Un an de véritable partenariat entre les universités de Vologda et de l’Ouganda

A year ago, Vologda State University and the International University of East Africa signed a cooperation agreement. This agreement has become the operational basis for a real partnership that is already yielding concrete results.

In just one year, researchers from the two universities have prepared two joint articles, published in journals indexed in the Scopus database. It is particularly important that these are studies in the engineering and technical field — an area where international cooperation requires not only mutual interest, but also serious professional compatibility of scientific teams.

Two lectures were given by representatives of Vologda State University at the International University of East Africa in Kampala. In December, the Ugandan colleagues visited Vologda: they gave lectures, discovered the university, and took part in discussions on joint research projects. The most recent meeting with IUEA students, dedicated to the preservation of cultural heritage, was held with the support of the Russian society "Znanie" and gathered more than a hundred attendees.

Following the current visit, several directions for future work were defined.

Students from both universities will conduct joint research on the traditional culture of the Russian North, Uganda, and other African peoples. A separate area will be the development of tourism projects — both on Vologda land and on the banks of the Nile and Lake Victoria. Work will continue on the artificial intelligence system for fish farms: it will analyze the state of the aquatic environment and help manage fish feeding. Other educational and research initiatives are also being discussed.

Visits of Vologda State University representatives to Uganda and a full-fledged student exchange are being prepared. There should be no rush; it is very important to ensure in advance the safety and comfort of participants, to build a meaningful program, and to set clear academic and research objectives for each trip.

In one year, much has been accomplished. But most importantly, trust, professional interest, and a shared desire to move forward have developed between the two universities. There is already something to show. There is even more yet to be done.