Astrakhan State University Specifies Concept of Caspian Scientific & Educational Centre

A report about the progress of work on the large-scale project was presented by Elina Polyanskaya, ASU First Vice-Rector — Vice-Rector for Strategic Development, on December 18, 2019 at the Astrakhan Rectors’ Council meeting.

ASU started preparing for organization of a large regional scientific and educational centre more than a year ago following the provisions of the May decrees of President Vladimir Putin. According to the document, which defined the national goals and strategic objectives in the sphere of science, it is planned to establish at least 15 world-class scientific and educational centres in Russia by 2024.

In 2020 and 2021, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education will hold the procedure of selecting scientific and educational centres and finance them through grants. The ASU project of the Caspian Scientific & Educational Centre also is going to take part in the selection process.

The concept of the Caspian Scientific & Educational Centre was discussed on July 5-6 in Astrakhan at the strategic session “Caspian Scientific & Educational Centre — Industrial Future of Southern Russia”, involving delegates from Dagestan and Kalmykiya. The session and other following events specified the pool of the Centre participants and determined the main areas of research.

Speaking about the top-priority tasks of the Caspian Centre organizing team, Elina Polyanskaya marked out a decision on the organizational form of the future unit, creation of supervisory and management boards, as well as presentation of the project at a meeting, chaired by the Astrakhan Governor. In order to discuss the issues, it is planned to hold a strategic session with representatives of Astrakhan HEIs, industrial partners and members of the regional government in mid-January 2020.