NSU Launches Medical and Biological Prep Classes at West African Universities

On December 3, Novosibirsk State University, with the support of the Center for Public Diplomacy’s Russian House in Niger, held the first preparatory classes in the medical and biological fields at the Abdou Moumouni University in Niamey. Niger is the first country where NSU has launched an educational project within the framework of the Consortium of Russian Universities for Cooperation with West African Countries.

Over the course of the year, the students will study Russian, chemistry, and biology. The program is very intensive with daily day and evening classes. The group currently includes 18 people from the University of Niamey. In January, students from Burkina Faso will join the group. Graduates of the program will be able to continue their medical education at Russian universities.

30 students from African countries are already studying at NSU, mainly in the Medical and Natural Sciences Departments. The University is interested in increasing the number of foreign students from the African continent. In August, NSU became one of the founders of the Consortium of Russian Universities for Cooperation with West African Countries. NSU is responsible for the Consortium’s preparatory department in the Natural Sciences and Medical-Biological fields of training.

NSU, with the support of the Center for Public Diplomacy, is also developing other projects for cooperation with the Sahel countries. In December, a project to attract private school graduates in Burkina Faso, "Presentation of Russian Universities in West African Countries", will be launched. This program will primarily involve members of the Consortium. In addition, there are plans to develop joint dual diploma Bachelor's and Master's programs in management, mathematics, information technology, and nuclear medicine. 3-6 month scientific internships with respected scientists in the Natural Sciences will be organized at NSU.

Background: The Sahel is a vast region with five countries: Burkina Faso, Mauritania, Mali, Niger and Chad. The region is home to 100 million people. NSU has signed agreements with the following universities in the Sahel countries: Thomas Sankara University (Burkina Faso), Niamey Abdou Moumouni University (Niger), and N'Djamena University (Republic of Chad).