Ministry of Education and Science: Most University Dormitories Require Renovation
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Loading... - Lester Kendrick
- 24 Jul 2024
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According to the Ministry of Education and Science, over 753,000 students currently reside in university dormitories across Russia, which accounts for one-sixth of the entire student population. Nearly half a million of these students are full-time budget department attendees. However, most of these dormitories were constructed during the Soviet era and no longer meet modern standards, necessitating significant upgrades.
Recent Renovations and Future Plans
Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation Airat Gatiyatov highlighted recent efforts to improve student living conditions. "Over the past three years, we have carried out major repairs on dormitories covering over 2.3 million square meters, improving living conditions for 370,000 students," Gatiyatov said. Additionally, by the end of the year, another 420,000 square meters of residential premises will be renovated, benefiting nearly 80,000 students.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has set a goal to conduct major repairs on 800 university dormitories by 2030. This ambitious plan underscores the critical need for modernized student accommodations.
Student Preferences and New Initiatives
Despite these efforts, many students opt for renting apartments or rooms instead of staying in dormitories. At Penza State University, about 20% of out-of-town students on state-funded scholarships prefer to live in rented apartments. This trend is influenced by the high cost of renting apartments in large cities.
Alexander Mazhuga, First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Science and Higher Education, proposed an alternative. "We are discussing the idea of creating a separate room stock at universities from dormitories. This could become a serious alternative to commercial rent. Those who choose this type of accommodation will receive modern, comfortable housing at a lower cost than renting an apartment, and the funds earned by the university will be used specifically for repairs and expansion of the university dormitories," Mazhuga stated.
Modern Campus Projects
In addition to dormitory renovations, a large-scale project aims to create 25 modern campuses by 2030, which will accommodate 62,000 people. Currently, 17 of these campuses are in the design and construction phases. These new campuses will feature state-of-the-art infrastructure, including modern classrooms, scientific laboratories, technology parks, and comfortable living spaces. The Ministry of Education and Science's press service announced that eight universities, where construction of student campuses will commence, will be selected this year. The first modern campus will be built at Bauman Moscow State Technical University.
These initiatives are part of a broader strategy to enhance the living and learning environments for Russian students, ensuring they have access to modern, comfortable, and well-equipped facilities.
