RESOURCE POTENTIAL OF INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION OF BLAGOVESHCHENSK STATE PEDAGOGICAL UNIVERSITY WITH CHINESE UNIVERSITIES

This article discusses the issues of international cooperation between Russia and China in the field of higher education, as well as international educational activities of Blagoveshchensk State Pedagogical University and the universities of China. International cooperation between higher education institutions of the Russian Federation and the People's Republic of China is significantly extended and deepened in recent years. It was facilitated by such activities as: the Year of Russia in China and the Year of China in Russia, the Year of the Russian Language in China and the Year of Chinese Language in Russia. The forum of rectors of higher education institutions of the Far East and Siberia, the Russian Federation and the North-eastern provinces of the People's Republic of China that is held every two years either in China or in Russia plays the important role in development of international cooperation.

Currently, BSPU has chosen the following directions for developing academic mobility of young people in cooperation with Chinese universities: 1) Education for foreign students. 2) Student exchange projects. 3) Confucius Institute programs. 4) Cooperation with the “Russkiy Mir” Foundation. 5) Scientific cooperation.

BSPU began active international cooperation with Chinese universities in 1989, when the first contact with Heihe University was established. Since September 1991, after the receipt of the license of the Ministry of Education, BSPU began to teach Russian as a foreign language on the specialty program “Teacher of the Russian Language in Secondary Schools and Specialized Colleges”. In 1993 the Department of Russian as a foreign language was opened.

Since 2003, Blagoveshchensk State Pedagogical University and Heihe University started joint undergraduate program for Chinese students. Currently, this program is also available for the students from Suihua University.

Since 2007, BSPU sends its students for summer and winter language study placements throughout China. Many students continue their post-graduate study in well-known Chinese universities thanks to the Confucius Institute scholarship programs.

Each summer and winter holidays about 70 students go to the universities at Weihai, Dalian, Qingdao and Harbin.

All abovementioned is just a brief description of the available potential for international cooperation between BSPU and Chinese universities within the frames of development of young people academic mobility. Growth of international activities between universities of two countries enhances interuniversity cooperation, deepens and improves the partnerships and closer cooperation between two nations.