The Department of International Cooperation is a structural unit of the MES of Russia designated for the development of state policy and legal regulation in the sphere of international cooperation, science and innovation.

The principal areas of authority of the Department of International cooperation are as follows:

the preparation of legal texts of the Government of the Russian Federation in the sphere of international cooperation in education, science and innovation;

the development of drafts of international agreements and contracts regarding cooperation in the sphere of education, science and innovation. The development of schemes of cooperation in the corresponding spheres; on the confirmation, acknowledgement and equivalence of certificates of education, scientific degrees and academic titles;

the carrying out of monitoring of international cooperation in education, science and innovation, implemented through the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation, Federal Agencies and Federal Services subordinate to the Ministry;

the provision of informational work together with structural units of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia and interested executive authorities as part of Russian scientific and cultural centers which are situated abroad.

The Department of International Cooperation is headed by a Director appointed and dismissed by the Minister of Education and Science of the Russian Federation.