Wellbeing of foreign students enrolled in Russian universities: Trends in Development

Analysis of the growth rates of foreign student in Russia

The internationalization of modern education enhances its availability and quality, promotes the introduction of innovative methods in higher education and stabilization of international cooperation. Figure 1 shows the statistical data illustrating (Social Forecasting and Marketing Center, 2015) the total number of students and the number of foreigners enrolled in Russian universities in the period from 2008–2009 to 2013–2014.

The statistical data show that the percentage of foreigners was about 2% of the total number of students studying in Russian universities in 2008–2009. By 2013–2014, the overall number of foreign students had increased to 3.2%.

The Russian Academy of Sciences (the Institute of Sociology) published the projected number of foreign students to 2030. The projection was based on the assumption that the average rate of annual increase in the number of foreigners studying in Russian universities amounted about 9% for the period from 2003–2004 to 2013–2014 would remain the same up to 2030. Of course, there are some exceptions. For example, in contrast to 2008–2009, the number of foreign students decreased by 12% in 2009–2010. However, in 2010–2011 the total number of foreign students increased by 11%. Note that in the previous and subsequent years the number of foreigners increased annually.

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On the basis of this assumption, the number of foreign intramural students enrolled in Russian universities is projected to double by 2017–2018 (218.9 thousand foreigners). By 2029–2030, the total number of foreign intramural students studying in Russian universities is proposed to reach 570 thousand persons.

As noted by Rossotrudnichestvo, educational services of Russian universities must be promoted around the world, the international relation in the sphere of education and science as well as its influence in the humanitarian world must be developed and strengthened.

One of the positive documents affecting the inflow of foreign students in Russian universities is the Russian Federation Government Decree No. 891 dated October 8, 2013 "On Establishing an Education Quota for Foreign Nationals and Stateless Citizens in the Russian Federation".

State scholarship (quota) as one of the factors that affects wellbeing of international students

Increase in the number of quotas helps to "maintain the current level of allied relations with a number of foreign countries" (draft of the executive order prepared by specialized agencies and published on the portal regulations.gov.ru (it is assumed to come into force on January 1, 2016)). According to Rossotrudnichestvo, requests for additional places in Russian Universities have already been made from such countries as Angola, Bangladesh, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burundi, Venezuela, Vietnam, Germany, Zambia, Jordan, Iran, Yemen, Palestine, Serbia, Syria, Somalia, Sudan, Mongolia, South Africa and others. Russian authorities allocated additional means for 2,200 places for students from Asia, 1,200 places for students from Africa, 700 places for citizens of the CIS countries, 500 places to the Middle East, 200 places to Latin America, and 200 additional places to the European Union.

The document does not specify the number of places for each country; however, these data can be obtained from open sources. So, in March 2015, the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of Federation Council (the former head of Rossotrudnichestvo) said that the majority of places in the current academic year have been allocated to Vietnam – 795, and this number will increase to one thousand by 2018.

In 2016, the Russian government will cover the costs of fare, tuition, health insurance, accommodation, and even a higher scholarship for a hundred Cuban students. The "Cuban" model of compensation for training expenses using the budget funds will be applied to the citizens of other countries as well. As pointed out by one of the senators, this project is not only educational, but it provides assistance to our friends (http://www.kommersant.ru/doc/2715149).

It is worth mentioning that this "friendly assistance" will cost the treasury money. The total cost of the foreign student admission is difficult to calculate as the expenses are spread across several different expense lines. However, the document prepared by the authorities reports that allocation of 5 thousand additional quotas in 2016 will cost RUB 206 mln, in 2017 – RUB 826 mln, in 2018 – RUB 1.4 bn, and in 2019 – RUB 2 bn.

"Using state quotas and scholarships for foreign students definitely helps to promote the interests of the country that initiates them. There is nothing new in it – similar practice existed in the USSR and exists to this day in leading academic nations," said Sergey Yerofeyev, the deputy rector in charge of international cooperation of the Higher School of Economics. Russia expects to benefit from this loyalty.

Figure 2 illustrates the number of quotas according to the plan for admission of foreign citizens in 2014–2015 and 2015–2016 to study in Russian universities at the expense of the Russian budget.

Figures 2 , 3 and 4 show the list of countries granted with quotas for training in Russian universities:

• The CIS countries (Commonwealth of Independent States), Georgia, Abkhazia and South Ossetia;

• Asian Countries;

• The countries of Africa south of the Sahara;

• The countries of Middle East and North Africa;

• Eastern European and Balkan countries;

• The countries of Latin America;

• The countries of Western Europe;

• Baltic countries;

• The Nordic countries;

• The countries of North America and Oceania.

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Figure 3 shows the number of foreigners accepted in 2014–2015 to Russian universities on the basis of quota allocation.

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Interestingly, not all the international regions claimed for the quotas allocated by the Russian Federation in 2014–2015. In fact, the countries of Asia, Middle East and North Africa, and the countries of Africa south of the Sahara received more quotas than Russia allocated to foreigners. All the other countries have not fully benefited from the proposed quotas.

However, the situation has changed dramatically in two recent years. Figure 4 shows the number of quotas requested by different countries for their citizens to study in Russian universities in 2015–2016 at the expense of the Russian budget.

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Comparison of the statistical data on distribution of Russian quotas for foreigners in 2015–2016 with the data presented in Figure 4 show a positive dynamics. All the countries have requested a larger number of quotas for their citizens to study in Russia. For example, the CIS countries, Georgia, Abkhazia, and Ossetia need 2501 more quotas, Baltic countries want to increase the number of quotas more than 2 times. Actual data (the number of quotas granted to foreign countries) are still unknown.

Analysis of the data revealed that the interest of foreigners in studying in Russian universities increased significantly. It is associated not only with the active promotion of Russian universities in the global market for education services and creation of new educational programs in cooperation with leading foreign universities, but also with improvement of living conditions for foreigners, which contribute to high standards of student wellbeing.

Satisfaction of foreign students with living conditions in Russia and plans for the future

The internationalization of higher education in the modern world is no longer the question of willingness or unwillingness, but the urgent need and essential condition for the university survival. Every year Russia becomes more and more popular country for studying among students from around the world. Living expenses are much cheaper in Russia. In addition, economic and physical safety, domestic and cultural conditions of life positively affect the inflow of foreign students in Russian universities.

Students coming to Russia for the first time are delighted not only with a high level of education, but also with the country, its people and culture. They like exotic Russian climate and customs. Foreign students also like to study with Russian students and live together in small but very friendly dorm rooms. Russians and foreigners get along very well with each other, enjoy getting together at each other homes for holidays, share recipes of traditional dishes, help each other with homework, etc.

About 80% of foreign students living in Russia have no household problems or problems with tolerance on the part of the locals. After graduating the university, more than 84.6% of foreign students have the intention to find a job in their native country, 13.6% – in Russia, 1.8% – in other developed countries. According to the statistical data, 10.7% of men and 24.6% of women out of the total number of foreign students plan to stay in Russia.

Russia provides broad facilities to practise a variety of sports on the modern sports ground and stadiums and offers great opportunities to visit sport events and to practise sport in all parts of the world. Everyone has a chance to develop his creative abilities. Students enjoy reduced fares for visiting museums, theatres, cinemas, art galleries, cafes, parks and sports and entertainment complexes, where they can spend time with their friends.

Being in an international environment implies adaptation to each other, and therefore we have to learn all the time. We re-discover our own country and the world around us. We hope that our initiative and the project 5/100/2020 will contribute to the change of consciousness in the society.