Rustam Minnikhanov: A comprehensive system for supporting and developing children and youth is being established in Tatarstan

On 29 August at the Center of Unique Craftsmanship,   the Rais (Head) of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov and the Russian Minister of Science and Higher Education Valeriy Falkov  had a meeting with rectors of universities and branch ministers- participants of the V Kazan Global Youth Summit, the main topic of which is “Education in the epoch of global changes :personnel for sustainable development” and which brought together 250 participants from 50 countries,  including nations from the BRICS and the OIC and the Asia-Pacific region.

Speaking at the meeting, Rustam Minnikhanov emphasized that in the epoch of rapid changes it is education that defines the resilience both of the individual and the state in the whole. 

“Our common task is to create a system which will make it possible for every young man and girl find their place  both in profession and personal development in which the commitment to traditional values harmoniously combines with career development,” the Rais of the republic said. 

He noted that a comprehensive system for supporting and developing children and youth is being established in Tatarstan and informed about work being done and the results already achieved.

“We are always open for cooperation and are interested in knowledge exchange. In the business programme of the Summit you have raised extremely important issues such as involvement of young people into science and technologies, the role of startups and AI in the education system and the continuous learning concept. I am sure that your discussions were maximum productive and will foster successful implementation of joint projects,” Rustam Minnikhanov added and noted that today’s meeting is held at the new urban space the Center of Unique Craftsmanship , which among its other tasks is aimed at preservation of national and cultural traditions and transfer of craft skills to the younger generation. 

In his turn Valeriy Falkov thanked the leadership of the republic for hospitality and the high level of the Summit organization. “I would also like to highlight the place where we are gathered today. The Center of Unique Craftsmanship is a major and significant project that brings together education, culture and creativity. At the same time we see how harmoniously and skillfully everything is organized. It seems to me that this approach best meets the task of preserving traditions, “the Russian Minister said.

He emphasized that the development of cooperation with the Islamic world countries in the sphere of education is very important for Russia. “The number of citizens of the OIC countries in Russian universities is more than 260 thousand people, which is 63 per cent of the total number of foreign students in Russia. It should be noted that Tatarstan is among the leaders in the number of foreign students,” Valeriy Falkov said. 

During their conversation rectors of universities and branch Ministers from foreign countries shared their experience in developing the system of education, career guidance and upbringing and discussed issues of exchange of students and scientific experience as well as prospects of the inter-university interaction including that with Russian educational institutions.