Russian universities eyeing Indian students for higher education

New Delhi [India], Mar.30 (ANI): Russian universities are reportedly eyeing Indian students for higher education.

Recently, these universities offered counselling to Indian students, academicians and media through video conferencing at Russia Information Centre in New Delhi.

Scientists and researchers of The National Research Technological University of Russia (NUST MISIS) held a video press conference/interaction with Indian media and science enthusiasts here.

NUST MISIS is a dynamic scientific and educational center attracting the best graduates, scientists, and lecturers. The university specifically focuses on integrating science, education, and innovations, as well as establishing a creative environment for unlocking the potential of every student.

Sergey Kaloshkin, Director of the Institute of New Materials and Nanotechnologies at NUST MISIS, and other researchers and experts discussed and demonstrated various research projects they have been working on such as tumors, tissue engineering, devise for early diagnosis, and development of new materials for medical use.

Discussions revolved around developments in the health sector in Russia and India, including in partnership with the international scientific community, which could be applied in various fields and not restricted only to medicine.

Kaloshkin explained that The National Research Technological University is presently providing science education to more than 15,000 students, including 3600 foreign students from 69 countries.

Last year, he said, nine Indian students completed their post-graduation from NUST-MISIS.

NUST-MISiS has a cooperation agreement with Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics in Kolkata, India. They are carrying out their research on developing nano particles that fight against tumors. Apart from that they jointly work with the Indian Institute of Technology in Delhi on fundamental research of magnetic properties of new alloys for next decades.

Alexander Osipov, lead researcher of the Department of Functional Nanosystems and High-Temperature Materials of the NUST MISIS, said the motto of NUST MISIS is to invent technologies to detect and diagnose diseases in earlier stages.

Dr. Senapati Dulal of the Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics in Kolkata and Osipov said work in the sphere of Gold Nanoflowers and Nanospheres is being highly appreciated and funded by the Russian Ministry of Education and Science and Department of Biotechnology, Government of India.

He further stressed that we need to have access to cheap preliminary diagnostic, self-diagnosis applications with preventive approach available for all to have early detection.

The experts also explained that by 2020, NUST MISIS intends to strengthen its leadership positions several areas, including material sciences, metallurgy, mining, bio-materials, nano and IT technologies.

In a response to a question on the pricing of the practical applications these developments for the patients or end users, the experts expressed their inability to predict a concrete price due various market and investment related factors. They, however, opined that with their research work they expect prices to come down by half.

Maxim Abakumov, Head of the Biomedical Nanomaterials laboratory at NUST MISIS, said that despite new methods, developments in treating cancer are still very much prevalent.

"Cancer is directly related to the development of society, the more developed society is more chances of cancer exist. There is certainly some success, as some forms of cancers which were not curable before are now curable. However, there seems to be no end of cancer in next few decades," he said.

Abakumov added, "Cancer, oncological diseases are caused mainly by contamination of the environment, pollution, inappropriate waste management. There could be a combination of various factors which cause cancer and it is not possible to identify one particular cause and say that don't do that and you will not get cancer. Unfortunately, that is not the case, maybe someday they will find the cause but that is not the case as on date."

Among the top ten destinations for Indian students, the United States of America remains at the top followed by the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Germany, China, Singapore, Ireland and the UAE. (ANI)