Electronic Internationalization: Internet Resources of Russian Universities ()

Key Chapter Title List

1. Visual Content of Russian University English-Russian Bilingual Websites
2. Internet Resources for Promoting Russian Universities in the Digital Space of Central Asian Countries
3. E-Internationalization of Russian Universities: Promotion in the Central Asian Education Market
4. Group One – "Leaders"
5. Group Two – "Catching Up"
6. Group Three – "Laggards"
7. Research Methodology
8. Survey Results
9. Conclusions and Recommendations
10. Commonly Used Digital Tools in Central Asia
11. Recommendations for the Promotion and Presence of Russian Universities in the Central Asian Digital Space
12. Appendix (Including University List, Evaluation Parameters, etc.)

Document Introduction

Against the backdrop of accelerating global education digitalization and frequent international talent mobility, internet resources have become a core tool for universities in brand positioning, attracting international students, and conducting academic cooperation. In 2024, the Russian International Affairs Committee (RSCM) completed the ninth edition of its annual analytical report, focusing on the e-internationalization development of Russian university internet resources, with particular attention to their promotion and competitiveness enhancement in the Central Asian education market.

The core research subject of the report is the English-Russian bilingual websites of 69 Russian universities. Using a self-developed, novel evaluation method centered around 14 thematic modules and 36 evaluation parameters, the report focuses on analyzing the quality and effectiveness of visual content. Unlike previous evaluation models that emphasized textual content, this study for the first time treats visual elements as a core evaluation metric, aligning with the digital information consumption habits of contemporary youth and the communication trends of educational internationalization.

Based on the evaluation results, the report categorizes university websites into three groups – "Leaders," "Catching Up," and "Laggards" – and establishes a ranking system, systematically outlining the strengths and weaknesses of each group across various functional modules. Simultaneously, the report conducts a specialized study on the Central Asian region, analyzing the usage characteristics of mainstream digital tools (social networks, search engines, instant messaging software) in the area. Through a survey of 13,388 Central Asian students at Russian universities, it identifies key factors in students' university selection, information acquisition channels, and core issues faced during website usage.

The study found that the overall competitiveness of Russian universities' Russian-language websites is superior to their English-language counterparts. Both types of websites generally exhibit low information completion rates in key modules such as "Faculties and Majors" and "Educational Programs." Central Asian students place high importance on factors like employment prospects, diploma recognition, education costs, and accommodation conditions. They primarily obtain information through personal recommendations, official university websites, and educational portals. Based on these findings, the report proposes targeted optimization recommendations, including improving core module information on bilingual websites, adapting to Central Asian digital communication channels, and strengthening brand building and reputation management. This provides practical guidance for Russian universities to enhance their international appeal and deepen their engagement in the Central Asian education market.