IV International Scientific and Practical RAFU Conference

11
22.07.2026

of the Consortium «Russian-African Network University» (RAFU) and the Institute of the Russian Language of Peoples' Friendship University of Russia named after Patrice Lumumba (RUDN University)

«The Contribution of Russian and African Universities to Regional Sustainable Development: The Russian Language as a Cornerstone of Educational Dialogue»

 

DEAR COLLEAGUES!

We are pleased to invite you to the IV International Scientific and Practical Conference «The Contribution of Russian and African Universities to Regional Sustainable Development: The Russian Language as a Cornerstone of Educational Dialogue» which will take place onOctober 13–14 2026 at the Peoples' Friendship University of Russia named after Patrice Lumumba (RUDN University).

The conference is jointly organized by the RUDN Institute of the Russian Language and the RAFU Consortium.

Objective of the Conference:

To exchange experience and provide expert discussion on best practices of Russian and African universities in the fields of education and science, as well as to discuss the role of the Russian language as a foundation for educational dialogue and a tool for strengthening Russian-African cooperation.

Thematic aspects of the Conference:
  • The Russian Language in Africa: Historical Evolution, Current Status, and Future Prospects.
  • Educational Dialogue: Emerging Vectors for Academic Collaboration between Russian andAfrican Institutions.
  • The Russian Language in Vocational Training: Enhancing the Career Potential ofAfrican Professionals.
  • The Russian Language as a Driver of Academic Mobility and Joint Research Endeavors in the Context of Sustainable Development.
  • Russian Language Centers in Africa: Strategies for Ensuring Long-Term Viability and Effectiveness.
  • The conference invites contributions from university administrators and specialists, educators, researchers, practitioners, postgraduate and master's students, as well as all stakeholders involved in educational or research projects with African partners.

The conference will be held in a hybrid format. A link for remote participation will be provided to all registered  attendees in due course.

Participation options:
  • In-person attendance with a presentation and publication of an article;
  • Remote (virtual) attendance with a presentation and publication of an article;
  • Participation with a presentation only (without publication);
  • Participation as a non-presenting attendee (listener).

Working languages of the Conference: Russian, English, and French.

Registration deadline: September 20, 2026.Please register via this link

Selected papers will be published in the conference proceedings (indexed in the Russian Science Citation Index, RSCI). Additionally, authors are encouraged to submit their manuscripts to the RUDN online journal «Education in Russia andAfrica / Russie–Afrique: Revue de l’éducation / Russia-Africa Education Review»where publications appear in three languages.

Detailed submission guidelines will be provided upon registration.
Please note that participation in the conference, including publication, is free of charge.

Conference Venue: Peoples' Friendship University of Russia named after Patrice Lumumba, Main Building, 6 Miklukho-Maklaya Street; the Institute of the Russian Language, 10/3 Miklukho-Maklaya Street, Moscow, Russia.

Yours sincerely,

Prof. Dr. N.V. Pomortseva, Director of the Institute of the Russian Language, RUDN University

Dr. A.L. Mazina, Head of the RAFU Project Office, Secretary of the RAFU Presidium