Peoples' Friendship University of Russia

The Peoples' Friendship University of Russia (Russian: Российский университет дружбы народов, РУДН) is an educational and research institution located in the south of Moscow that is ranked by the Ministry of Education of Russia as the country's third-best university after Moscow State University and Saint Petersburg State University. It was founded in 1960 as Peoples' Friendship University (Университет дружбы народов им. Патриса Лумумбы). Its stated objective at the time was to help nations of the Third World, mainly in Asia, Africa and South America (at the height of the Cold War) by providing higher education and professional training; many students from developed countries also attended.

PFUR history
The USSR Government founded the Peoples' Friendship University (PFU) on 5 February 1960. On 22 February 1961, the University was named after Patrice Lumumba — one of the symbols of the African peoples’ fight for independence.

Professor Sergey Vasilievich Rumiantsev, Doctor of engineering, Honored scientist of the RF, was the first Rector of the University. He took an active part in the foundation of the University and remained its Rector till 1970. In 1960, Russian language studies for international students started at the preparatory Faculty. On 1 September, the Russian language studies were introduced at the six main faculties of the PFU (Engineering faculty, faculty of History and philology, Medical faculty, Agricultural faculty, faculty of Science, faculty of Law and economics).

The first 288 students from 47 countries graduated in 1965. Around that time international construction teams started to appear, the first student teams of KVN (a Russian improvisation comedy show "Club of the Merry and Inventive People") were organized (later on, the PFUR KVN team became one of the most famous teams in the country). In 1966, construction of a new campus in the South-West district of Moscow was started.

Professor Vladimir Frantsevich Stanis, Honored scientist of the RF, Doctor of economics, became the second Rector of the PFU. It was he who proclaimed the «cult of knowledge» at the University, heading it from 1970 to 1993. In this period, the Peoples’ Friendship University became a major international scientific and educational centre. By 1975, the University had more than 5600 graduates, among them 4250 people from 89 foreign countries. That year, the University was awarded the Peoples’ Friendship Order for achievements in training experts for Asian, African and Latin America countries. The University’s name was changed to the Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia on 5 February 1992 by the RF Government, which is considered the University’s founder. From 1993 to 1998, PFUR was headed by Vladimir Filippov, a 1973 graduate of Patrice Lumumba PFU. He held the position of Minister of Education of the RF from 1998 to 2004, and was appointed the Prime Minister’s Assistant on culture and education in 2004. In the period from 1998 to 2005, PFUR was headed by professor Dmitry Petrovich Bilibin, a 1966 graduate of Patrice Lumumba PFU, Honored scientist of the RF, Doctor of medical sciences. He was acting Rector till 2004, and was elected Rector of the University in 2004. Filippov, professor, Doctor of sciences in physics and mathematics, member of the Presidium of the Russian academy of education, was reelected Rector of the PFUR on 4 March 2005, and has headed the University since then.

The 1990s saw the creation of new faculties and Institutes: Ecological faculty, faculty of Economics, faculty of Law, Philological faculty, faculty of Humanities and social sciences, faculty of Refresher training for health care professionals, Institute of Foreign languages, Institute of Distance learning, Institute of Hospitality business and tourism, Institute of Gravitation and cosmology. The University also developed systems of pre-university and further professional education. 2006 was marked by a 50000th diploma of PFUR, received by Jose Atinensia Villagomez, Engineering faculty graduate from Ecuador.

PFUR today
The Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia is one of the leading state higher educational institutions of Russia. It is the only university in the world every year uniting students from 140 countries. The University has a multiprofile structure of faculties and majors, typical for classical universities of the world. More than 77 thousand graduates of the University work in 170 countries, among them more than 5500 holders of PhD and Doctorate degrees. Specialists are prepared in 62 majors and lines of study. More than 29 thousand graduate and postgraduate students from 140 countries are currently studying at the university. They represent more than 450 nations and nationalities of the world. The University is a renowned research center. It has a team of 4,500 employees, among them 2,826 highly qualified teachers. The University intellectual fund comprises more than 870 author’s invention certificates and 150 patents of the Russian Federation in practically all fields of University scientific research.

Many foreign and Russian political and public figures and outstanding scholars and scientists became PFUR Emeritus Professors. Among them are presidents of Namibia, Angola, Sri Lanka and South African Republic, Gabon and Nigeria; prime-ministers Bangladesh, Kazakhstan; UN Chief Executive Officer on Education, Culture and Science; Director of CEPES.

After 50 years of existence, the University is known world-wide as a major academic and research center, many years in top-five Russian universities.

Goals
The stated purpose of establishing this university was to give young people from Asia, Africa and Latin America, especially from poor families, an opportunity to be educated and to become highly qualified specialists.

Founders
The organizations that have been mentioned as founders of the university are:


 * All-Union Central Soviet of Trade Unions
 * Soviet Afro-Asian Solidarity Committee
 * Soviet Associations Union of Friendship and Intercultural Relationship

Students
Today, more than 97,000 graduates work in approximately 170 countries around the world. The university has 57 programmes with about 35,000 students (including postgraduates) of 450 ethnicities. About 15,000 of the current students are from outside the Russian Federation, while more than 1,000 are from autonomous regions inside the Russian Federation.

Staff
The university staff includes about 5,000 employees; among them are 442 professors and Doctors of Science, 807 associate professors and candidates of science, 91 academicians and Corresponding Members of academies of Russia, 50 Honoured workers of Science of the Russian Federation, 56 PFUR teachers and professors are full members of international academies and learned societies, as well as other general employees.

Campus
The student campus of PFUR is situated along Miklukho-Maklaya street starting from Leninsky prospect in the direction of Volgina street. On the even-numbered side you can find: The main building of PFUR (called «Cross»), buildings of faculties of medicine and agriculture, and also sport complex, policlinic, the archives and the new building of the faculty of the Russian language and general educational disciplines, the building of natural sciences and humanitarian faculties hosting the faculty of Humanitarian and social sciences, Institute of hotel business and tourism (IHBT), Institute for international programs (IIP), Institute of Supplementary professional education, postgraduate department.

The student hostels are situated on the other side of the road (Blocks №1, 2, 12, 5, 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, 9, 10 and 11): Blocks 3 and 4 – Institute of foreign languages and the study-education center, Block 4 – accountancy office, Press-center, «Druzhba» editorial board, PFUR TV, social development department, supply services; between Blocks 8 and 9 – the International culture club (Interclub); Block 11 – PFUR sanatorium-preventorium and faculty of refresher training of medical staff.

Departments
Agrarian faculty 
 * founded in 1961
 * about 1000 students
 * 10 departments
 * more than 100 teachers, among them 26 DSc (full professors), 66 PhDs

Dean – Vadim Gennadyevich Plyuschikov, Doctor of agricultural sciences, professor.

Students of the Agrarian faculty have a unique opportunity to combine basic natural scientific education at the Bachelor’s level with more profound specialization at the Master’s level, including programs on economics and management.

Scientists of the faculty are involved in both theoretic and applied fields. During the last two years several new programs have been added to the existing «Agronomy» and «Veterinary»: «Landscape design», «Standardization and certification», «Land regulation and land registers».

Education at the faculty is becoming more and more interactive and employs high technologies. In the framework of «Education» national project the faculty has purchased state-of-the-art polyfunctional equipment. Vet students study in specialized classrooms with ultra-sound equipment, X-ray and biochemical lab equipment. Students undergo training in agro-holdings, private and state vet clinics.

Profound knowledge, fluent foreign languages provide good employment opportunities. Graduates of the faculty work in 89 countries in theworld.

Faculty of Humanitarian and social sciences
 * founded in 1996 (after re-organization of the Historical-philological faculty)
 * more than 2500 students
 * 12 departments
 * more than 250 teachers, among them 1 corresponding member of the Russian Academy of sciences, 22 academicians of various public academies of sciences, 66 full professors, 118 PhDs.

Dean – Vladimir Anatolyevich Tsvyk, Doctor of philosophical sciences, professor.

In the framework of the general faculty research program «Globalization and multiculturalism» 10 international conferences «Dialogue of civilizations: East – West» have been held since 1992. The conferences united scholars from all the continents, more than 10 monographs and collections of articles devoted to current problems of cooperation and intercivilization interaction have been published.

The faculty follows traditions and makes use of experience accumulated by the departments during the existence of the University, meanwhile successfully introducing new principles and educational technologies.

Modern scientific and technologic innovations are employed in teaching: all classrooms are equipped with multimedia devices; two computer classrooms with laptops and interactive boards have been opened; two classrooms for conference interpreting have been created; exclusive software for conducting research has been purchased.

The faculty maintains close ties and cooperates with universities in France, Germany, Spain, Czech republic, the USA, Canada, China, Egypt, Syria and Iran. PFUR students participate in academic exchange with universities-partners and research centers worldwide. It helps them not only improve professional skills and master foreign languages but also facilitates adaptation to the modern world.

Engineering faculty
 * founded in 1961
 * more than 2600 students
 * 16 departments
 * more than 240 teachers, among them 17 corresponding members and academicians of various academies of sciences, 46 full professors and 110 PhDs.

Dean – Nikolay Konstantinovich Ponomaryov, PhD (Engineering), associate professor, corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences.

The Engineering faculty has all the necessary pre-requisites for preparing high quality professionals. As participant of the «Education» national project the faculty got state-of-the-art equipment.

The main aim of the Engineering faculty is to prepare specialists who apart from their major qualification could head enterprises and run businesses. Thus, students are given tuition discounts at second degree courses. The most popular fields are law, economics and ecology.

The Engineering faculty is polytechnical. Laboratories have the modern equipment allowing research on current problems of world and national architecture and town-building.

Traditionally a lot of attention is paid to language training, students can obtain diplomas of interpreter-translator. Such specialists are in high demand in the labour market.

Faculty of the Russian language and general educational disciplines
 * founded in 1960
 * more than 1000 students
 * 9 departments
 * about 200 teachers, among them 7 full professors and 62 PhDs.

Dean – Vladimir Vladimirovich Yakushev, Honorary scholar of RF higher professional education, PhD (Chemistry), associate professor.

The faculty teaches the Russian language to foreign students so that they can study at PFUR main faculties and other Russian universities. Foreign students have a one-year intensive course of Russian and the basics of subjects they are going to major in. There are 4 departments of the Russian language, departments of mathematics and information science, chemistry and biology, physics, humanitarian disciplines, history and society studies. The faculty has modern laboratories, computer classrooms, video and multimedia equipment.

The faculty preserves and improves existing traditions and develops new fields of activity: new educational programs, standards and tests are elaborated, innovational educational technologies and concepts are worked out. The faculty has a unique methodology of teaching the Russian language.

Teachers of the faculty have been actively participating in the implementation of the «Education» innovational educational project. In the framework of the program «Language environment as a mean of training professional activity of non-Russian speaking students from foreign countries and CIS» five course teaching packs have been elaborated and introduced.

Since its foundation more than 20 thousand foreign students have been taught at the faculty. Every year more than 1000 students from more than 140 countries study at the faculty to continue at 62 lines of study and specialties at the main faculties.

The department regularly holds methodology seminars, students work in scientific societies and participate in Olympiads and contests. Scholars of the faculty organize international scientific-research conferences on the problems of teaching Russian as a foreign language and interdisciplinary communication.

All departments hold traditional thematic lessons-concerts «We speak Russian and sing Russian songs». The «Victory Day» lesson has become an inter-university event for the Great Patriotic War veterans and university students. Student conferences are conducted in Russian. Foreign students are systematically familiarized with the Russian culture.

Medical faculty
 * founded in 1961
 * more than 2300 students
 * 43 departments and 2 independent courses
 * 420 lecturers – 5 academicians and 2 corresponding members of the Russian academy of medical sciences; 24 academicians and corresponding members of social academies, 15 Honored scientists of the RF, 3 laureates of RF State Prizes, 2 laureates of government State Prizes, 132 full professors and 220 PhDs

Dean – Victor Alekseevich Frolov, Honored scientist of the RF, Doctor of medical sciences, professor.

The Medical faculty of PFUR has a first-class reputation both in Russia and abroad; its fame rests on the scientists working at the faculty and the graduates. Nowadays, more than 6400 professionals that have been educated at the Medical faculty are working in more than 110 countries of the world. Prominent scientists whose contribution to medical science is well-known, are lecturing and leading practical seminars at the faculty.

In numerous laboratories with up-to-date diagnostic and research equipment, students attempt penetrating into the mysteries of structure and functioning of the human body and learn how to diagnose diseases and apply innovative methods of treatment. The members of the Medical faculty are actively implementing innovative educational programs aimed at teaching new medical technologies to medical staff.

Functioning at the faculty are: the Students’ scientific society that helps students become familiar with research from the beginning; the Young medical doctors’ community; the Students’ theatre «Hippocrates», the lecture center where lectures in literature, music and history are presented. The pre-university education is provided at the «Medik» medical-biological school (preliminary courses).

Today, the Medical faculty of PFUR is equipped with 14 novel clinical laboratories; in the training process, computer testing and TV broadcasting are used. For refinement in practical treatment, subdivisions of computer tomography, liver fiberscanning and andrology have been created.

Faculty of Science
 * founded in 1961
 * about 900 students
 * 16 departments
 * about 280 lecturers, among them 65 full professors and 160 PhDs

Dean – Viktor Vladimirovich Davydov, Doctor of chemical sciences, professor.

At the faculty of Science, a classical combination of specialties characteristic of universities in Europe is practiced. The academic education provided at the faculty allows the graduates to climb the career ladder in various fields.

At present, the members of the faculty are not only working out innovative programs for physics and physical informatics, telecommunication systems, nanostructure optics, etc. but elaborating teaching materials for these disciplines.

At the faculty, allied subjects of physical, physicochemical, radio engineering and engineering profiles are taught with the extensive use of up-to-date laboratory equipment. Integration of intellectual, material and technical, technological and organizational resources makes it possible to carry out the scientific research of post-graduate students and scientists of PFUR at a modern level.

'''Philological faculty
 * founded in 1996 (after re-organization of the Historical-philological faculty)
 * more than 2800 students
 * 9 departments
 * about 155 teachers, among them 17 corresponding members and academicians, 43 full professors and 120 PhDs.

Dean – Aleksander Georgievich Kovalenko, Doctor of philological sciences, professor.

The Philological faculty is a unity of scholars and practicing teachers who love the language and generously share their knowledge with students and colleagues from Russia and abroad.

Scientific life of the faculty is very active: scholars elaborate various trends, apply for and get grants, participate in international, national and branch conferences, seminars and symposia; there are Doctorate dissertation councils for philological, pedagogic and psychological sciences.

PFUR Philological faculty has been recognized as one of the leading faculties in the field of teaching Russian as a foreign language.

Great attention is paid to studying foreign languages. In 1996, the faculty opened a new specialty – «Linguistics».

Ecological faculty
 * founded in 1992
 * 514 students
 * 8 departments
 * 80 teachers, among them 15 academicians and corresponding members, 35 full professors and 31 PhDs.

Dean – Natalya Anatolyevna Chernykh, Doctor of biological sciences, professor.

At the Ecological faculty students have an opportunity not only to master general educational disciplines but also a whole range of special disciplines in the field of system ecology, human ecology, eco monitoring, eco systems management, eco expertise, radioecology and geoinformation technologies. Such intensive training makes graduates of the faculty very sought after for in the labour market.

Lectures are given by the leading foreign experts in international ecological projects and ecologists from international companies represented in the Russian market. Teachers of the faculty are involved in eco expertise of international companies as well as projects and programs on geoecology, ecology and ecosystem exploitation.

There is a Center for supplementary professional education with refresher courses «Forensic ecological expertise», «Expertise of labor conditions and environment», «Eco safety expert» etc.

The academic-research Center for radiation and ecological control and the department of forensic ecology organize refresher courses for employees of enterprises working with radiation sources «Radiation safety when working with radiation sources».

Faculty of Economics
 * founded in 1995 (after re-organization of the faculty of Economics and law)
 * more than 1500 students
 * 10 departments and 2 laboratories
 * 160 teachers, among them 10 academicians and corresponding members of various academies of sciences, 24 full professors and 74 PhDs.

Dean – Mikael Anushavanovich Davtyan, Doctor of economic sciences, professor.

PFUR faculty of Economics is well known in Russia and abroad. The faculty prepares the world elite in the sphere of business, economists, financiers and executives. Usually graduates of the faculty climb up the ladder very fast. Among them are representatives of Russian business and political elite, prominent state and public figures, ministers and two prime ministers.

The faculty employs the latest technologies. There are about 300 constantly upgraded computers. All departments and multimedia classrooms are connected to the Internet. Conference and lecture halls are equipped with multimedia projectors.

The faculty of Economics cooperates with the leading universities of the USA, Great Britain, Spain, France, Germany, Brazil, Mexico, Chili, Cyprus and China.

According to the assessment of the «RaitOR» independent rating agency in 2006, the Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia was one of the three best universities in the specialties «Management» and «Economics».

Faculty of Law
 * founded in 1995 (after reorganizing the faculty of Economics and law)
 * more than 1800 students
 * 9 departments
 * about 180 lecturers, among hem 3 academicians and corresponding members, 32 full professors and 71 PhD’s

Dean – Victor Fyodorovich Ponka, PhD (Law), associate professor.

The uniqueness of tutoring at the faculty of Law that has its historical explanations is that alongside Russian legislation and law, other legislative systems of the world are widely presented. These are: Anglo-American and continental European, as well as the legislation of developing countries. International law is taught intensively.

Students of the faculty of Law take part in professional legal practices. While working at the Students’ Advisory Bureau at PFUR, students gain experience working with the public and local authorities. In addition, leading Russian lawyers regularly give master classes at the faculty of Law. The training program is aimed at providing special knowledge necessary for the future professional activity. By their 4th year of studies, most students have gained profound work experience.

The PFUR faculty of Law is one of the few in this country offering a Master’s degree in law. Law students participate in international exchange programs on a yearly basis. They undergo study courses at universities in France, Spain, Italy, the CzechRepublic, the USA, Finland, Austria, China and other countries.

After graduating from the University, law students go over to work at educational institutions, law-enforcement agencies, government and state administration agencies, internal and external agencies of foreign relations in Russia, the CIS countries and far abroad and at international organizations. A lot of them have made brilliant careers in their sphere of activity. At present, some of them are ministers, well-known politicians or public figures.

Programmes

 * Full-time programs (undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate)
 * Part-time (night school bachelor's programme)
 * Part-time and independent study specialist programme, 1 week per month evening instruction (often erroneously called a form of correspondence courses)
 * Correspondence courses
 * Double majors
 * Additional education courses

Degrees offered

 * Bachelor's degree (4 years of study)
 * State Specialist degree (5 years of study)
 * Medical Doctor degree (6 years of Study)
 * Master's degree (2 years of study following B.Sc.)
 * Ph.D. (3 years after Masters or Specialist)
 * D.Sc. (2–3 years after Ph.D.)

Summer schools programms

 * Russian language learning
 * Short courses (different areas)

Notable graduates

 * Fatima Abdel Mahmoud, Sudanese politician, leader of the Sudanese Socialist Democratic Union
 * Abed Elrahim Abu Zakrra, Sudanese writer and poet
 * Irina Khakamada, Russian politician, a member of The Other Russia coalition
 * Vladimir Filippov, former Minister of Education and Science of Russia, current Chancellor of the University
 * Ilich Ramírez Sánchez, Venezuelan terrorist and assassin (expelled)
 * Lucy Seki, Brazilian linguist
 * Ganesh Shah, Nepalese politician and member of Communist Party of Nepal (United)
 * Rohana Wijeweera, Sri Lankan Marxist politician
 * Timoleón Jiménez, leader of Farc
 * Porfirio Lobo, President of Honduras
 * Aronmolate Olusegun, Notable Nigerian Plastic Surgeon
 * Mahmoud Abbas, Chairman of the PLO, President of the Palestinian National Authority
 * Michel Djotodia, President of the Central African Republic
 * Hifikepunye Pohamba, President of Namibia