PFUR history

Peoples’ Friendship University was established by the USSR government decree on February 5, 1960. On February 22, 1961 Peoples’ Friendship University was named after Patris Lumumba, a political and public figure, a poet, the head of the first people's democratic government of Congo. The decision of establishing Peoples’ Friendship University in the Soviet Union was taken by the Soviet government in response to the requests of the former colonial countries governments and community. The main aim was to give young people from Asia, Africa and Latin America, especially from poor families, an opportunity to get University education and to become highly qualified specialists. The students were admitted through non-governmental organizations, governmental establishments, and the USSR embassies and consulates. The Peoples Friendship University of Russia was founded under the auspices of the All-Union Trade Union’s Central Council, the Solidarity Soviet Committee of the Asian and African countries, the Union of Friendship Associations and Intercultural Relationships.
In February 1975 the University was honored with Peoples’ Friendship Order for the contribution in the Asian, African and Latin American development. On February 5, 1992 the university was renamed “Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia – the state institute of higher education” (PFUR). The founder of PFUR is the government of the Russian Federation. 
Sergey Vasilyevich Rumyantsev, professor, Honored man of Science and Engineering of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, was the first rector and the head of the University from February 1960 till September 1970. Vladimir Frantsevich Stanis, professor, Honored man of Science of the Russian Federation run the University from October 1970 till June 1993. Dmitry Petrovich Bilibin, professor, Honored man of Science of the Russian Federation was a PFUR rector from September 1998 till March 2005.
Vladimir Mikhailovich Filippov, professor, academician, Doctor of Science in Physics and Mathematics, member of Russian Academy of Education, Russian Academy of Natural Sciences, Presidium member of the International Higher Education Academy of Science, was at the head of the University from June 1993 till September 1998. In October 1998 he was appointed minister of Education of the Russian Federation. On  March 4, 2005 Vladimir Filippov was reelected the University rector.

The studies at the University began on September 1, 1961. On June 29, 1965 the first 288 young specialists from 47 countries graduated from the University. By the year of 1975 there had been already about 5600 graduates including 4250 foreigners. The University personnel number ran to 7500 including more than 1000 teachers, among them 100 professors and associate professors, 460 doctors and assistant professors, 5000 graduate and post-graduate students from 89 countries.
For 45 years since its foundation PFUR has been world-renowned and gained the reputation of a big educational research center, ranked No.3 in the Russian universities ranking. More than 47 thousand of its graduates, 4300 doctors and associate professors work in 165 countries in the world.  The University departments offer 57 majors, and comprise about 23 thousand students. Post-graduates, probationers and trainees of 450 nationalities from 131 countries study there, 3500 of them are of foreign origin and more than 1000 are from national autonomies of the Russian Federation.
The University stuff includes 2112 employees; among them there are 332 professors and associate professors, 807 doctors and assistant professors, 61 academicians and Corresponding Members of academies of Russia, 50 Honored Men of Science of the Russian Federation, 26 PFUR teachers and professors are full members of the international academies and scientific societies.
PFUR is a big research center; more than 500 researchers, inventors and innovators work here.
The school of foreign languages and of Russian as a foreign language, which is organized at the University and is functioning and developing successfully, is one of the best language schools in Russia.
The PFUR has numerous international contacts with both foreign Universities and international organizations. PFUR is a member of the International University Association, the Eurasian University Association and has more than 160 association agreements with foreign universities and research centers. The PFUR collaborates with the International Organization of Frankophony, the European Capitals University Association, and the European Association of International Education. The PFUR is a participant of UNO, UNESCO, CE and other international and intergovernmental organizations, programmes and forums. The PFUR is one of the founders of the Association of Universities of Europe and Central Asia Network. The PFUR collaborates with the Organization of the Black Sea Countries Universities, Salzburg seminars of the Higher School officials. The department of Comparative and Educational Policy with the status of UNESCO department was founded at the University in 2000.