Russian-Chinese Interaction: PR experts Shared their Experiences

PR and communication experts from Russian universities that take part in 5-100 Academic Excellence Program visited leading Chinese universities and the largest media holdings so as to exchange experience and make new contacts.

Apart from ITMO University`s experts representatives of Ural Federal University, Tomsk State University, National University of Science and Technology MISiS, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology State University and others also met with Chinese colleagues. The program included presentations, lectures and discussions on such important issues as PR departments` activities, science communication, brand making, international student recruiting, communication with alumni community and so forth. Chinese party was represented by experts of leading universities of China, leaders of QS BRICS ranking. Thus Russian delegation visited Tsinghua University, (QS BRICS Ranking – 1^st place, QS World University Ranking – 25th), Fudan University (QS BRICS Ranking – 3rd), Shanghai Jiao Tong University (QS BRICS Ranking – 6^rd), Beihang university (QS BRICS Ranking – 30^st place).

“Currently People's Republic of China carries on a policy of rapprochement with Russia and its` universities,” said Polina Petrusha, head of Internationalization Office. “Many Chinese universities look for partners in Russia. Thus we are going to develop existent projects and initiate new ones because it`s the very time to do that.”

Taking part in excursions, official and informal meetings, Russian experts learned about academic and educational activities of China and reached common interests with international colleagues.

An interaction between academic area and its public is impossible without the media. Along with other developed countries People's Republic of China pays great attention to these activities. Thus Chinese party invited Russians to visit Phoenix Satellite Television Holdings Limited, Global Times newspaper, Schanghai United Media Group and China Radio International where experts discussed science communication issues.

“The meeting gave rise to several potential joint projects such as press-tours for Chinese journalists, educational and research programs, Russian Days in Chinese universities as well as activities connected with the Year of Russian-Chinese media,” noted Kirill Aleksandrov, head of Events Office of ITMO University.