On the new cycle of Russian-Latin American cooperation in education

The history of Russia’s relations with the countries of Latin America (LA) shows that interaction in higher education sphere was an important component of interregional cooperation, although its dynamics were cyclical, when periods of upswing were followed by protracted downturns. Currently, as part of the foreign policy strategy aimed at expanding Russia’s ties with the LA-region, the task is to restore cooperation in the field of tertiary education. The purpose of the article is to review previous experience and new options for partnerships between Russian and Latin American universities. Particular attention is paid to virtual student mobility, as well as the inclusion of Russian universities into the humanitarian component of BRICS in the context of its the expansion. The work is based on a detailed study of statistical reviews of official institutions of Russian Federation, as well as publications on Latin American issues of Russian authors. Sources of information also included articles of foreign scientists dealing with the problems of internationalization of higher education in the LA-region. The content analysis method made it possible to filter secondary data appearing in media. The synthesis of extensive information and comparative analysis helps to identify similar and distinctive characteristics of Latin American student mobility in the global education market in different geographical routes, and to determine Russia’s place in this process. In conclusion, the opportunities and difficulties for inter-university cooperation in the “RF-LA” model at the present stage are analyzed.

Russia, Latin America, BRICS university network, “soft power”