Islam M.A., Mushketova N.S. Establishing Russia’s Global Leadership in Higher Education: An Analysis of Barriers and Institutional Development Pathways

Md Amirul  Islam
Volgograd State University, Volgograd, Russian Federation
Natalia  S.  Mushketova
Volgograd State University, Volgograd, Russian Federation

Abstract. Despite having strong academic traditions, a developed higher education system, a network of research institutes, and prestigious universities, Russia has so far failed to take a strong position as a global leader in the field of international higher education. Compared to countries such as the USA, Great Britain, Germany, Canada, and Australia, Russian universities demonstrate significantly lower indicators in terms of the number of international students, the degree of internationalization of the educational environment, integration into global academic networks, and presence in international rankings. This study presents a critical analysis of the key factors hindering global competitiveness growth of Russian education. Based on a comparative analysis of the strategies implemented by China, Malaysia, and Poland, the following barriers are presented: a limited number of programs in English, insufficient adaptation of educational infrastructure to the needs of international students, bureaucratic and visa difficulties, instability of the economic environment, and weak international positioning. As a response, specific strategic initiatives are suggested: development of English-language and bilingual content, simplification and digitalization of visa and registration procedures, expansion of academic and inter-university partnerships, active participation in international exhibitions and forums, and implementation of scholarship and grant programs aimed at supporting talented students from abroad. Particular attention is paid to the need for state coordination of efforts to promote Russian education internationally. The results of the study may be useful for government agencies, university administrations,  and the scientific community interested  in developing an effective strategy for the internationalization of Russian higher education. Authors’ contribution. Md Amirul Islam – development of a research concept aimed at the formulation of the factors and causes of the effective formation of Russia’s global leadership in higher education; analysis of the strategic globalization of Russian and foreign universities, as well as barriers and opportunities of globalization; writing the article; N.S. Mushketova – substantiation of methodology and general scientific editing of the article; editing of the article according to journal requirements; generalization of research results and formulation of conclusions.
Key words: Russia, higher education, international students, globalization, education policy, nation branding, language barriers, economic incentives, visa policy, comparative analysis.
Citation. Islam M.A., Mushketova N.S., 2025. Establishing Russia’s Global Leadership in Higher Education: An Analysis of Barriers and Institutional Development Pathways. Regionalnaya ekonomika. Yug Rossii [Regional Economy. South of Russia], vol. 13, no. 3, pp. 59-67. DOI: https://doi.org/10.15688/re.volsu.2025.3.5

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