will take part in it," said the PSU rector.
The issue of making PSU a base university that ensures the acquisition of Russian education in Pridnestrovie and in the entire region for Russian citizens and compatriots living abroad was also discussed in Moscow.
"This is a very relevant issue, and I am grateful that we have had unique approaches at all levels — both in the government and in the presidential administration and in the State Duma and in Rossotrudnichestvo and in the Ministry of Science and Education," underscored Beril.
Also, agreements with the Higher School of Economics to open joint labs were extended during the visit.
"Besides, Rossotrudnichestvo confirmed the quotas that will be allocated to Pridnestrovie in 2018. This will increase the number of post-graduate and master-course students. This is extremely important for us," noted Beril.
The Academic Council also summed up the results of the current year and outlined priorities for 2018, including PSU's participation in international scientific projects.
