Friendship University (RUDN): 65 Years Bridging Africa With Russia -By Sofia Glavina

Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia named after Patrice Lumumba, founded on February 5, 1960, has become one of the key educational and cultural bridges between Russia and Africa for six and a half decades. Since its founding, the university has fulfilled an important mission: providing high-quality education to young people from countries liberated from colonial rule.

In 1961, the university was named after Congolese leader Patrice Lumumba as a symbol of the struggle for independence and progress. In March 2023, the historical name was officially restored, emphasizing the continuity and fidelity to the university’s original mission.

Training: Contributing to Sustainable Development
RUDN has trained approximately 200,000 specialists from more than 160 countries, including many African states. The university’s alumni associations operate in many countries, forming a vibrant network of trust that opens the door to intergovernmental contracts, academic exchange, and joint projects. Many RUDN University graduates from Africa occupy key positions in their countries, becoming drivers of reform in central banks, finance ministries, export agencies, and technology parks.

Today, as African economies grow rapidly, RUDN University continues to play a strategic role in Africa’s development of a new generation of managers and economists. The university offers targeted educational pathways in public administration, foreign economic activity, and industry-specific economics, including courses in Russian and English, as well as internships. For companies from Russia and Africa, the university serves as a gateway to proven talent and local expertise. Through career festivals, B2B sessions, master classes, and meetings with RUDN University alumni, RUDN University helps entrepreneurs find partners and build teams for specific projects.

One shining example of RUDN University’s successful alumni is Roman Karlash, a graduate of the Department of International Economic Relations at the Faculty of Economics. Having begun his career in digital services, he is now the Director of International Business at Yandex, part of Yango, one of the fastest-growing projects in Africa.

Yango, a global ride-hailing and delivery technology platform, operates in more than a dozen African countries, providing millions of rides per week and creating new jobs. Under the leadership of Roman Karlash, the company has not only entered African markets but also learned to take into account the cultural and institutional characteristics of each country.

The Future: III International Scientific School for Young Scientists
From September 22 to October 2, 2025, the RUDN University Faculty of Economics will host the III International Scientific School for Young Scientists, “Russia–Zambia: Economic Opportunities and Prospects.” The school is dedicated to the following important dates:
– The 60th anniversary of Zambia’s independence.
– The 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Russia and Zambia (October 30, 2025).

The goal of the scientific school: students from the Republic of Zambia and the Russian Federation will gain practical knowledge and skills in organizing and conducting foreign economic activity from leading experts, representatives of Russian and foreign companies, government agencies, and international organizations.

Participation in the scientific school will result in the preparation and defense of group projects on introducing Russian companies’ products to the Zambian market. Russian companies such as EkoNiva Group and Novy Vek Agrotekhnologiy CJSC will serve as project clients.

The projects are independent analytical studies of the Russian and Zambian markets, which will identify opportunities and prospects for increasing mutual trade between the countries. RUDN University remains a key educational and cultural bridge between Russia and Africa, training the next generation of leaders and strengthening economic ties between the continents.