Ufa University and Sierra Leone strengthen their strategic partnership

On May 19, 2026, a meeting took place between Vadim Zakharov, Rector of Ufa University of Science and Technology, and Mohamed Yongawo, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Sierra Leone to Russia. The meeting was also attended by Rita Filipova, Vice-Rector for International Affairs of Ufa University of Science and Technology.

Diplomatic relations between our countries have lasted for more than 60 years, and now university cooperation is reaching a new level. The meeting was constructive, and several priority areas for joint work were identified:  

• Training personnel for the sustainable development of Sierra Leone's economy. The focus is not only on higher education but also on secondary vocational education, which will meet the pressing needs of the African labor market for qualified specialists. 
• Bilateral academic mobility, for which a fundamental agreement was reached on developing two-way exchange – not only to host students from Sierra Leone but also to arrange trips for Ufa University students to the African republic in the form of internships, summer schools, and research expeditions. 
• Pilot project: a preparatory faculty in Sierra Leone. Plans are underway to open such a program at one of the leading technical universities. This will mark the beginning of a new phase of cooperation, allowing local prospective students to prepare for admission to Russian universities without leaving their homeland.

The implementation of these initiatives will be an important step in strengthening educational ties between Russia and Africa and will contribute to the development of human capital in the Republic of Sierra Leone — and this is the main goal of the RAFU Consortium.