The representatives of Russian State Hydrometeorological University Tatiana Bikezina, Vice-Rector for Economic Affairs, and Anna Timofeeva, Director of the Institute of Continuing Education, paid a working visit to Gorno-Altaisk State University on September 06-11, 2021 within the framework of the SUNRAISE project. Colleagues from St. Petersburg met with the representatives of GASU administration, got acquainted with the directions of training and scientific work of three faculties - Natural Sciences and Geography, Economics and Law, and Altaic and Turkic Studies, were introduced to the university’s system of further education, and visited its museum complex and laboratories.

GASU and RSHU have been partner universities since 2017. Initially, the cooperation arose within the framework of the SUNRAISE project, during the implementation of which two international summer schools, a scientific conference, several educational seminars and trainings were jointly held. In 2020, a bilateral cooperation agreement was signed between the universities designed to bring joint work to a new level and to continue active collaboration upon completion of the SUNRAISE project. Therefore, the purpose of this visit was to discuss specific joint activities for the coming years in order to ensure the SUNRAISE project sustainability.

The participants considered the possibilities of scientific partnership on the issues of climate change, ecology, and sustainable development. Of particular interest was the discussion of the program for the development of carbon polygons in Russia and the prospects for creating one in the Altai Republic. Further opportunities for collaboration could also include research activities on indigenous peoples, which are actively pursued by the RSHU “Polar Academy” Institute and the Faculty of Altaic and Turkic Studies of GASU. The participants discussed the possibility of organizing joint student practices and summer schools at the field training bases of RSHU in the village of Daimishche and on the Valaam Island and GASU field camp at Lake Teletskoye. Much attention is expected to be paid to the development and launching of joint educational courses and programs, including those to be designed in partnership with other universities within the framework of international project. 

For RSHU team there were also organized study visits to GASU field camp at Lake Teletskoye and Gorno-Altaisk Botanical Garden (GABG) in the village of Kamlak. The director of GABG Altynai Achimova told them about basic activities of the garden and its close cooperation with GASU on various educational and scientific   issues.