In view of ongoing geopolitical changes, the role of cooperation between countries of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) to find answers to technological challenges is increasing. However, the absence of a common legal and regulatory framework in the educational sphere and the concept of science development within the EAEU has so far hampered the improvement of research intensity indicators. Breakthrough scientific achievements and projects based on a common model of educational space development should become a key element of technical re-equipment and create the basis for the self-sufficiency of the Eurasian Economic Union. This was the conclusion reached by the participants in the session entitled ‘Cooperation in Science and Technology, and Vocational Education: Priorities for the Eurasian Economic Union’ held as part of the Eurasian Economic Forum.
As the global economy transforms, EAEU member states need to find answers to technological challenges
“In the current difficult situation, when profound structural technological changes are taking place and the world economy is being transformed by the global geopolitical situation, the relevance of technological challenges for the member states of the Eurasian Economic Union is only increasing,” Yakov Silin, Rector, Ural State University of Economics.
“The time has come for scientists, and every scientist has the opportunity not just to demonstrate their achievements, but also to implement them in the real sector of the economy. Today, good cooperation is being established with scientific organizations of the EAEU. Last year alone, we implemented about 80 scientific projects with relevant organizations, with over 220 direct grants for the export of scientific and technical products. All this shows that cooperation between EAEU scientists is yielding serious results in high-tech sectors,” Andrey Ivanets, Minister of Education of the Republic of Belarus.
“Whereas scientific and technological progress used to account for about 50% of economic growth, now, according to various estimates, 80–90% is the direct contribution of science and education. This is the part of the economy that affects all markets for goods and services through competitiveness,” Dmitry Mityaev, Assistant Member of the Board (Minister) for Integration and Macroeconomics, Eurasian Economic Commission.
“Modern history shows that the future lies in the unification of states. Geopolitical instability, sanction policies, the development of technological cooperation, sovereignty and scientific cooperation raise the importance of many questions,” Pavel Shevtsov, Deputy Head, Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States Affairs, Compatriots Living Abroad, and International Humanitarian Cooperation (Rossotrudnichestvo).
Russia should become a driving force in science development for the EAEU countries
“Russia should set the pace, especially when it comes to communication in science. Unfortunately, science, for example in the Kyrgyz Republic, is not developing at the right pace. <...> Our scientists are reluctant to share knowledge at universities, and in this respect I would like to refer to Russia’s experience of creating scientific consortia,” Kanatbek Abdrakhmatov, President, National Academy of Sciences of the Kyrgyz Republic; Corresponding Member.
“In the context of sanctions, the vector of educational cooperation with friendly countries within the EAEU clearly emerges. The activity of Russian universities in this area will increase in the coming years,” Vladimir Sipyagin, First Deputy Chairman of the Committee of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation for Science and Higher Education.
Cooperative projects can ensure the scientific sovereignty of EAEU countries
“It is impossible to reach the forefront of scientific and technological development without implementing major scientific and technological projects based on our cooperation. It is impossible to implement such projects in an economically efficient way without a large-scale market for their products, and it is the Eurasian economic integration that can provide such a large-scale market,” Andrey Kolganov, Professor of Economics, Principal Researcher, Institute of State Planning, Moscow University of Finance and Law.
The legal and regulatory framework for cooperation between EAEU countries does not cover science and education
“In terms of interaction, we are a little underdeveloped. It is very important to intensify networking among young scientists. We need to form a community of partners who speak the same language, share a common set of values and are focused on solving practical problems,” Denis Sekirinsky, Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation.
“Cooperation in the sphere of science and education of the EAEU member states is usually considered as an auxiliary direction, as the normative and legal regulation covers mainly the sphere of economic cooperation of the states. <...> A number of key problems and barriers stand out on the way to the development of cooperation in the spheres under consideration, and it is necessary to elaborate the legal framework for the interaction of the Union countries in the field of science and education. <...> There is a problem of distortions and imbalances in multilateral educational cooperation, as well as a risk of potential personnel drain in the future,” Vladimir Sipyagin, First Deputy Chairman of the Committee of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation for Science and Higher Education.
“Life presents us with the question of interstate planning so that we do not just try to implement individual projects, but so that we can coordinate on the basis of strategic goals, programmes and the entire structure of our economic development, so that cooperation between the countries within the EAEU will lead to the functioning of our economies as an interconnected whole,” Andrey Kolganov, Professor of Economics, Principal Researcher, Institute of State Planning, Moscow University of Finance and Law.
Formation of common interstate planning instruments for the EAEU
“Interstate planning tools need to be developed and used to address the challenges we face,” Andrey Kolganov, Professor of Economics, Principal Researcher, Institute of State Planning, Moscow University of Finance and Law.
“If decisions related to the harmonisation of higher education systems and areas of research are made at the appropriate legislative levels in the EAEU member states, this will create opportunities for development,” Yakov Silin, Rector, Ural State University of Economics.
Elaboration of a common concept for the development of education, science and R&D for all EAEU countries
“Educational programmes in higher education institutions cannot keep up with the latest technologies introduced in modern production facilities. Therefore, it is advisable to formalize cooperation between the EAEU countries not in a long evolutionary way, through the natural development of rules and regulations, but in an intensive way – through the formation of a common development concept not only in education, but also in science, and in R&D within the EAEU,” Vladimir Sipyagin, First Deputy Chairman of the Committee of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation for Science and Higher Education.
“It is suggested that in expanding inter-university cooperation among EAEU member states, attention should be paid to training specialists in social sciences and humanities to develop the ideological basis of the Eurasian agenda in the context of tectonic changes in the structure of the geopolitical and geo-economic world order,” Ayk Babuhanyan, Deputy Chairman of the Coordinating Council of the International Association “Friends of Crimea”.
Opening of a centre for monitoring the educational potential of EAEU scientific organizations and the creation of a network university
“In order to elaborate a unified concept of education, scientific and technological development, it is necessary to strengthen inter-parliamentary work with the involvement of government agencies and the expert scientific and educational community. To provide conditions for specific joint economic projects both at the interstate level and at the level of economic entities, it is advisable to create a unified information and analytical centre to monitor the scientific and educational potential of universities, scientific organizations of the EAEU,” Vladimir Sipyagin, First Deputy Chairman of the Committee of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation for Science and Higher Education.
“There is a need for some form of inter-state fund, which would primarily finance short-term mobility,” Inna Andronova, Head of the Department of International Economic Relations, Dean of the Faculty of Economics, Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University).
“We need to create foundations which, within our Union, should facilitate the mobility of students and researchers. Universities are the engine of development for the future. Without specialists, there will be no labour market development, no future,” Igor Maksimtsev, Rector, Saint Petersburg State University of Economics.
“The idea of creating an EAEU network university is in demand. Taking into account the experience of the CIS, SCO and BRICS network universities and their work experience, it is necessary to build a network university, otherwise we will not move forward,” Yakov Silin, Rector, Ural State University of Economics.
