North-Caucasus Federal University
North-Caucasus Federal University (), abbreviated as NCFU () is a public university in Stavropol Krai, Russia with campuses in Stavropol and Pyatigorsk. It was established in 2012 as a flagship university of the newly created North Caucasian Federal District by merging Stavropol State University, North-Caucasus State Technical University, and Pyatigorsk State University of Humanities and Technology. General information. North-Caucasus Federal University (NCFU) was established subject to a respective Decree by President of the Russian Federation (No. 958 of July 18, 2011) and an Order by the Government of the Russian Federation (No. 226-p of  February 22, 2012) through a merger of three universities located in the Stavropol Region – North-Caucasus State Technical University, Stavropol State University and Pyatigorsk State University for Humanities & Technology. The university comprises 9 institutes in Stavropol and 2 institutes (affiliates) in Pyatigorsk and Nevinnomyssk. NCFU is currently running 156 higher education degree programs and specialties as well as over 700 professional development programs. University rankings. NCFU is the only university in North-Caucasus Federal District to earn a place in the international rankings of QS Quacquarelli Sydmonds. It is also rated among 40 top Russian universities (according to the National  university ranking by Interfax). Aims and objectives. NCFU aims and objectives are reflected in the strategic development program for 2012-2021 approved by the Government of the Russian Federation. NCFU mission is to develop human and intellectual capital thus promoting competitive social and economic development in the areas of the Russian Federation that belong to North-Caucasus Federal District. Subject to the strategic development program, the university was established as a unique center for research, education and innovation-based sector of economy, supplying qualified staff for the focal areas of social and economic development; a leading expert platform for intercultural  dialogue between the ethnically diverse regional community and the neighboring areas & countries; enhance inter-ethnic and inter-confessional communication; the key center of educational, scientific and cultural cooperation with national and international partners. Special areas of development: Institutes. Institute of Humanities; Institute of Engineering; Institute of Mathematics and Natural Sciences; Institute of Life Sciences; Institute of Information Technologies and Telecommunications; Institute of Oil and Gas; Institute of Economics and Management; Institute of Education and Social Sciences; Institute of Law. Affiliates. Institute of Technology (NCFU branch in Nevinnomyssk, Russia); Institute of Service, Tourism and Design (NCFU branch in Pyatigorsk, Russia). Major  research fields. Research is carried out at 27 research schools within 47 areas. NCFU can boast of 10 scientific dissertation councils embracing 24 specialties. The university library is one of the best in Russia with more than 1.5 million items, including a collection of old printed books and rare editions published in the XVII Century and later. NCFU chemists have earned support from the Russian research foundation to carry out their projects focusing on the synthesis of substances helping eliminate various tumors, Within the framework of the special Federal program RESEARCH IN MAIN FIELDS OF DEVELOPMENT FOR RUSSIAN SCIENCE AND  TECHNOLOGY, 2014–2020, NCFU's researchers ran projects focusing on intelligent power metering systems, software and hardware, as well as unmanned aerial vehicles in special navigation systems. NCFU's experts, supported by the Advanced Research Foundation, developed a technology for manufacturing laser-quality ceramics with a high degree of transparency and obtained cheap samples of working ceramic bodies that can be used in constructions of solid-state disk lasers with diode pumping. NCFU's numerous advance projects allowed launching of the first Russian workshop for pharmacopoeial and alimental lactose production on the premises of the Stavropol Dairy Plant, JSC. According to  Russian rankings, NCFU is among the top thirty Russian universities that stand out in terms of research efficiency in the field of humanities and social issues. International partners. The university has a number of relationships with universities in more than 40 countries. It has double degree programmes with Roma University La Sapienza (Italy), Technical University of Dresden (Germany). It is a member of European University Association. In 2020, the North-Caucasus Federal University established the "Great Caucasus" format together with the Abkhazian State University, the National University of Architecture and Construction of Armenia and the South Ossetian State University. The  four universities will work more together and spread the use of the Russian language. Human capital. The university has an academic staff of around 1,500 members. Student body – ab. 25,000. From 2017 on, following a respective order by the Russian Ministry of Science and Higher Education, a Resource Training Center for Persons with Disabilities has been functioning at NCFU, the purpose of the Center being to offer methodological support to academic institutions of the North Caucasus including in the field of inclusive education. Alina Levitskaia – Rector, NCFU; 2012 to August, 2019. Irina Vasilevna Soloveva – Acting Rector, NCFU; August – October, 2019 . November 2019 – Dmitry Bespalov was appointed as NCFU's Acting Rector. Control over the university activity resides in a specially established Supervisory Board, where Vladimir Vladimirov, Governor of the Stavropol Region, is the head.