1. Indian Students in Russia Present system, challenges and solutions.
By:-
Prof. Sayed K. Washim
Chairman Rus Education
Prof. Tver State Medical University

2. The Diplomatic relations of India and Russia kick started with the visit of 1st Prime minister of India, Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru.

3. History 1st Indian students arrived in Early 1950s. (36)
In 1960, 667 students joined Russian univ.
In 1970s and 1980s, the number doubled.
In 1980s, 2800 Indian students graduated.
Before 1992, 42% graduates in Technical fields and only 20% graduates in Medicine.

4. After 1992, there was an initial drop in number of Indian students.
From 1992 to 2015, almost Indian students have graduated from Russian universities. 76% are graduates of General Medicine.
Present trend – 92% students join Medical universities.

5. Why Students travel abroad for MBBS
There are 9,88,922 registered doctors in India as per the MCI records.
As per WHO recommendations, India needs almost 600,000 more doctors.
Every year almost 1 million students apply for medical qualification exam.(11,38,890 in 2017).
In 2017, total 6,11,539 students qualified NEET but there are total 60,000 approx seats for MBBS in India.

6. Current Scenario Annually approx. 3000 students travel to Russia.
92 % in Medical universities
4% for Russian Language courses.
2 % in technical universities.
1% for Aviation courses.
Others for specialities in nuclear, oil and gas and other humanitarian courses.
A total of 8000 Indian students currently in Russia

7. Universities working with Indian Students*
Tver State Medical University – 800
Smolensk State Medical University – 900
Perm State Medical University – 700
Orenburg State Medical University – 700
Mari State University – 500
Kazan State Medical University – 700
Kursk State Medical University – 500
Volgograd State Medical University – 500
Arkhangelsk State Medical University – 500
And others …..
*Figures are approx numbers.

8. Technical universities of russia
Moscow State University
Peoples Friendship University
Tomsk Polytechnic University
South Federal University
Far Eastern State University
Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology

9. Other Major Universities
Moscow Aviation Institute
Russian State University of Oil and Gas Gubkina
Novosibirsk State University
North Caucasus State University
St. Petersburg State University
Bauman Moscow State University
Moscow State Institute of International Relations
National Research Nuclear University

10. Russia and other countries ????
Russia stands on 9th position in terms of number of international students. (2%)
USA leads the charts with 20%.
Canada, Spain, Singapore, UK are the other countries in top 5.

11. WHY RUSSIA????? Degrees Recognized Globally
Russian Degrees are accepted internationally and hence
Russian Graduates can work in any part of the world including USA, UK, Canada, India, Europe, Gulf Countries and others

12. Infrastructure of International standards

13. Introduction of courses in English Medium
Earlier students had to study 1 extra year of Russian Language, but now they can directly join the university in 1st course.

14. How Universities accept students?
Almost all Russian Universities have tie ups with various recruiters who help in promoting the university in foreign countries and recruit international students. Recruiters generally tie up with universities in 2 patterns :-

15. 1. Universities like Kazan, Volgograd work in this system.
Recruiter admits student in India and proceeds with the documentation formalities
Students arrive in Russia with assistance of recruiter
Students pay fees to university.
Universities like Kazan, Volgograd work in this system.
Average fees paid by the student to the University – 5500 – 6000 USD.
University deducts their fee from the amount paid by student.
The recruiter is paid commission by university

16. 2.
Recruiter admits student in India and proceeds with the documentation formalities
Recruiter collects an amount from the student.
Student arrives in University with assistance from recruiter
Smolensk, Tver, Orenburg, Perm, Arkhangelsk, Mari and others work in this system.
Average fee paid by student – 5000 to 6000 USD
Recruiter pays the fees to the university for the students admitted
Recruiter keeps the commission from the amount paid by the student.

17. Functions of recruiters for Universities
Marketing for University in India.
Accepting applications from eligible candidates.
Documentation procedure including travel formalities both in India and Russia.
Arranging medical books in English language for the university.
Arranging Indian mess in the universities.
Arranging Lectures by Indian professors for training for MCI exam.
Arranging a representative in the universities.
Organizing Festivals of Indian culture and other sports events for Indian students.
Providing support to University in each and every aspect for the betterment of Indian students.

18. 1. Marketing of University in India
Print Media – Advertisements in Newspapers, university pamphlets and brochures.
Electronic Media – TV advertisements, TV shows.
Social Media – advertisements on Google, YouTube and other social handles.
Average cost for marketing of 1 university – 10 million INR per year.

19. 2. Documentation procedure
Recruiters have fully operational offices with adequate staff to handle all documentation procedure for students in India.
Usually the offices cater not only the students but also the parents after the departure of students. So the offices remain fully functional round the year.
Annual cost of maintaining 1 office with staff –
2.5 million INR

20. 3. Arranging books and lectures for students
Recruiters generally invite 3-4 Indian professors in their universities apart from the regular curriculum of university as MCI exam training.
Books for all disciplines in English language are provided to university, by the recruiters.
Average total cost – 1 million INR

21. MCI coaching in Orenburg
MCI coaching in Perm

22. 4. Indian Mess Average cost – 5 million INR per year
Organizing Indian cooks, Spices from India and all other requirements to provide Indian food for students.
Average cost – 5 million INR per year

23. 5. Organizing Festivals and sports events
Apart from the university programs, recruiters organize Indian festivals and Indian cultural programs for Indian students on their own.
Holi, Diwali, Baisakhi, Eid, Navratri etc are celebrated. In some universities, annual Indian cultural programme is organized.
As Cricket is not played in Russia, in various universities, recruiters organize annual cricket tournaments.

26. 6. Providing Support to University
Recruiters help universities in various aspects
Purchasing furniture
Renovation of hostels
Organizing convocation.
Organizing visit of Russian delegations to India
Buying Electronics for various departments…….

29. Hostels maintained by recruiters

30. MCI act 2002
Before 2002, only select universities (about 11) were recognized by MCI and a limited number of students could come.
After MCI act, almost 60 Russian universities are recognized by MCI and the inflow of students to Russia has increased many times.
With the increase in number of students, there has been an increase in number of recruiters

31. Before MCI Act 2002
After MCI Act 2002
11 Universities recognized by MCI
Every year around came to Russia
Around 6 – 7 recruiters in Indian market
60 Universities recognized by MCI
Every year around 3000 students come to Russia
More than 100 recruiters in Indian market

32. There are 2 types of recruiters Type 1 - Those who have a direct tie up with Russian universities. These recruiters operate both in India and Russia. Type 2 –those who do not have direct tie ups with Russian Universities but they are associated to Type 1 recruiters. They work in India only.

33. Type 2 recruiters are generally the main cause of problems for students. They do not understand the proper functioning of Russian universities and make false promises. In the end, the type 1 recruiters are held accountable.

34. Improvements required in Current System
Positive approach for Recruiters
Universities that tried to work without recruiters, faced a lot of problems.
At Present, all Russian universities work with Indian students through recruiters only.
This is a standard practice not only in Russia, but the universities of USA, Canada, Australia, UK, Singapore and others, also work with international students mostly through recruiters.

35. 2. Transparency in system
Rus Education signs a contract with students which contains all details of payments and rules of studying and living in Russia. These contracts are signed by students and their guardians and are attested by Notary. All recruiters must adopt this practice.

36. 3. Understanding the students
Embassy knows the recruiters only through the complaints received from students. If compared to total number of 8000, and if embassy receives about 100 complaints, then the number is around 0.1% of the total students. These 0.1% Students are those who have been rusticated from university for not clearing exams or other infringement of hostel or university rules.

37. Students are expelled from university only if they
Do not clear their exam in 3 attempts. Russian universities unlike Indian universities give 3 chances for clearing exams while the students continue their studies in next academic semester.
If they break hostel or university rules and have been issued 2 warnings before for the same.
If they fail to pay their tuition fee on time.
If they do not clear their whole academic plan till the end of their semester for which they are given at least a months’ time to clear their credits.

38. 4. Quality of education in Universities
Both the Governments should strive to provide equivalency of as many degrees as possible.
Embassy of India in Moscow should try to hold talks with universities to integrate the Indian syllabus into their curriculum.

39. 5. Regular contact with recruiters
There should be regular meetings of all recruiters with embassy officials to understand the problems faced by students and to find out the best possible methods to help Indian students in Russia.

40. 6. Check on Type 2 recruiters
Embassy should try and keep a check on the Type 2 recruiters who make false promises to students. This leads to lot of problems in Russia, not only to the students, but also to the universities and to the Embassy itself.

41. 7. Medical Council of India
Only 1 office and students have to be physically present to submit the documents for eligibility certificate. (Opening of regional centres or outsourcing the said operation).
Allowing the students to change university in some critical cases.

42. 8. Language of Instruction
An admission letter from the university should be provided clearly mentioning the medium of instruction.
Only some universities in Russia provide Full English medium course and others provide a half English and half Russian medium course.

43. Govt. of India, Embassy and recruiters, if work together, can help the Indian students, travelling to Russia, in a more effective manner. Recruiters in universities can give the exact scenario about a particular student or a university.

44. We hope that this relation between GOI, Embassy and recruiters will grow stronger over the years and the Indian students will get maximum benefit from it.