Positive Example of Russia-EU Cooperation in the Field of Education

Our normal business-like cooperation depends primarily on people. The Russian-EU cooperation should be based on professionals and people well-versed in politics and business in Russia, the European Union and its member-states.

It seems trivial and self-evident. But let us ask ourselves: how many people understanding the Russian realities and Russian mentality are there in Brussel's offices and 27 government departments? How many people understanding how the powers of the European Union and its member-states correlate are there in the Russian ministries and government agencies? The answer is obvious: they are few, critically few.

This understanding was reflected in the initiative to create the European Studies Institute (Russian European College). The initiative was taken up by the Russia-EU summits and then it was laid down in the “Roadmap for creating a common space of science and education, including cultural aspects”. The summits gave the would-be higher educational institution a definite mandate, i.e. to arrange the retraining of employees, mostly civil servants, in order to provide professionals for the rapprochement of Russia and the EU.

The creation of the Russian European College and support provided to it was a major important joint project for Russia and the European Union. It became a pilot project for a very promising and future-oriented approach to mutually beneficial cooperation. The thrust of all financial, institutional and substantive decisions tested in it was on the parity. Thus, the European Studies Institute (ESI) is financed on a parity basis: the EU contributes to its budget as much as the Russian Federation does. The same goes for the composition of the Governing Board: there are equal numbers of representatives of the government agencies and scientific community from the Russian Federation and EU member-countries. The teaching process is parity-spirited, as professors from the leading universities and research centers and practitioners from both cooperating parties are invited to deliver lectures and give classes.

A very short period of time elapsed from preparing and taking the decision and implementing it. The first pilot courses were delivered at the end of 2005. And in 2006, the work of the Institute was already in full swing. As soon as all the appropriate agreements were signed and pertaining documents agreed upon, the official inauguration of the European Studies Institute took place. October 23, 2006 is considered to be its birthday. The inauguration ceremony was attended by the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Mr. Lavrov S.V., Special Envoy of the President for the relations with the EU Yastrzhemskyi S.V. and Commissioner responsible for the external affairs of the EU Benita Ferrero-Valdner. The Institute will be three years old in autumn 2009. We'll do our best to celebrate the anniversary by holding a well-prepared and well-organized international conference devoted to new trends in the development of integration processes on the continent and their impact on the Russia-EU relationship. We invite all those wishing to update and use their knowledge in this area to attend the conference.

Three years is the age of a baby. But thanks to the respectable parents, by the rates of growth and progress the Institute seems to resemble Hercules. The new higher school has established itself. It is of great use. The creation of the European Studies Institute has become a positive factor in the cooperation of Russia and the European Union. The attitude towards it is a touchstone for the maturity of the bilateral partnership.

Good results, on the whole, achieved in such a short period of time may be explained by the fact that the approach chosen proved to be correct. The European Studies Institute was created at the Moscow State Institute (University) of International Relations. It could make use of the material base of the MGIMO-University. As long as the construction of the new building to house the European Studies Institute is under way, the latter will be using the lecture halls, classrooms and other premises of the MGIMO-University.

But it is not so much the premises proper that matters. The most important thing is that by that time the MGIMO-University had gained a vast experience of teaching European law and European integration. The Institute of European Law established in the University has actually created a leading academic school of teaching this subject. The European Integration Department has gained high credibility. It came into being thanks to joint efforts by MGIMO-University and the Institute of Europe of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Thus, everything was ready for formulating and addressing new issues.

Currently, a third generation of students sent by Russian ministries and government agencies are taking Master courses at the European Studies Institute at MGIMO-University. In 2007, 48 students completed Master programmes; in 2008 Master's degrees were awarded to 84 officials of ministries and government agencies. This year, the enrolment exceeded 100 students. And it goes for the Master programmes alone, where students learn law, economy and polics of the European Union. Besides, the Institute has various short-term courses which just in two weeks provide the students with a general understanding of how the European Union functions, the basis of the legal system of United Europe and the specificities if its internal market and gives them a chance to discuss topical issues of concern for the government and business.

A special role is played by the Institute's privileged partner, the College of Europe which has always trained and provided personnel for the managing structures of the European Union. Don't be confused by the word “college”. This higher educational institution was created in the first post-war years for addressing complicated and important integration issues facing former enemies. Like in the case of the ESI, only adult professionals with University degrees can study at the College. Many foreign professors teaching at the ESI come to Moscow from the College of Europe. The curricula of both institutions are similar. A major difference is that, discussing the European Union, the Russian professors always compare the laws, procedures, mechanisms and practices typical of Russia and of the EU. And another difference is that a lot of attention is paid to the analysis of the relations between the Russian Federation, European Union and its member-states.

A positive appraisal of the experience of the European Studies Institute at MGIMO-University should not be perceived as an attempt to neglect the existing problems. They are numerous. Here are a few examples. Efforts should be taken to improve the students' knowledge of the major EU working languages. A lot must be done not to let students different academic levels interfere with their studies. More comfortable conditions should be created to reduce the number of those who can't cope with the programme. For this, the Administration of the Institute relies on the support of the Human Resources Departments of the government agencies and other stakeholders. It is crucial to maintain the current spirit of academic freedom, when professors from different countries and with different views of the surrounding world give the students a panoramic, and not flat, vision of the problems and an opportunity to consider them from various angles.

The tasks of improving the teaching process and creating a more comfortable environment for studying are laid down in the new Strategy for the Institute Development for 2010-2013. The Strategy envisages the need for expansion of the range of educational services to be provided by the Institute in the future. This document is regarded by the Governing Board as an Action Plan for the coming three years and for a longer term.

Now it is necessary that the next Russia-EU Summit or the government bodies of Russia and the European Union take a decision on extending the term of the successful joint project providing support to the Institute and its funding. Then, we will be able not only this year, but also in the coming years, to invite all those already working in the context of the Russia-EU relationship or going to become professionals in this area to apply for enrollment in the European Studies Institute, for Master programmes or short-term courses.

You can get more information on the ESI websites: www.eurocollege.ru or www.ru-eu.ru, or leafing through the pages of the journal "All Europe.ru" («Вся Европа.ru») - www.alleuropa.ru.

© Entin M.L., DLS, Professor,
Director of the European Studies Institute at MGIMO-University

*1 Prepared for publishing at www.ruseu.com