International Office

International Activity of Mari State University (MarSU)

MarSU is engaged in the following international activity:

• Development of Scientific and Educational cooperation with foreign institutions of higher education
• Participation in international educational and research programmes and projects
• Realization of joint research programmes and projects in cooperation with foreign partners
• Holding international scientific forums, conferences, seminars and symposiums
• Students, post-graduates and teachers exchange
• Development of educational programmes for foreign students and carrying them out into practice

International activity of the University is coordinated by the pro-rector of International Cooperation and by the International Office.

By this day, MarSU has concluded official association and academic exchange agreements with 11 foreign institutions of higher education, 7 out of which are US colleges and universities and the rest are located in Sweden, Finland, Estonia and China. Also, the University keeps in touch with more than 20 European and North American higher education institutions. MarSU’s most enterprising partners are the University of Turku (Finland), the University of Tartu (Estonia), Bowling Green University (Ohio, USA), Manchester Metropolitan University (UK), the University College of Jönköping (Sweden). Since 1996 the University has won a number of important grants to develop educational and academic exchange programmes, including 3 ones within the framework of Tempus. MarSU and its faculties were also awarded grants by Open Society Institute (Soros Fund), Eurasia Foundation, German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), Finnish International Mobility Center (CIMO) and other international organizations, foundations and programmes.

In 1997, Russian-American International Academic and Business Cooperation Center was opened at the University and played an important role in connecting MarSU with American Universities and Scientific Funds and Institutions, as well as in the development of numerous Continuing education programmes. Under the auspices of American Informational and Educational Centers Network, Russian-American Center advises students, post-graduates and teachers competing for US Educational and Research Work grants awarded by IREX (The International Research & Exchanges Board), Fulbright, Ford Foundation and others. In December 1999, the Swedish Center attached to MarSU was created to present to Mari El Sweden Scholarship programmes guided by the Swedish Institute (Svenska Institutet) and to distribute the information on Swedish history, culture, education, economics, etc.

The University presents French educational and professional grants in cooperation with the Embassy of France in Russia and French educational agencies Campus France and Alliance Francaise. Also, students exchange are carried out between Yoshkar-Ola and Bourge (France) as twin cities.

In accordance with the agreement signed in 2004 between MarSU and the European Commission Embassy in Russia, a EU Information Center containing lots of records and books on every most important topic concerning EU activity was attached to the Research Library of MarSU.

Among Schools of the University which take a most active part in the international academic mobility we can name:

• Law School
• History and Philology School
• Economics School
• International Relations School
• Agrarian Technology Institute

Agrarian Technology Institute students participate every year in LOGO, a project giving them an opportunity to have a practical training in ecological agriculture in Germany.

Since 2004, international students exchange and cultural exchange programmes are presented in MarSU. The International Office of MarSU carry out Work & Travel USA and Camp America programmes in cooperation with Interair. Together with a non-government organization Volunteer Service of Nizhny Novgorod, MarSU International Office presents international volunteer camps programmes in Mari El.

The International Office has already organized 4 important scientific conferences in the region:

• Russian-American cooperation: problems and prospects of its development (October 1997);
• European research in Russia (April 1998);
• The University as the center of regional development (December 1999);
• In what ways education develops in the 21st century (October 2002).

In July 2000 a European Summer School devoted to the EU history, policy and law supported by MarSU was held for students and post-graduates of Russian higher education institutions. As a worldwide acknowledged center of Finno-Ugric Studies, Mari State University hosted the 10th International Finno-Ugric Congress (Yoshkar-Ola, August 2005), as well as IFUSCO 2006 (the 22nd International Finno-Ugric Student Conference).

Foreigners may study at MarSU Schools or take courses and summer school classes organized with the assistance of the International Office. Within the framework of the Russian language for foreigners programme, people from China, USA, Great Britain, Sweden, Denmark, South Korea and Turkey have studied here.

The University hosted teachers and participants of practical training courses from Great Britain, Hungary, USA (including a Fulbright lecturer), Germany, Finland, Sweden, Estonia, Japan, etc. Among the subjects which attract foreign researchers to MarSU we can name Mari language, history and culture of Finno-Ugric peoples, Russian language and literature, contemporary economic development of Russia and the Republic of Mari El.

Partnership

• CIMO (Center for International Mobility) Finland
• DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) – offers studying and research work in Germany
• Education USA – studying in the USA and a network of American informational and educational centers
• CampusFrance (former EduFrance) – Cooperation and Culture Department of the French Embassy in Russia
• Fulbright Program
• Ford Foundation International Fellowships Program, Institute of International Education
• IREX – American International Research and Exchange Council offering grants to study and carry out research work in the USA
• Svenska Institutet (Swedish Institute) - higher education and research work in Sweden
• LOGO
• Interair - Work and Travel USA and Camp America provider in Russia