Representatives of Algerian and Indonesian media outlets and internet channels visited Empress Catherine II Saint Petersburg Mining University as part of a media tour aimed at attracting students from foreign nations to Russia.
The initiative was organized by the Autonomous Non-Profit Organization (ANO) "National Priorities" with the support of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education to demonstrate the leading achievements of domestic science and education. Notably, during 2025, agreements on the mutual recognition of education, qualifications, and academic degrees were signed with Algeria and Indonesia, opening broad prospects for institutional cooperation.
Algeria ranks 3rd in oil reserves and 5th in phosphorite reserves in Africa, and is also among the global leaders in natural gas production. Indonesia leads global nickel ore extraction and possesses colossal reserves of tin, coal, copper, and gold.
"The main goal of the media tour is to attract foreign students and strengthen Russia's positive image abroad. The bloggers admit that they did not expect to see such an advanced infrastructure and friendly atmosphere here. They had encountered standard stereotypes, but upon arrival, they were pleasantly surprised by reality, which they are actively sharing on their social media networks. We face a task set by the President of the Russian Federation within the framework of the national project 'Youth and Children'—to reach a figure of 500,000 foreign students by 2030. This project will help increase competition for state-funded budget quotas distributed by Rossotrudnichestvo, as well as boost the number of applicants arriving to study on a fee-paying basis", - stated Ekaterina Shchegoleva, Head of the Directorate for Special Projects at the ANO "National Priorities.
The program included visits to laboratories, scientific centers, campuses, and public spaces within the university, as well as a meeting with current international students.
"The moment we stepped across the threshold of the Mining University, our eyes lit up! I was deeply impressed by the sheer volume of equipment that helps students not just acquire theoretical knowledge, but also reinforce it through practical sessions—including VR training systems, simulators, and various benches and installations. The conditions are beyond all praise! However, there are a number of factors that concern prospective applicants from Algeria. For instance, they are intimidated by the risk of encountering unscrupulous agencies that offer assistance with admission to foreign universities, the international situation, the starkly different climate conditions, and uncertainty regarding the situation with racism. As part of this media tour, we are attempting to address these issues by speaking directly with citizens from our home countries who are currently receiving their education in Russia", - shared Belkadi Manel, a student at the Algerian Higher School of Business and a blogger with a combined audience of 1 million subscribers across several online platforms.
In 2026, more than 2 thousand Algerian citizens are studying at Russian universities, while the total number of graduates has exceeded 20 thousand.
Boughebrine Chouaib, a postgraduate student at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, arrived in Russia five years ago with the specific objective of enrolling at Saint Petersburg Mining University.
"The university was recommended to me by my research supervisor at the Badji Mokhtar University of Annaba in Algeria, where I completed my bachelor's and master's degrees. He had studied in Russia himself and spoke to us incessantly about the caliber of the local education and the opportunities it unlocks. I received a state-funded quota and am now completing my postgraduate studies. It is a challenging path that demands a great deal of patience, knowledge, and ambition. Grasping engineering disciplines in a foreign language is inherently difficult, and at the Mining University, with its exceptionally high standards, it is even more so. But it is entirely worth it! The infrastructure is outstanding, and the community is open and cohesive. Most importantly, Algeria's reserves will not explore and extract themselves", - emphasized Boughebrine Chouaib.
Currently, approximately 500 students from Indonesia are pursuing their academic degrees at Russian universities.
"The close connection between history and modernity that we observe here is highly impressive. On the one hand, a great deal has been done to preserve the heritage—the Mining Museum, the excellent condition of the historical buildings, and the deep reverence for the contributions of past scientists. On the other hand, there are innovative laboratory complexes for education and scientific research. To those school students who are considering this prospect, I want to say: do not be afraid to come to Russia, and specifically to the Mining University! The level of education here is exceptionally serious, a fact confirmed not only by international rankings but also by our lenses, blogs, and programs", - noted Danang Giri Sadewa, an Indonesian blogger with an audience of 600 thousand people.
"I initially wanted to study in Saint Petersburg. Excellent relations exist between our states. Jakarta actively cooperates with Moscow within the ASEAN framework and is also exploring opportunities for closer alignment within the BRICS alliance. Furthermore, the opinion regarding the high caliber of Russian engineering education is widely held among my compatriots. Indonesians who became engineers here build highly successful careers back home. Finally, I wanted to study chemical engineering and oil and gas engineering because of the vast resource potential of my country, and the Mining University possesses incredible expertise in this field. Am I satisfied with my education? Unquestionably! In terms of the quality of education, the Mining University is a 10 out of 10. But in terms of difficulty, it is also a 10 out of 10. If someone wishes to become a qualified professional, they are unlikely to expect their growth to be easy", - said Mafula Nahya Elfaricha, a student at the Faculty of Mineral Processing.
At present, more than 400 thousand foreign students from nearly 180 countries are studying in Russia. They constitute approximately 8.5% of the total student population.
