ISLAMABAD (IN): Pakistan and Russia marked a significant milestone in academic collaboration as the first Pakistan–Russia International Student Research Conference (2025–2026) was successfully held online, bringing together students and scholars from both countries to showcase joint research and strengthen bilateral academic ties.The conference was jointly organized by the Department of International Relations at the Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science and Technology (FUUAST), Islamabad, the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, Moscow, and the Consortium for Asia Pacific & Eurasian Studies (CAPES).In his inaugural address, FUUAST Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Zabta Khan Shinwari congratulated both institutions on the successful initiative and praised the Department of International Relations for fostering international academic and research partnerships.
He described it as a proud moment for FUUAST that its students were presenting research at an international platform, commending their dedication and encouraging them to continue contributing to knowledge and innovation. He reaffirmed the university’s commitment to promoting quality research and enhancing Pakistan’s academic standing globally.Deputy Dean of the Financial University, Dr. Daria Osinina, thanked FUUAST and CAPES for organizing the conference and highlighted the vast potential for Pakistan and Russia to expand cooperation in higher education and research. She identified media, culture, environmental studies and international relations as key areas for future academic collaboration.
Conference Co-Coordinator and Head of the Department of International Relations, Dr. Faisal Javaid, expressed gratitude to the participants, faculty members, supervisors, students, CAPES and the Financial University administration for their support. He said the department would continue organizing international academic events to provide greater opportunities for research, learning and global engagement.Nine student research teams from Pakistan and Russia presented papers on trade and political relations, cultural diplomacy, media patriotism, artificial intelligence, climate security and socio-economic connectivity.The research projects were supervised by Dr. Sikander Ali Zarren, Dr. Taimur Khan, Dr. Gul-i-Ayesha Bhatti, Dr. Sundas Khizar, Dr. Stepan Vasilenko, Dr. Oleg Novikov, Dr. Veronika Usacheva and Dr. Ivan Pyatibratov.Reviewers praised the high quality of the research, describing it as a valuable contribution to the growing body of knowledge on Pakistan–Russia cooperation. They noted that the findings would benefit researchers, policymakers and academic institutions while creating new opportunities for future collaborative research.
The conference featured two academic sessions moderated by Dr. Sundas Khizar and Dr. Stepan Vasilenko. It concluded with a vote of thanks and a renewed commitment by both institutions to deepen academic cooperation and strengthen long-term research partnerships.The research presented at the conference was the result of six months of collaborative work that began in February 2026, involving faculty supervisors and students from both universities. As part of the partnership, the institutions also announced plans to jointly publish a research book featuring each completed research paper as a separate chapter.
