National Research University “Lobachevski State University of Nizhni Novgorod” joined the Association of leading Russian universities.

Constituent conference of the Association of leading Russian universities was held on June 1, 2010 in St.Petersburg State University. 39 representatives from leading federal and national research institutions agreed to form the Association of universities.

The meeting didn't take long. Minister of Education Andrei Fursenko opened the meeting by saying that the group of outstanding universities has been selected to form a leaders' network capable of solving the problem of higher education reform.

The representatives unanimously voted for St.Petersburg State University Rector Nikolai Kropachev who was elected the Chairman of the Association. 9 more rectors of Russian universities including UNN Rector Evgeni Chuprunov became the board members of the new Association.

The Association's goals will be:
• To assure the quality of higher education when the number of students decreases as a result of the demographic decline;
• To find the optimum model for the funding of higher education;
• To revive Ph.D. programs; to combat the "brain drain";
• To overcome the localization of many scientific schools;
• To create a healthy competitive research environment;
• To assist in realization of educational, scientific, innovational, cultural and other national programs;
• To create numerous resource centers in order to provide member universities with an access to the world class infrastructure.