Iran attracts more Russian students as educational ties grow

Iran’s advancements in technology and education are drawing increasing interest from Russian students, while the number of Iranian students in Russia also continues to grow, according to a senior Russian official. This is reported by IRNA, a partner of TV BRICS.

Pavel Shevtsov, Deputy Head of the Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States Affairs and International Humanitarian Cooperation, noted that Iran’s dynamic development is becoming attractive for young Russians.

He added that Iranian students – many of whom are enrolled independently – are increasingly choosing Russian universities, with medical studies remaining particularly popular.

“I believe that the number of Russian students in Iranian universities will continue to rise. Eventually, we will see a more balanced academic exchange between the two nations,” Shevtsov said.

Previous estimates have placed the number of Iranian students currently studying in Russia at over 9,000, although no official data has been published regarding the number of Russian students in Iran.

The cultural dimension of bilateral relations is also set to expand, with the Russian Cultural Week in Iran scheduled to take place in Tehran and Isfahan. The event aims to deepen mutual understanding between the two nations through artistic and academic exchange.

Shevtsov stressed the importance of such events in building stronger people-to-people ties, highlighting that Russia’s diverse cultural landscape offers much for Iranian audiences to discover. “These events allow us to better understand each other’s history, traditions, and scientific progress,” he noted.

These initiatives follow previous cultural exchanges, including Iranian Cultural Week held in Moscow and St. Petersburg in July 2023.

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