MOSCOW, April 1. /TASS/. Russia’s possible withdrawal from the Bologna Education Process and return to a five-year higher education model may lead to a situation where Russian higher education diplomas will only be recognized in other countries at bachelor's degree level, Acting Vice President of the Russian Academy of Education Vladimir Filippov said in a video interview published on the institution’s VKontakte account.

He pointed out that almost all countries in the world, including China and India, used a system consisting of bachelor's and master's degrees.

Filippov also noted if Moscow took such a step, foreign students would be unwilling to come to Russia to get a higher education. In addition, in his words, discussions of a withdrawal from the Bologna Education Process run counter to the global trend for differentiating education, which is what Russia currently pursues. The trend provides for building an education system based on the 2+2+2 model, where students are able to choose a specialization after completing their second year.

The Russian Ministry of Education said earlier that Russia’s pullout of the Bologna Education Process was not under consideration. Moscow joined the process on September 19, 2003. The system is based on a two-tier education model, consisting of bachelor's and master's degrees.