Board of Trustees of Kazan University Held a Regular Meeting

Before the proceedings Rector Ilshat Gafurov showed the University’s facilities to President Rustam Minnikhanov.

The first two buildings visited by the guests were the Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology and the University Clinic. The former is being expanded thanks to the former military hospital premises, and the latter is under renovation – soon there will be 6 new operation theaters and a diagnostic ward. Naturally, the Clinic will be fully involved in the educational process.

The next stop was at the Institute of International Relations, History and Oriental Studies. Here the University a unique infrastructure of language and culture knowledge. In particular, many future employees of Korean, Chinese and Japanese companies train here before moving to their respective jobs.

Teacher education was discussed at the Institute of Psychology and Education. The building at 34 Levobulachnaya Street needs about 150 million rubles for renovation and future placement of the Republican Center for Advanced Training of Teachers. All the relevant KFU institutes are nearby. Everyone then looked around the Master Programs Center.

During his introductory speech at the meeting President Rustam Minnikhanov praised KFU's most recent advancements in global rankings, «We see that there is big work underway at the University, and there is still huge potential for significant new projects. We have to determine what support can be given by trustees so that this development doesn’t cease. We will stand for the University’s interests».

Speaking about the rankings, the University does its best to promote Kazan on the global arena, but there must be at least two universities in global rankings for the region to be marked as «recommended» in QS databases for the public.

The convention itself was mostly dedicated to pedagogical education, but was not limited to it.

Rector Ilshat Gafurov said, «We are gradually becoming a university that is really integrated in the economy as a partner. Although there are many legal nuances here, we are doing this job and helping in enhancing the competitiveness of our companies and our territory. We have created various technology transfer centers for this».

Among those is the Catalyst Center within SAU EcoOil. The catalysts made there will soon be tested on one of the Tatneft’s bitumen deposits. Another transfer ground is managed jointly with Tatpharm (pharmaceuticals). Eidos Medical Science Center and Regional Chemical Technology Engineering Center will soon join the list.

The Rector touched on the Lobachevsky Museum that is scheduled for opening this year. This and other projects need financing, and the University seeks sponsors’ help in many of such matters, including the abovementioned Center for Advanced Training of Teachers.

Tatar Studies Education and Culture Center is also in the plans at the University. The investment should amount to 40 million rubles.

Minister of Education and Science of Tatarstan Engel Fattakhov in his response said that teacher education indeed needs a significant overhaul. He supported the Rector in the latter’s willingness to establish a new training center, even more so since the already demonstrated results have been adequate.

President Minnikhanov concurred, «The world is on the brink of the fourth industrial revolution. We are witnessing grand technological changes. These processes require something new from us as well. We have to address the challenges everywhere, including education. That's why training and retraining of teachers becomes especially important. The establishment of this Center for Advanced Training of Teachers will be a significant step in that direction».

The Board decided to adopt several formal decisions to promote all the discussed matters.

The Rector then proceeded to thank the sponsors who allocate funds for special talent scholarships. Among those was JSC Svyazinvestneftekhim – the company’s scholarships for the year were distributed yesterday as well.

The meeting ended in the afternoon with several partnership agreement signings. The new partners of KFU are Kazan Motor Building Company, Agrosila, Finam, and Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Tatarstan.