Leading Russian regional universities develop international cooperation through TV BRICS

Leading regional universities in Russia are initiating discussions in the international media space on the training of engineering, technical and managerial specialists for BRICS countries and the Global South. In July 2026, Ugra State University, a leading scientific and educational centre of the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug – Ugra (Russian Federation), joined the TV BRICS partner network in the field of higher education. The cooperation agreement was signed by Ugra State University Rector Roman Kuchin and TV BRICS International Media Network CEO and Editor-in-Chief Janna Tolstikova.

The partners’ activities will focus on strengthening the international reputation of the Russian education system and developing cooperation between universities in Asia, Africa and Latin America.

“Becoming part of the TV BRICS media ecosystem and having the voice of Ugra State University heard in BRICS+ countries is a great honour for us. We aim not only to share our educational and scientific achievements with an international audience but also to build meaningful dialogue on this foundation and create new opportunities for students, researchers and partners from friendly countries. Science and education know no borders, and our task is to ensure that as many people as possible are aware of this,” said Ugra State University Rector, Candidate of Biological Sciences Roman Kuchin.

Ugra State University was established in 2001. The university plays an important role in the development of the northern socio-economic ecosystem. The main campus is located in the centre of Khanty-Mansiysk, while branches operate in the regional cities of Surgut, Lyantor, Nizhnevartovsk and Nefteyugansk. Today, more than 10,000 students study at the university, including over 150 international students. The university is a key research centre in climate studies (through the UNESCO Chair at Ugra State University), oil and gas education and information technology. It actively cooperates with industrial partners, including companies in the fuel and energy sector.

Ugra State University develops partnerships with Russian Houses abroad operated by Rossotrudnichestvo; works actively to attract applicants from CIS countries, Latin America, Ghana, Zambia, Egypt and Bangladesh; and participates in consortia and projects with universities from BRICS and Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) countries.

TV BRICS CEO and Editor-in-Chief Janna Tolstikova noted that improving access to quality education and training highly qualified specialists are equally important priorities for all countries, which is why these issues remain at the centre of the media network’s attention. TV BRICS not only expands the international visibility of global topics but also contributes to the development of expert communities and implements and supports humanitarian projects in education and public awareness. These include the “Modern Russian” educational project, the InteRussia fellowship programmes for young actors from BRICS+ countries, as well as programmes for energy specialists from ASEAN and Latin American states. These initiatives contribute to achieving the goals outlined in the final declaration of the 17th BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

TV BRICS education partners include more than 30 institutions from Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Iran, Ethiopia, Cuba, and Nepal. In 2026 alone, the media network welcomed new partners, including the International Competence Centre for Mining Engineering Education in Saint Petersburg (Russian Federation) under the auspices of UNESCO, the Moscow State Academy of Choreography and the Plekhanov Russian University of Economics (all Russia), the University of Havana (Cuba), Oscar International College (Nepal), the University of Gondar (Ethiopia) and the University of Campinas (Brazil).