Republic of Kalmykia

Russian-Kazakhstan International Conference “Actual Problems of Socio-Economical development of the Caspian Region in the Context of Innovation Economics”

On May 18th, 2012 in the House of the Government of the Republic of Kalmykia a ceremony of opening of the Russian-Kazakhstan International Conference “Actual Problems of Socio-Economical development of the Caspian Region in the Context of Innovation Economics” took place.

In charge of the organization of the ceremony were the Government of the Republic of Kalmykia, the Association of the Universities of the Caspian Countries and Kalmyk State University (KalmSU).

An opening word at the ceremony was given to Councilor of the Department of International Cooperation of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation Viktor Petrenko, rector of KalmSU Badma Salaev, vice-premiere of the Republic of Kalmykia, Minister of Education and Science of the Republic of Kalmykia Larisa Vasilyeva, vice-speaker of the People’s Khural of the Republic of Kalmykia Khongor Elbikov, representatives of the Department of International Cooperation of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation and the administration of the universities of Kazakhstan and KalmSU.

Questions discussed at the Conference concerned all spheres of life of Kazakhstan and Kalmykia. Special attention was given to the possibilities of academic exchange and university cooperation.

It was also mentioned that only 50 higher educational institutions of Russia possess the right to recruit foreign students independently, and only 2 Russian universities in the Association of the Universities of the Caspian countries possess this right: Astrakhan State University and Kalmyk State University.

At the same day in the Scientific Library of Kalmyk State University a Center of Kazakhstan Science and Culture was opened. The ceremony started with the national anthems of Russia, Kazakhstan and Kalmykia. In autumn 2012 a Center of Kalmyk Science and Culture will be opened in the city of Atyrau, Kazakhstan.