Spatial analysis of international student immigration in Russia

Abstract

The deteriorating demographic situation, the growing risks of "personnel shortage" pose threats to the sustainable geo-economic development of Russia. One of the promising sources of replenishment of the country's labor potential can be educational migration, in particular, immigration of foreign students. The obvious advantage of foreign students over other categories of migrants determines the problem of attracting foreign students to Russian universities with their subsequent integration into Russian communities. This requires a detailed analysis of the learning processes of foreign students, analysis of patterns, factors influencing the migration choice. This article aims to highlight the spatial structure and territorial features of student immigration in Russia. The research information base is built on the basis of official statistics data for 2008-2020. The article presents new empirical data characterizing the main features of the formation of the immigration educational flow in the countries of origin, the dynamics of the distribution of foreign students in the regions of the country. Analysis of the dynamics of the number of foreign students demonstrates their widespread and significant growth, which allows us to consider Russia as a promising country - an exporter of higher education services. The main factors determining the influx of foreign students into the country are geographic location, geopolitical interests, demographic and economic inequality. The main countries-suppliers of foreign students are states that are part of post-Soviet integration associations or located in zones of Russian influence, as well as those with excessive demographic potential. There are noticeable in-country disparities in the distribution of foreign students: the highest concentration is observed in the Russian capitals (Moscow and St. Petersburg), Tatarstan, large South Siberian centers (Novosibirsk, Tomsk), the smallest - in the national formations of the country, with rare exceptions. The spatial features of student immigration in Russia are reflected in cartographic materials.