Speedy conclusion of Indo-Russia diploma recognition pact will be helpful: Moscow Aviation Institute

It will be very conducive if India and Russia can speedily conclude the agreement on mutual recognition of diplomas and degrees, said Mikhail Pogosyan, rector, Moscow Aviation Institute (MAI), on Monday.

"I believe it will also be very conducive to have a speedy conclusion of this agreement of recognition of diplomas," he told reporters here at the Russian embassy.

Many Indian students, especially those who go to Russia to study medicine, are affected by the absence of this mutual recognition agreement. India and Russia have been discussing the proposed agreement regarding mutual acceptance of degrees and diplomas for years.

"At present, everybody knows that the institute (MAI) is a renowned and world-class university and so are its graduates, although there is no formal document covering the recognition process, but still it has a world-renowned name. And signing of the respective document is very important and it will be beneficial for all spheres of education," said Pogosyan.

Earlier this month, Yelena Afanasyeva, who headed a delegation of Russian senators to promote cooperation between the two countries through Parliamentary Friendship Group, told PTI that India and Russia are discussing "point-by-point" provisions of proposed agreement regarding mutual recognition of degrees and diplomas.

Talking about the new cooperation between the two countries, Pogosyan, also a former director general of Sukhoi and United Aircraft Corporation, said Monday, "We are shaping new kind of cooperation between Russia and India...between the universities, between the industries, and we are looking at creating small enterprises working in high-tech sphere across the sectors. And, at present, there are more than 30 Indian students at the Moscow Aviation Institute."