GREETING FROM THE MINISTER OF SCIENCE AND THE HIGHER EDUCATION OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION MIKHAIL KOTYUKOV TO STUDENTS, LEADERSHIP AND TEACHERS OF RUSSIAN UNIVERSITY FOR THE DAY OF KNOWLEDGE

Dear friends!

On behalf of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation and personally from myself, I congratulate you on the start of the new academic year!

The Day of Knowledge is the main holiday for students, post-graduate students and teachers of Russian universities, for all those who develop the system of national education. Each academic year is special, it brings new discoveries, new ideas and opportunities.

Today, the state has high hopes for higher education. It is the current generation of students and teachers that can provide an innovative breakthrough that will lead Russia to the number of countries that are leaders in scientific and technological development.

To this end, in the coming years Russian universities will have to change seriously: teaching methods, approaches to the organization of the educational process, qualification work — everything will become more oriented towards practical scientific and professional activities. Russian universities will become more open in terms of international cooperation, and their graduates will be competitive in the Russian and foreign labor markets.

As a result, Russia should enter the top ten of the leading countries in terms of the presence of national universities in the global ranking of the top 500 best universities in the world. Each student and teacher can contribute to the process of development and modernization of the Russian higher school. From your support, courage and initiative, creativity and responsibility depends the success of the reforms that will ensure Russia a worthy place in the world system of knowledge and innovation!

I wish you success in all your endeavors in the new academic year!

Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation

Mikhail Kotyukov.