International cooperation as a resource for education development in the new Russia

Abstract

The following narrative is based on the personal experiences of the head of international cooperation department of the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation (1991–1997) and subsequently Assistant Director of the British Council, Moscow. The paper describes the education reform agenda, and its underlying principles set in the 90 s as well as international support provided to this agenda. It describes the transition from the policy of educational exchanges to that of international projects. The author argues that this policy shift was of great importance to education development. The author describes multiple barriers on the way to the reform and the conflicts which undermined its progress and provides personal advice to potential successors who will take over when the current government is no longer in power.