In Search of the Status of an Educational Great Power? Analysis of Russia’s Educational Diplomacy Discourse

Abstract

This paper addresses official Russian discourse on educational diplomacy—that is, discourse that prioritizes the political rationale for internationalization of higher education. When Russia promotes its higher education abroad and recruits international students to Russian universities on the territory of the Russian Federation (RF) or abroad, it engages in educational diplomacy as part of its public diplomacy activities. Thus, in official discourse, cross-border education should also serve foreign-policy goals. Economic, cultural, and academic rationales do co-exist, but they are instrumental to the political rationale. This becomes evident with the emphasis on the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) as the “target audience” for Russia’s higher education promotion and the main recruitment area, in line with Russia’s foreign-policy priorities; and the understanding that cross-border education would help Russia to enhance its negative external image and that alumni would function as “Russian diplomats” after returning home.