A French-Russian University meeting, attended by representatives of all participants of the French-Russian University, was held on January 13, 2021. The Russian side of the FRU Council was represented by Vladimir Mau, Rector of the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA); Sergey Sinelnikov-Murylev, Rector of the Russian Foreign Trade Academy (RFTA) of the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation; Vladimir Filippov, President of the Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia (RUDN); Oleg Nagornov, First Vice Rector of MEPhI; and Daria Kozlova, First Vice Rector of the ITMO University. Jeannick Briswalter, President of the University of the Côte d'Azur, Yassine Lakhnech, President of Grenoble Alpes University, Patrice Houdayer, Deputy Director General of SKEMA Business School, Céline Davesne, Deputy Director General of NEOMA Business School, Emmanuel Tric, First Vice President of the University of Côte d'Azur, Cecile Sabourault, Vice President for International Relations at the University of Côte d'Azur, Karine Samuel, Vice President for International Relations at the Grenoble Alpes University, Giovanna Chemini, Vice President for International Relations at the Aix-Marseille University, Virginie Oddo, Head of International Development Department at the University of Côte d'Azur, Elena Simeoni, Manager of International Projects at the Grenoble Alpes University, Christel Dupont-Ferrier, Director for Europe Region of the Department of International Development at the Aix-Marseille University, represented the French side.
The first and one of the most important items on the agenda was election of the new President of the Consortium, which, under the Charter of the FRU, takes place every year. President of the University of the Côte d'Azur, Jeannick Briswalter, was unanimously elected to the position.
The Council members were presented a report on the FRU activities in 2020, which included statistical data, information on past events and projects completed. Despite the pandemic, the number of double degree programs continues to grow, as does the number of students enrolled in these programs: 27 double degree programs with 560 students. In 2020, the consortium held regular online events, including lectures, round tables and workshops. The activities of the FRU interdisciplinary work groups, within which several events were held, bringing together Russian and French professors, publishing joint articles and preparing interdisciplinary projects, were particularly highlighted.
In the final part of the Council meeting, the members discussed future joint projects as well as some organizational issues.