Accra, Nov. 6, GNA – The Centre for Public Diplomacy (CPD), a think tank has assured that Russia remains safe for Ghanaian students, as a delegation of leading Russian universities visits Ghana to deepen academic cooperation and expand study opportunities.
The delegation includes representatives of Novosibirsk State Technical University (NSTU NETI), Saint Petersburg State University (SPbU), and the Russian University of Transport (MIIT).
They are part of the Consortium of Russian Universities for Cooperation with African Countries, established under the CPD to promote educational collaboration across the continent.
At a media briefing in Accra, Mr. Micah Zing, Director of International Communications and Co-Founder of the CPD Representative Office in Ghana, said public perceptions that Russia was unsafe were not supported by the lived experiences of Ghanaian students and residents in Russian cities.
He said students were located in cities far from the areas affected by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and that university systems had measures to support student welfare and safety.
“I have been in Russia for the past four or five years, including when the crisis began. Students are safe. Russia is a safe place for people to live in,” he said.
“What we hear or see in the media is not necessarily what is happening. Many of us believed Russia was not safe until we got there. But the country has put in measures to ensure that students do not go across jurisdictions that could put them in difficult situations,” he said.
The delegation is expected to hold discussions with the University of Ghana, the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Valley View University, University of Education, Winneba, Prempeh College, and the University for Business and Integrated Development Studies (UBIDS) in Wa.
The talks will focus on joint academic programmes, Russian language training, student and faculty exchanges, and research cooperation.
Mr. Zing said the CPD works closely with the Russian Embassy in Accra and the Ghanaian Embassy in Moscow to ensure students have access to support systems.
“We have contact lines for students to reach us when there are issues, whether visa, academic, or adaptation challenges. We work with both embassies to address concerns,” he said.
Dr. Natalia Krasovskaya, Executive Director of the CPD, Russia, said that while opportunities for Ghanaian students in Russia continued to expand, language remained a key barrier, as universities required basic proficiency in Russian.
She said the CPD had begun training students in the Russian language before they travel to ensure smooth academic integration.
“The quality of Russian education is very high but the cost is low,” she said.
The Centre for Public Diplomacy is implementing the “Partner Russian Houses” initiative aimed at strengthening humanitarian and educational cooperation between Russia and African countries.
The initiative focuses on expanding access to Russian language education, promoting cultural and knowledge exchange, and developing long-term academic partnerships.
GNA