Russia and Venezuela expanding scientific and educational cooperation

Valery Falkov, the Russian Federation's Minister of Science and Higher Education, held a working meeting with Ricardo Ignacio Sánchez Mujica, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela's Minister of People's Power for Higher Education.

In welcoming his counterpart, Mr Falkov noted that developing a partnership with Venezuela was one of the Russian Ministry of Science and Higher Education's international activity priorities. He emphasised that this strategic partnership is supported at the highest level, as demonstrated by the regular contact between the Russian and Venezuelan presidents, Vladimir Putin and Nicolás Maduro respectively.

It is worth noting that the Venezuelan president participated in the commemorative events marking the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War in Moscow in May of this year.

'The long-standing friendly relations between Russia and Venezuela provide a solid foundation for expanding our cooperation, including in the fields of science and higher education. Shared priorities and a belief in the fairness of a multipolar world model enable us to engage in constructive and productive dialogue," said Valery Falkov.

In response, Ricardo Ignacio Sánchez Mujica agreed that the leaders of the two states had elevated the partnership to a very high level.

'It is very important to us that the educational sphere develops in the same vein, including in such promising areas as engineering, chemistry, pharmaceuticals, medicine and artificial intelligence,' he noted.

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It should be noted that an additional impetus for strengthening scientific and educational cooperation between the states was the conclusion of an intergovernmental agreement on cooperation in the field of science and technology, which took place in November 2024 on the sidelines of the High-level Intergovernmental Russian-Venezuelan Commission. The ceremony was attended by the co–chairs of the intergovernmental commission, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko and Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez. 

The parties discussed: 

- Expansion of contacts between universities and scientific organizations in areas of mutual interest.  

- Education of students from Venezuela at Russian universities. Every year, places are allocated for Venezuelan citizens according to the quota of the Government of the Russian Federation, and starting this year, foreign applicants can also apply for grant support, which covers tuition, tickets, medical insurance and accommodation. 

- Improvement of the legal framework, including the issue of concluding a new intergovernmental agreement on cooperation in the field of higher education. 

- Holding a Russian-Venezuelan Youth Forum. It is planned that this year the main theme of the forum will be the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory.