HE, better life drive African students to Russia – Survey

The quality of Russian higher education institutions and the quality of life in Russia in comparison to Africa are the main reasons that drive African students to study at Russian universities. The uncomplicated entry process and recommendations from family and friends also play a role.

This is one of the key findings of an online survey carried out to investigate the factors that drive African students to Russia. Altogether, 275 African undergraduate and postgraduate-level students from 28 countries in the northern, eastern, western and central African sub-regions participated.

The results of the survey were presented in an article titled ‘The driving factors for the rise of African student migration to Russia’, published in the Russian journal Higher Education in Russia on 12 August 2024.

Authored by Yassir Mohammed, a PhD student at the Doctoral School of Sociology, and Mikhail Denisenko, director of the Vishnevsky Institute of Demography, HSE University (National Research University Higher School of Economics) in Moscow, the study indicated that the majority of the responding students represent only three countries, namely, Ghana, Nigeria and Sudan, and the majority of respondents are from two Moscow universities, the Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia and HSE University.

Number of African students rising

The study noted that Russia’s current ranking in terms of attracting international students is seventh globally as it has 5% of international students worldwide. These constitute 4% of the total number of national students in Russia.

The study showed that in 2022-23, the number of foreign students in Russia was about 325,000. Of these, 55% were enrolled in a bachelor degree programme, 28.5% in a specialist degree, 13% in a masters degree, and 3.2% were enrolled in doctoral programmes or the equivalent. About 10% of all foreign students in Russia came from Africa.

In the academic years from 2010-11 to 2022-23, the number of African students studying at Russian universities and higher education institutions increased more than fivefold.

Reasons that drive students to Russia

The study pointed out that living conditions, including the quality of education, access to free education, access to cheap internet services, job opportunities, transportation, and good health services could be what inspires African students to travel to Russia.

“Our work fills a gap in the existing body of knowledge, using Russia as a setting, with a focus on African students,” the authors said.

The survey, conducted between February and November 2023, indicated that the quality of education in Russia is one of the major factors motivating African students to migrate – 72.7% of the participants stated that the quality of Russian higher education institutions is better than that of their home institutions.

The quality of life in Russia was significant to 60.7% of the respondents. “Females consider the quality of education to be less important compared to the quality of life, while males consider the quality of education to be more important,” according to the article.

Ease of entry was the main reason for studying in Russia for 31.3% of the respondents, and 4% and 6.5% of African students indicated the fact that their parents or friends studied there as the main reason.

The study pointed out that quality of education and life “still motivate African students to travel to Russia at this difficult time in the global political situation”.

The study also showed that African students arrive between the ages of 18 and 22 and that 73.8% already have an undergraduate degree, indicating a disparity in age groups with previous schooling. “The majority of African migrants are aged from 18 to 22, which means a lot of African students who arrive in Russia at age 22 pursue masters and doctoral degrees,” the study pointed out. “Age and previous education are significant because age on arrival shows the youths’ motive to explore,” the researchers say.

More agreements needed

To attract more African students to Russia, the study indicated that policymakers might need to increase agreements with more African countries regarding scholarships. “This implication may strengthen the African-Russian relationship,” the study points out.

The study suggests that Russian universities and staff should also encourage international students to absorb the local language and culture.

“If the quality of education is not enough to attract international students, governments should look for additional ways to recruit international students, such as increasing the quality of life which may also increase the life standards for local citizens.”

African experts positive

On the African side, Dr James Otieno Jowi, the founding executive director of the Kenya-based African Network for Internationalisation of Education (ANIE), told University World News: “The study highlights some of the efforts that have been made by the Russian higher education sector to improve student living conditions and opportunities for African students to study in Russia.”

To attract African students more to Russian universities, Jowi said “awareness and visibility of Russian universities in Africa must be enhanced, impactful and visible research, capacity-building, and exchange programmes must be put in place with African universities, along with enhancing the participation of Russian universities in higher education activities and platforms in Africa”.

Jowi pointed out that the negative perceptions of Russian society should be changed.

Professor Harris Andoh, higher education policy evaluation expert at the Science and Technology Policy Research Institute of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research in Ghana, told University World News: “African students pursuing post-secondary education in Russia have a longstanding history dating back to the Soviet era.”

Integration of returning students difficult

“Many African students have engaged in scientific and technological programmes crucial for Africa’s development and its higher education sector. However, few studies have explored the impact and significance of these bilateral relations within the Russia-Africa higher education context,” Andoh said.

“This study is, therefore, essential as it provides valuable evidence for policy development and learning within the higher education sphere. One challenge faced by African students after studying in Russia is their integration into the workforce in their home countries. Some believe that these graduates are perceived as less adequately trained compared to those educated in Western European and American universities,” he said.

This highlights the need for African governments to take an active role in shaping the curriculum of these programmes and to address the stereotyping associated with the qualifications of students educated in Russia, Andoh said.

Russia wants to be a key player

On the Russian side, Dmitry Kochetkov, an associate professor at the Peoples' Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University) in Moscow, said: “The study contributes to the ongoing discussion on international student mobility and has implications for the history of Russian-African relations in the field of higher education.”

He told University World News that the standard of living in Russia continues to be attractive for African students, although it is difficult to make predictions about this situation because socio-economic and geopolitical factors play a significant role in determining trends.

“Russia aims to be a key player in the Global South and proposes continuing its policy of supporting ties between Russia and Africa in higher education as a tool for soft power,” Kochetkov said.

“However, the ongoing war in Ukraine could lead to an economic downturn in Russia, reducing spending on higher education, and further isolation of Russian science and academia. Therefore, both positive and negative scenarios are possible,” he added.