Today, there are many questions about the possibility for Russian students to get education in those countries many wanted to go to before, primarily in the United States and Europe. Yes, some current students will most likely have the opportunity to finish their studies. In some countries, due to the sanctions, they even earned a scholarship. However, it is not clear what to do with tuition fees when international payments are extremely complicated, and many foreign banks are afraid of transfers from Russia. It is also not worth hoping that foreign funds will help with tuition fees for Russian students in the coming years. At least, not en masse. In these conditions, those who would like to study abroad should pay attention to new directions.

As you know, demand creates supply. The reorientation of the Russian economy to closer cooperation with partners such as India, Iran, Iraq, and a number of others will require specialists with knowledge of the relevant languages and the specifics of working in these regions. This means that those who will be able to reorient themselves to these tasks will become very promising in the labor market.

On the other hand, a large number of Russian businessmen have recently physically moved to the countries of the former Soviet Union, but have not stopped business relations with Russia. Accordingly, they will need new personnel with a completely new set of competencies. Even now, it is not uncommon to find vacancies where one of the requirements is «relocation to Yerevan».

China, Russia's long-standing and important partner, should still not be discounted. Even now, when this country is, in fact, closed, business contacts do not stop. And when the coronavirus restrictions are lifted, the pace of development of joint projects will actively grow, I would like to believe.

Our economic ties with Latin American countries are traditionally strong and remain so.

It is also necessary to mention technological integration, which will be extremely important in the coming years in the conditions of close cooperation, including the field of industry. It is no coincidence that the internship program at large Russian industrial enterprises, prepared by the International Center for Creative Hospitality, is in great demand among students from a number of countries in Asia and the Middle East.

Another promising area is Africa, where we are now opening partner educational centers, which will create programs for the development of various areas — agricultural area and agrotourism, art residences and creative clusters, hotel management.

In general, it can be noted that the Russian education market is becoming much more attractive in the current conditions for students from the list of «friendly» countries. In turn, it makes sense for Russian applicants to take a closer look at the training opportunities in new locations. After all, markets are conquered to be kept. So, this is serious and for a long time.

Coordination needed for a sustainable, competitive position

Once travel restrictions ease as vaccine rollouts begin to take effect, international students and prospects will feel a dynamic mixture of relief, excitement, and anxiety. They will face economies in various stages of recovery and intense competition for jobs. They will be looking more carefully than ever at national policies enabling them to work during study and to pursue employment after graduation, costs of living (especially accommodation) in destination countries and cities, and scholarship opportunities.

The greater the ability of governments and institutions to coordinate to create compassionate, relevant policies and experiences for COVID-affected international students, the greater will be their ability to compete for these students in a post-pandemic world.