The government will this year launch a scheme to give selected Russian students the chance to study at illustrious foreign universities, including Harvard, Oxford and Cambridge, at the expense of the federal budget, an Education and Science Ministry official told ITAR-Tass Monday.
A supervisory board for the Global Education program is currently being set up, after which the selection process will get under way, said Anna Usachyova, head of the ministry's department of information and regional politics.
Izvestia reported Monday that Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev last week signed a government decree creating the program, which will invest a total of 4.4 billion rubles ($128 million) in the program between 2014 and 2016.
But the government is not letting anyone get away with a free lunch — the plan contains a number of built-in clauses to make sure the state reaps the benefits of its investments.
Only students with bachelors degrees will be considered for financial support, and those that take part in the program will be obliged to work for a Russian company for three years once their course at the foreign university ends. Students who do not fulfill this requirement will have to pay back three times the amount of money spent on their tuition, Izvestia reported.
See also:
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
