Record 37,000 African students are now studying in Russia

10:13

By: Azzat Manal

Record 37,000 African students are now studying in Russia

The number of African students enrolled at Russian universities has reached a record 37,000, highlighting the growing role of education in Moscow’s expanding cooperation with African countries.

Jose Fernando Sambo, head of the African House in Grozny, the capital of Russia’s Chechen Republic, said education has become one of the priority areas of Russia-Africa cooperation. He made the remarks on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, where he also serves as head of relations with African government bodies and diplomatic missions at the International African Congress.

Sambo described the current figure as significant for African countries and said joint education and academic exchange programs between Russian and African universities are attracting increasing interest. According to him, such initiatives could help train more specialists needed to support the continent’s long-term economic and social development.

The expansion of educational links comes as Russia seeks to strengthen its ties with African states in several strategic areas, including trade, investment, technology, infrastructure and human capital development. Universities and academic institutions have increasingly become part of these broader cooperation efforts.

The Eastern Economic Forum, held in Vladivostok under the theme “Far East: Development for People,” brings together officials, business representatives and international partners to discuss investment and development opportunities in Russia’s Far East.

The forum’s agenda includes more than 70 sessions covering regional development, investment attraction, international cooperation, technology, logistics and infrastructure, reflecting Moscow’s efforts to position the Far East as a major hub for economic and international partnerships.