The Council of the Russian-French University met in Paris on October 20. Rector of the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA) Vladimir Mau was elected president of the Russian-French University (RFU) at the meeting.

The Presidential Academy is one of the founders of the French-Russian University (FRU) established in 2016. The RFU was established by the decision following the results of the 21st session of the Franco-Russian Council for Economic, Financial, Industrial and Commercial Cooperation (CEFIC, January 25, 2016).The consortium promotes academic mobility of students and develops joint research projects.  

The Council meeting at the Russian Spiritual Cultural Center in Paris convened representatives of the eight universities that are members of the Russian-French University:  the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration, the Russian Foreign Trade Academy of the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation, the National Nuclear Research University, People’s Friendship University of Russia, the University of Nice - Sophia Antipolis and the EDHEC, NEOMA and SKEMA business schools.

Vladimir Mau, the Rector of RANEPA, was approved as FRU President by a general vote of the heads of the participating universities. In accordance with the Charter of the University (signed on April 4, 2016), its president is elected annually in rotation. Prior to him, the FRU was headed by Frédérique Vidal, Rector of the University of Nice - Sophia Antipolis, who was appointed as France’s Minister of Higher Education, Research and Innovation.