I congratulate you on the new academic year!

Dear freshmen, today a new page in your life opens for you.

At the university, you will acquire knowledge and gain skills that will allow you to find your vocation.

Those who will learn to think independently, make non-standard decisions and be open to everything new will always be able to find their place in life and in the profession.

We will help you in mastering this path. Today, the state pays special attention to the development of higher education and science. So that you can get a prestigious and high-quality higher education, study in comfortable conditions, the infrastructure of universities is improved, their appearance and content are changing.

Modern university campuses are created in different cities of Russia. From the new building of one of them – the Baumanka campus – I welcome you today!

New laboratories with modern equipment are opened all over Russia, student start-up studios are created, universities from different regions are developing joint network programmes together with major companies. International cooperation with the BRICS and SCO countries is developing.

Since this academic year, the universities of the People's Republics of Donetsk and Luhansk, Zaporozhye and Kherson Regions have joined the large family of the Russian universities. Together with the whole country today, their students will continue, and someone begin, to receive higher education. It is gratifying that some universities have been completely restored. And we will continue working in this direction. We will not abandon our citizens and will provide them with all necessary assistance.

I would like to say some words of gratitude and recognition to professors and mentors today. You help open up talents and show students the right professional direction, as well as introduce them to the world of big science. And, besides, one of the most important missions rests on you – the education of the future generation. It is your caring and participation that sets the key moral guidelines for young people.

Dear students, professors, mentors, and university staff!

May this academic year be full of fruitful work and bring the joy of new discoveries.

Study and work for the prosperity of our Motherland!

Minister of Science and Higher Education

of the Russian Federation

Valerii Falkov