PYATIGORSK, July 21. /TASS/. North-Caucasus Federal University (NCFU) is expanding relations with Armenia, in particular, joint master's programs will be launched with the universities of the republic, as well as the exchange of teachers and the organization of summer and winter student schools, the press service of NCFU told reporters on Wednesday following the delegation's working trip to Armenia headed by Dmitry Bespalov. 

"The partners plan to launch joint master's programs, new scientific and educational projects, as well as the development of humanitarian ties and the promotion of the Russian language in Armenia," the message reads. 

It is noted that with National University of Architecture and Construction of the republic, the Russian university is launching a joint master's program in construction with the possibility of obtaining two diplomas - NCFU and NUACA. The plans include the exchange of teachers, the holding of joint scientific conferences, seminars, symposia, round tables and exhibitions, the organization of summer and winter student schools, as well as the creation of a consolidated construction team. Another area of ​​joint activities is the promotion of the Russian language in Armenia. This work is carried out within the framework of the Greater Caucasus Consortium (together with NCFU and NUACA, it includes the Abkhaz and South Ossetian State universities), created on the initiative of the NCFU rector Dmitry Bespalov. 

Programs and partnership 

According to the press service, with the Russian-Armenian University NCFU has begun work on a new joint master's program on legal regulation of democracy, state and municipal governance, international and national security. The plans of partner universities include joint research in the field of medical biochemistry, nanobiotechnology, plant bioengineering, biomedical engineering, bioinformatics, fundamental physics, organic chemistry, and the development of nanostructures and materials.

According to the press service, at the working meeting of the NCFU delegation with the new president of National Academy of Sciences of Armenia, Ashot Saghian, in Yerevan, it was decided to sign a memorandum of cooperation in the coming months, which will outline the areas of joint research. "The partners intend to submit joint applications for grants, publish joint articles on the results of their research in prestigious scientific journals indexed in the international databases Scopus and Web of Science," the message reads. It is noted that at present the university is also actively cooperating with the Institute of History of the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia in conducting research on the study of the Caucasus.

"We see great interest from our partners in Armenia to expand cooperation. Agreements have been reached on launching new joint projects, the implementation of which will contribute to the further development of academic, scientific and cultural ties with educational and scientific organizations of Armenia," NCFU rector Dmitry Bespalov was quoted as saying by the press service.