15 Russian institutes of higher education became winners of the second contest of national research universities

       On April, 26, 2010, the meeting of the contest commission on selection of development programs for universities, in relation of which a category "national research university" is established, took place.

       By the results of examination of 32 applications of the second contest finalists, on the basis of secret vote, 15 winners were determined, which will get the category "national research university" for 2010-2019.

       "Applications for the second contest of research universities were elaborated on quite a high level, that is why members of the contest commission had a difficult task", - marked the chairman of the contest commission, the Minister of education and science of the Russian Federation Andrei Fursenko.

       The selection was conducted on the basis of analysis of the modern condition and dynamics of development of a university during previous three years, including such criteria as personnel potential, infrastructure of educational process and scientific research, efficiency of educational and scientific-innovative activity, certifications of international and national acknowledgement, quality, validity and expected potency of the represented program of development, according to the list of indexes and evaluation criteria of efficiency of realizing development programs of universities, approved by the Ministry of education and science of the Russian Federation.

       "The victory in the contest is not only a serious support from the state, but also a huge responsibility. The universities have assumed significant obligations, and the ministry will strictly watch for their fulfillment. Due to the state support, both the quality of education and the quality of scientific research in all 29 national research universities should be significantly improved", - underlined A.Fursenko.

       From the federal budget for the state support of development programs for national research universities in 2009-2014 49,8 billion rubles are planned to be given. Co-financing of the programs from non-budget sources is planned in the volume of 45 billion rubles.

       The category "national research university" is established by the Government of the Russian Federation for the term of 10 years. A university by the results of estimation of efficiency of realizing the development programs can be deprived of the category "national research university".

       By the decree of the President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev of May, 7, 2008, there were created the National research nuclear university (on the basis of Moscow Engineering-Physics Institute) and the National research technological university (on the basis of the State technological university "Moscow institute of steel and alloys").

       The first contest selection of development programs for universities, in relation to which the category "national research university" was established, was announced on August, 1, 2009. Development programs of 110 universities participated in the contest. Taking into account the results of independent expertise and two-stage discussion by the contest commission via secret vote 12 universities-winners were selected, which received the category "national research university" and means from the federal budget for financing their development programs in 2009-2018 in the volume up to 1,8 billion rubles each.

       The second contest selection of development programs for universities, in relation of which the category "national research university" is established, was announced on February, 15, 2010. To the participation in the contest development programs of 128 universities were admitted. On April, 19, the contest commission defined 32 finalists of the second contest, and on April, 26 - 15 winners.