On May 6th, the State Duma Speaker Sergey Naryshkin and the rector of the Moscow State University Viktor Sadovnichy participated in the ceremony of a commemorative laying of the foundation stone at the construction site of the main complex of buildings of the Moscow State University-Beijing Polytechnic University in the Chinese city of Shenzhen. They saw a large model of the future campus of the joint university, which will be located on an area of 34 hectares. The construction of the university will be completed in late 2018.
As Viktor Sadovnichy stated, "For the first time in the history of Russian education, a joint university of a Russian university – Moscow State University – and a Chinese university – Beijing Polytechnic University – is to open in China. There was no such precedent before. It is not a branch. It is a joint university. It will have the right to issue MSU diplomas. The teaching process will be carried out in three languages: English, Chinese and Russian. The professorate will mainly be sourced from MSU. Obviously, its high level and quality is a strict requirement of the Chinese side."
The Chinese side has invited six other countries to build similar universities nearby. So joint universities with the United States, Australia, Scandinavian countries and the United Kingdom will be built there in the future. "This is a project of the Chinese government, which absorbs the best world experience of organizing education and university life. And we are the first to carry out a memorable laying of the foundation stone," he explained.
They also signed a memorandum of mutual understanding between Moscow State University and one of the leading technology corporations of China – HUAWEI. In accordance with this document, the parties will cooperate in the development of informational systems of Moscow State University, as well as in the creation of the most modern digital environment of the Moscow State University-Beijing Polytechnic University in Shenzhen with the use of cloud technologies.
HUAWEI corporation held a video conference, at which Moscow State University and Novosibirsk scientists demonstrated the possibilities of the use of 3D-technologies in preservation of historical heritage and in the promotion of historical knowledge. In particular, they demonstrated the possibilities of using modern information technologies in archeology, in the reconstruction of the complex of Strastnoi Monastery in Moscow, the Virtual Museum of Constitutional History of Russia and a 3D-reconstruction of operation of the assault on Berlin in 1945.
"When we were taken to a specially built huge tent, I saw Moscow State University. In other words, the project completely replicates the MSU building. Just imagine, to construct such a building right now. Basic scientific directions will be chosen and taught there. These are mathematics, informational technology, physics, chemistry, biology, engineering sciences, economics, management, but with some modifications related to Chinese law. Bachelors and masters will be taught there. Over time, postgraduate students, and so on," Sadovnichy said.
Before the ceremony of a memorable laying of the foundation stone, rector of the Moscow State University visited new buildings of the academic complex and dormitory, which were specially constructed by the city for the organization of educational process in the joint university for the period of construction of the main complex of buildings. This allows to begin accepting students to the joint university this year already, primarily for the Moscow State University's master's programs in English and Russian languages.
Sadovnichy also met with the first secretary of the party organization of the city, Ma Sinzhu, and the mayor of Shenzhen, Xu Jin. They discussed plans for the construction and maintenance of the activities of the university in Shenzhen and the creation of conditions for work of the teaching staff of Moscow State University in this joint university.
