are created for the purpose of developing professional higher education systems, optimising regional educational structures, and strengthening their ties with economic and social sectors of their federal districts.
The first federal universities were created in 2007 in the Southern and Siberian Federal districts within the framework of a priority national project. The Southern Federal University was created in Rostov-on-Don on the basis of the Rostov State University, and the Siberian Federal University was created in Krasnoyarsk on the basis of the Krasnoyarsk State University.
On October 21, 2009, the President of Russia signed an executive order on creating five more federal universities in the Northwestern, Volga, Urals, and Far Eastern federal districts. On October 13, 2010, the President of Russia signed an executive order on creating the Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University.
The Northern (Arctic) Federal University is being established in Arkhangelsk on the basis of the Arkhangelsk State Technical University. The Volga Federal University is being established in Kazan on the basis of the Kazan State University. The Urals Federal University is being established in Yekaterinburg on the basis of the Urals State Technical University. The Far Eastern Federal University is being established in Vladivostok on the basis of the Far Eastern National University. The Northeastern Federal University is being established in Yakutsk on the basis of the Yakutsk State University. And the Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University is being established in Kaliningrad on the basis of the Immanuel Kant Russian State University.
New management systems are being implemented in the federal universities, and the universities themselves will become integrated education, science, and business complexes, as well as centres of innovation and technological development. They will also serve as training grounds for professionals of international calibre.