Cooperation of Russian Pedagogical Universities with West African Countries (the Case Study of Open Education Centers) – JOURNAL OF THE INSTITUTE FOR AFRICAN STUDIES

Author:

Boychuk E.I., Vorontsova I.A.

Abstract:

The objective of the present study is to analyze the nature of Russia-Africa relations in the field of education, with a particular focus on the experience of Russian language dissemination in West African countries and the work of the Centres for Open Education in Russian and Russian Language Teaching. The article considers the historical dimension of Russia’s collaboration with West African nations in the promotion of the Russian language. A particular emphasis is placed on the positive experience of the partnership that was formed by the Soviet Union over decades but was interrupted in the 1990s due to political circumstances. It also presents the current experience of some Russian universities in implementing the projects to spread the Russian language and culture in the countries of West Africa. The article highlights several significant aspects of educational interaction with African countries and describes the practices of cooperation between Russia and African countries. At present, Russia’s “soft power” in Africa is exercised mostly through the promotion of Russian education in African countries, including the implementation of supplementary general education programs, certification of foreign students in Russian as a foreign language, admission of foreign students to Russian universities under quotas, dissemination of Russian culture through the execution of educational and methodological academic activities, as well as professional development of higher education staff in Africa. The primary outcome of the study is the presentation of a comprehensive practical experience of promoting Russian as a foreign language by some pedagogical universities working in West Africa, which contributes to further African-Russian university partnerships.

Keywords:

West Africa, Russian Federation, interaction, partnership, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Centre for Open Education, implementation of educational programmes, Russian language

DOI:

10.31132/2412-5717-2025-71-2-92-105

References:

1. Aigbovia K. (2020). Trends in Russian Language Development in Nigeria: The Way Forward. All Nations University Journal of Applied Thought. Vol. 7. № 2. Pp. 86–100.
2. Aleshkovsky I.A., Borisenko E.A., Gasparashvili A.T., Krukhmaleva O.V. Moskalenko L.S., Savina N.E. (2024). Promotion of the Russian Language and Russian Education in Africa in New Realities. Age of Globalization. № 2. Pp. 65–79. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10. 30884/vglob/2024.02.05
3. Avdalyan M.R. (2023). The Russian language and cooperation in the field of education as a source of Russia’s ‘soft power’ in Nigeria. Lomonosov Oriental Studies Journal. Vol. 67. № 4. Pp. 144–156. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.55959/MSU0320-8095-13-67-4-10
4. Csajbok-Twerefou I. (2018). Russian language teaching in large classes. Vestnik. Modern Russian Language: Functioning and Teaching Issues. № 32. Pp. 83–90. (In Russ.)
5. Davidchuk A. S., Degterev D. A., Korendyasov E. N. (2022). Soviet structural aid to the Republic of Mali in 1960—1968. Vestnik RUDN. International Relations. Vol. 22. № 4. Pp. 714–727. https://doi.org/ 10.22363/2313- 0660-2022-22-4-714-727
6. Deych T.L. (2017). “Soft power” as a foreign policy tool: role in Russia’ and China’ relations with Africa. Journal of the Institute for African Studies. 2017. № 3. Pp. 3–13. (In Russ.)
7. Goumıdı A. (2023). Russian Foreign Policy towards Africa: Historical Background and Future Prospects. İstanbul Ticaret Üniversitesi Dış Ticaret Dergisi. Vol. 1. № 4. Pp. 13–26. https://doi.org/10.62101/ iticudisticaretdergisi.1330285.

8. Inozemtseva E.S. (2009). Russia’s place as an exporter in the global market for educational services. Current issues in the humanities and natural sciences. № 8. Pp. 60–64. (In Russ.)
9. Kassae Nygusie V.M. (2017). Russia’s “soft power” in African countries (using Ethiopia as an example). In: The “soft power” strategy in the context of information warfare. Collection of materials from the International Scientific and Practical Conference, Moscow, 7–8 November 2017. Moscow State Linguistic University. Moscow: MSLU. Pp. 111–116. (In Russ.)
10. Kulkova O.S., Sanusi H.A. (2016). Russia-Ghana relations in the past and the present: a time-proven partnership. Vestnik RUDN. International Relations. Vol. 16. № 2. Pp. 296–310.
11. Martynova E.P., Japi Zh.R. (2022). Life in the USSR through the eyes of African students (1960s–1980s). History: facts and symbols. № 2 (31). Pp. 38–45. (In Russ.)
12. Ndiaye M. (2008). Russian language in the educational system of Senegal. Russian language studies. № 4. Pp. 44–48. (In Russ.)
13. Nye J.S. (2024). Softpower: The means to success in world politics. N.Y.: Public Affairs.
14. Okana-Gakosso G.V. (2023). Russia’s foreign policy in Africa. In: Current issues of basic and applied scientific research. Collection of scientific articles based on materials from the II International Scientific and Practical Conference, Ufa, 19 May 2023. Volume 2. Ufa: Vestnik Nauki. Pp. 156–160. (In Russ.)
15. Okoedion E.G., Okolie U.C. (2020). Empirical analysis of challenges in learning the Russian language in the university of Nigeria. Russian Language Studies. Vol. 18. № 2. Pp. 152–163. https://doi.org/ 10.22363/2618-8163-2020-18-2-152-163.
16. Sheregi F.E., Dmitriev N.M., Arefyev A.L. (2003). Russia in the global market for educational services. Demoscope Weekly. 20.01–02.02.2003. № 97–98. https://www.demoscope.ru/weekly/2003/097/ analit03.php (accessed: 19.05.2025). (In Russ.)
17. Tenkorang R. (2022). Policulturalism and the Place of the Russian Language in the Republic of Ghana. In: Sinyachkin V.P. (Ed.). Bi-, poly-, translinguism, and linguistic education. Collection of materials from the VIII International Scientific and Practical Conference under the auspices of MAPRYAL. Moscow: RUDN. Pp. 116–122.
18. Waliyullahi A.D. (2016). Russia/Nigeria diplomatic ties: an historical perspective. European Scientific Journal. Vol. 12. № 1. Pp. 323–334.

For citation:

Boychuk E.I., Vorontsova I.A. (2025). Cooperation of Russian Pedagogical Universities with West African Countries (the Case Study of Open Education Centers). Journal of the Institute for African Studies. Vol. 11. № 2. Pp. 92–105. https://doi.org/10.31132/2412-5717-2025-71-2-92-105

Для цитирования:

Бойчук Е.И., Воронцова И.А. Сотрудничество российских педагогических вузов со странами Западной Африки (опыт центров открытого образования). Ученые записки Института Африки РАН. 2025. Т. 11. № 2. С. 92–105. https://doi.org/10.31132/ 2412-5717-2025-71-2-92-105

Full Text Article (ENG )

Полный текст статьи (RUS)