The First Pakistan–Russia International Student Research Conference (2025–2026) was successfully organized online, jointly hosted by the Department of International Relations (IR) at Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science and Technology (FUUAST), Islamabad; Financial University Moscow under the Government of the Russian Federation; and the Consortium for Asia Pacific & Eurasian Studies (CAPES).
Inaugural Session Highlights
The conference opened with an inaugural session where the Vice Chancellor of FUUAST, Prof. Dr Zabta Khan Shinwari, congratulated both universities and commended the Department of IR for building strong international academic and research linkages. He stated that it is a matter of pride that FUUAST students are presenting their research at an international conference. Dr Shinwari appreciated the students for their hard work and encouraged them to continue contributing to research and knowledge. He added that the university will continue to support students and promote quality research while strengthening Pakistan’s academic image globally.
Remarks by Russian Delegates
Speaking at the event, Dr Daria Osinina, Deputy Dean of Financial University, thanked FUUAST and CAPES for organizing this important academic event. She noted that Pakistan and Russia have great potential to work together in research and higher education. Dr Osinina highlighted that media, culture, environment, and international relations are key areas where both countries can build strong academic partnerships.
Conference Coordination
Conference Co-Coordinator and Head of the Department of IR, Dr Faisal Javaid, thanked all participants, faculty members, supervisors, students, CAPES, and the administration of Financial University for their support. He reaffirmed that the Department of IR at FUUAST will continue arranging such international academic activities to provide students and faculty with more opportunities for research, learning, and global collaboration.
Research Presentations
During the conference, nine student research teams from Pakistan and Russia presented their papers on trade and political relations, cultural diplomacy, media patriotism, artificial intelligence, climate security, and socio-economic connectivity. The research projects were supervised by Dr Sikander Ali Zarren, Dr Taimur Khan, Dr Gul-i-Ayesha Bhatti, Dr Sundas Khizar, Dr Stepan Vasilenko, Dr Oleg Novikov, Dr Veronika Usacheva, and Dr Ivan Pyatibratov from both countries.
Reviewer Feedback
The reviewers appreciated the quality of the research and noted that these papers are valuable contributions to the growing body of knowledge. They observed that the findings can help researchers, policymakers, and academic institutions better understand Pakistan–Russia cooperation in trade, culture, media, and international relations, while opening new opportunities for future joint research.
Conference Moderation and Conclusion
The conference was moderated by Dr Sundas Khizar and Dr Stepan Vasilenko in two academic sessions. The event concluded with a vote of thanks, appreciation for all participants, and a commitment from both sides to continue academic collaboration and strengthen research partnerships between Pakistan and Russia. The research presented represents the outcome of six months of collaborative work that began in February 2026, involving faculty supervisors and students from both universities. As part of this academic collaboration, the two universities will jointly publish a research book, in which each completed research paper will be included as a separate chapter.
