The nation’s ministry of training stated two years in the past that it might be elevating the worldwide scholar quota for universities to 30,000 per 12 months – it isn’t clear whether or not this goal has been reached.

Regardless of the brand new quota not being introduced as formally in place college students chatting with Novaya Gazeta, a Russian publication (labelled undesirable by the nation’s authorities), stated they have been learning “freed from cost” because of the quota – and regardless of the battle, one vowed to remain.

“My mum texted me and requested me if I needed to go away Russia. However I stated I didn’t need to. I prefer it right here,” stated Latvian scholar Isidor.

General, 351,117 worldwide college students have been in Russia in 2022 in line with IIE’s Venture Atlas – which was really down from the earlier 12 months, the place over 395,000 have been counted.

Kazakhstan stays the preferred supply nation for Russia – over 62,000 college students selected it as their vacation spot – however experiences of African college students selecting Russia are additionally growing, amid report scholarships being provided for them.

Vladimir Putin himself stated in August that over 35,000 college students from the continent research in Russia, a quantity he goals to develop – this quantity has not been confirmed by the ministry with any official information.

“There’s a robust legacy of upper training hyperlinks between Russia and Africa, courting again to the Soviet period,” stated Treasured Chatterje-Doody, an professional in Russian worldwide relations and a lecturer in worldwide research and politics on the Open College.

“The USSR used these hyperlinks to venture its superpower standing there but in addition to coach successive generations of Africa’s thought leaders and open them as much as Soviet values. Quick ahead to now, and well-respected Russian universities nonetheless keep their good fame throughout Africa for many who need a global training,” she continued, talking with The PIE.

Cyril Ramaphosa, South Africa’s president, additionally stated in August that he was to get “increasingly more college students” to go to Russia to study throughout a “variety of disciplines”.

Leaders met earlier this 12 months at a summit in St. Petersburg, and Russia is trying to open language centres throughout the continent.

“Russia has been actively selling itself throughout Africa as a challenger to an unfair Western-dominated worldwide system that rests on the features of colonialism,” Chatterje-Doody added.

“This concept resonates in numerous African nations the place the legacies of colonialism are nonetheless felt, and it’s solely been bolstered by current Russian army and knowledge affect operations within the area.”

A number of former college students in Russia, initially from Africa, have been additionally drafted by late Basic Prigozhin’s mercenary group Wagner, the place some have been killed.

Russia has been pushing for college students from much less highlighted locations too – the Russian Embassy in New Zealand just lately launched a video on Twitter selling Russia’s scholarships for worldwide college students.

👩‍🎓🧑‍🎓Do you need to research in Russia?

The Russian Authorities affords annual scholarships to worldwide college students and Russian compatriots residing overseas who want to research full Bachelor’s, Masters and PhD levels programmes in Russian universities.

Extra👉https://t.co/x6DHM76fUn pic.twitter.com/DQ1AGjaS8d

— Russian Embassy, NZ (@rusembnz) September 14, 2023

Its affiliation with China within the diplomatic world has additionally caught the eye of the west – and on September 14, one federal college additionally stated it is going to be opening a campus in Guangzhou.

Whereas official information isn’t being given by the Russian authorities – regardless of the impression that numbers are skyrocketing – it’s clear that parts of scholars around the globe are nonetheless selecting Russia.

Whether or not this quantity will exceed its 2021 quota amidst the battle, nonetheless, is a special, tougher query.

The PIE reached out to a number of Russian universities and the Russian ministry of training to search out out their official worldwide scholar numbers – none replied to our request for remark.