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Funds earmarked to improve Russian universities competitive ability

Dmitry Medvedev noted the importance of Russian universities' ratings

Photo ITAR-TASS

Photo ITAR-TASS

MOSCOW, July 5 (Itar-Tass) - The government earmarks nine billion roubles this year to improve the completive ability of Russian universities, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said on Friday at the meeting of the Council for Improving Competitive Ability of Russian Universities.

Competition on the global market is normal. If the struggle is lost on the level of universities, it will result in lagging, he noted. So, it is important to have Russian universities on the level of world ratings.

The rate is a kind of a quality mark and conformity with world criteria, the premier noted.

"We must use the potential for the development of our economy," he added.

Each university may work out its programme to improve its positions in ratings, and a subsidy will be given to it, proceeding from the contest results. The money is not for the entire university development, but for specific purposes. Universities that will receive the funds must realize the degree of their responsibility, the premier noted.

Fifty four universities have submitted applications to participate in the contest. Thirty six of them have passed the selection.

The premier asked how the presentation of the programmes proceeded, adding he hoped they would be interesting.

Some 15 Russian universities will be on the list of world’s top 200 universities by 2020, Russian Minister for Education and Science Dmitry Livanov said at a session of the council for competitive growth of the Russian universities on Friday.

“At least five of them will be among the top 100,” the minister noted.

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