SISU Advances Sino-Russian Education Ties with ‘Russian+’ Interdisciplinary Programs

Chongqing - As the "China-Russia Year of Education" launches its Chongqing segment on March 18, the city's deep-rooted and productive educational collaboration with Russia is coming into the spotlight. Sichuan International Studies University (SISU), an institution founded on Russian-language instruction, stands out for its longstanding partnerships with Russian universities and its pioneering "Russian+" interdisciplinary talent development model tailored to contemporary needs.

"Our cooperation with Russian universities goes back to the early 1950s, when the Soviet Union sent its first group of Russian language experts to us," said Shao Nanxi, Dean of SISU's Russian Language Institute. Over the past seven decades, that initial exchange has blossomed into a robust network. Today, SISU maintains formal partnerships with seven Russian institutions, including St. Petersburg State University and the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation. Through programs such as "2+1+1" and "3+1(+2)", SISU sends an average of 30 students each year - via state scholarships or university exchanges - to study in Russia as visiting or degree-seeking students. In return, roughly 30 Russian students come to SISU annually, fostering a bilateral platform that enriches cross-cultural understanding and student development.

One such student is SMIRNOVA ANASTASIIA, who uses the Chinese name Li Xueling. She first visited Chongqing in 2012 with limited Chinese and little knowledge of the city, but the trip left a lasting impression. In 2023, she returned to pursue master's and doctoral degrees at SISU. "Chongqing is vast and incredibly beautiful, and the people are warm and welcoming. Whenever I face difficulties in life or studies, everyone is eager to help," she said. "I'm especially fond of the local cuisine - its unique numbing and spicy flavors. I love telling others about this city's charm." During this Spring Festival, she invited her mother to experience Chongqing firsthand; her mother was immediately captivated by what locals call the city's "8D magical" landscape - a term reflecting its dramatic, multi-tiered geography. "A part of my soul will stay forever in this amazing city, and I truly hope to remain here, working and living," Smirnova added.

To align Russian-language education with the evolving needs of both countries' economies, SISU has conducted extensive research among leading manufacturing and logistics companies in Chongqing. The findings reveal a rising demand for professionals who combine Russian proficiency with expertise in economics, trade, finance, or law - skills increasingly sought after as Chinese enterprises expand globally. In response, the university partnered with Neptune Logistics Group, a pioneer in operating China-Europe freight trains, to establish the "Neptune Class." The initiative integrates lectures from industry experts, case-study analyses, and hands-on vocational training, equipping students with knowledge of the Eurasian logistics sector and strengthening their cross-cultural communication and practical abilities. This collaboration lays a foundation for cultivating versatile "language + industry" graduates who can effectively serve national and regional development.

"In 2025, we launched a pilot 'Russian + International Economics and Trade' class, aligning our curriculum with partner universities such as the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation and Nizhny Novgorod State Linguistic University. We are advancing mutual credit recognition and building a transnational, interdisciplinary training model that supports the growth of local 'new quality productive forces,'" Dean Shao explained. "Looking ahead, we plan to deepen and broaden cooperation with Russian institutions, reinforce the 'Russian+' brand, and expand into areas such as 'Russian + Finance,' 'Russian + Cross-border E-commerce,' and 'Russian + Law.' By strengthening university-enterprise and university-local government collaboration, we aim to write a new chapter in Sino-Russian educational exchange."