HIAST Delegation Marks Two Years of Productive Partnership with SPbPU

Polytechnic University was visited by an official delegation of the Higher Institute of Science and Technology of Syria (HIAST). The Institute trains personnel for scientific and technical research in all applied fields of science and technology in the country.

In May 2022, an important visit of an official HIAST delegation to St. Petersburg Polytechnic University took place, which launched an active cooperation between the two educational institutions. This is evidenced by the signed Protocol of Intentions, which defined key areas of joint work, including Master’s degree and PhD programs, academic mobility of faculty and students, and implementation of joint research.

One of the brightest examples of successful cooperation was the participation of HIAST graduate student Lara Assalama in the internship program at HSCPSC in the direction of «Advanced Control Systems and Information Technology in Industry». Thanks to the Open Doors Russian Scholarship project scholarship, Lara continued her postgraduate studies at SPbPU.

At the moment 13 students from HIAST are studying at SPbPU. 10 of them are in the Master’s program and 3 are in the PhD program. This has become possible thanks to the support of HIAST, which actively promotes the continuation of students’ studies at Polytechnic University.

The representative delegation from Syria was welcomed by Dmitry Arseniev, Vice-Rector for International Affairs of SPbPU, Al-Jundi Waddah, Acting Head of the Syrian Society, Director of the Center for Russian-Arab Cooperation, Vladimir Khizhnyak, Head of the International Cooperation Department, and Evgeniya Satalkina, Head of the International Education Department. The parties discussed further stages of interaction between our universities.

Today we have discussed many interesting areas of training offered by our university. And we are sure that joint work will allow us to reach new heights in education and scientific research. Our strengths are modern technologies, powder metallurgy and welding technologies, information systems, research and development in the field of artificial intelligence, nuclear energy, new materials. Our Master’s degree and PhD programs in English are an opportunity for talented young people from all over the world to get a high-quality international education. Together realizing new joint projects, we will continue to develop and strengthen our cooperation in the field of electronics, telecommunications and computer science, summed up the productive meeting Dmitry Arseniev.

The parties outlined the next steps in the development and implementation of joint educational programs, cooperation in joint graduate schools, mutual inclusion of employees in the members of dissertation councils, and publication of scientific articles.

The cooperation between HIAST and SPbPU opens new perspectives for students and faculty on both sides. We are confident that joint efforts will lead to the development of quality education and scientific research. High achievements and prospects are ahead of us, said Dr. Wael Hansa, Chairman of the HIAST Board of Trustees.

After the negotiations, the delegation talked to SPbPU students and postgraduates from HIAST. At the meeting they discussed issues related to their education and life in Russia.