State universities from BRICS nations have initiated an academic consortium, extending invitations for global institutions to join at no cost.
The BRICS+ Universities Association (BUA), founded by eight institutions spanning Russia, India, Argentina, Brazil, and Ethiopia, attracted 125 members from 28 countries within its first month.
BUA aims to foster academic collaboration within and beyond BRICS nations, prioritising practical benefits over prestige, according to Yulia Yakovleva, a BUA marketing executive. An online networking platform is under development, facilitating announcements, partner connections, and exchanges of students and faculty.
While BUA emphasises BRICS countries, membership is open worldwide. Over the next five years, BUA seeks to expand to 5,000 universities, prioritising internationalisation among smaller institutions, granting equal access to resources.
Membership in BUA is cost-free, funded voluntarily by founding universities. Yakovleva highlights challenges in securing financial backing and organising procedures, with plans to seek donations in the future. BUA avoids political discussions, focusing solely on academic cooperation within BRICS+.
The inaugural BRICS+ summit, scheduled for November 2024 in New Delhi, will convene representatives from founding universities. Annual summits in BRICS+ nations aim to forge ties with local governments for potential financial backing.
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