Professor Aida Myrzakanovna Tologonova, Ph.D., Rector of the Kyrgyz-German Institute for Applied Informatics (INAI.KG), visited the University of Rijeka Rectorate on Tuesday, June 7, 2022. This is the Rector’s first visit to Rijeka since signing a 2021 Cooperation Agreement with the UNIRI Faculty of Economics and Business.
Rector Tologonova was greeted by Prof. Snježana Prijić-Samaržija, Ph.D., UNIRI Rector, along with Assis. Prof. Marko Tomljanović, Ph.D., Vice Dean for Cooperation with the Business Community and Career Development of the Faculty of Economics and Business, and Prof. Marina Ivašić Kos, Ph.D., Dean of the UNIRI Faculty of Informatics and Digital Technologies.
Rector Prijić-Samaržija briefly presented the University of Rijeka, emphasizing the importance and value of European values, which is why the University opted for dynamic development, internationalization, and openness to foreign students, teaching staff, researchers, and modern trends in higher education.
Rector Tologonova briefly presented her institution, explaining the process of establishment and the influence of German partners. In 2004, on the basis of an agreement between the Kyrgyz State University of Construction, Transport and Architecture named after N. Isanov (KSUCTA) and the University of Applied Sciences, Zwickau (WHZ, Germany), the Kyrgyz-German Faculty of Informatics (KGFI) was established. In June 2018, KGFI was transformed into an independent educational institution Kyrgyz-German Institute of Applied Informatics KGIPI or INAI. The institute’s curricula were developed jointly with German partners, taking into account the trends of rapidly developing IT technologies. Classes are held in three languages - Russian, German, and English.
The participants also touched upon everyday challenges in higher education (brain drain), the differences and similarities between the two education systems, and the impact of the war in Ukraine on education and the economy.
Due to common interests and possible areas for cooperation (e.g. software technologies, information systems, software entrepreneurship, databases, etc.), Rector Tologonova expressed her desire to establish cooperation with the Faculty of Informatics and Digital Technologies, starting with simple forms of cooperation within the Erasmus+ program (staff exchange) and online lectures and/or courses.
After a relaxed discussion, Prof. Tologonova signed the UNIRI Book of Honorary Guests. During her stay in Rijeka, Professor Tologonova also visited the Faculty of Economics and Business, where she had the opportunity to greet some students from Kyrgyzstan and talk to them about the experience of studying in Rijeka, and she will also visit the Faculty of Informatics and Digital Technologies at UNIRI Campus.
