A meeting of the federal universities rectors was held in Arkhangelsk on the base of NArFU. The rectors discussed the development of network cooperation and the results of the first stage of the federal universities system at the meeting.

"Networking cooperation between federal universities gives a good synergistic effect. For instance, in terms of national academic mobility, development of network education programs, federal universities are in the leading positions. Joint activity of the leading universities is fundamentally important to improve higher education in Russia as a whole", Deputy Minister of Education and Science of the Russian Federation Aleksandr Klimov said.

"We made a serious way, and a lot of the achievements are obvious. But, as in any developing field, there are certain issues and difficulties that require discussion and decision. For us it is very important that there is a cooperation in the history of the federal university, system movement forward, the network model of mutual support, mutual development", Aleksandr Klimov said.

The important issues such as the formation of new development programs of the federal universities, inclusion in education, problems and prospects of cooperation with Crimean Federal University, graduates' employment were discussed at the meeting.

In addition, NEFU Rector Evgenia Mikhailova took part in the meeting of the Interagency Working Group of Council for Science and Education under the President of the Russian Federation. Expert ground gathered rectors of the federal universities, heads of educational institutions, government and business representatives. The main subject of the meeting was preparation of qualified specialists for social and economic development of regions.