The Amur State University (ASU) is situated in Blagoveshchensk - the capital of the Amur Region that occupies about 391,900 square kilometers in the Far East of Russia. The Amur Region is rich in natural resources. For example, it is the 3rd largest gold extractor in the country and contains the world's largest reserves of gold.
The Amur Region is often called the "Granary" of the Russian Far East as a half of all of the Russian Far East's arable lands is concentrated here.
In 1997 a new Russian cosmodrom "Svobodny" came into operation in the Amur Region.
The city of Blagoveshchensk was founded in the middle of the last century. It is situated in a picturesque setting where two large rivers - the Amur River and the Zeya - meet. Today it's one of the most important administrative, cultural, scientific and industrial centers of the Far East region with more than 250000 inhabitants.
The special feature of the city is its location on the boundary between Russia and China. On the other bank of the Amur River is a Chinese city Heihe. It's the only place where tow cities are so close to each other.
The Amur State University was founded in 1975. Today more about 6,000 students study in its 10 departments with 38 different majors. The annual enrollment is over 1,200.
There are postgraduate level studies offered in 22 specialized fields. The University educates doctoral candidates who conduct research in philosophy and the high technologies of material production and processing. The University has also two dissertation councils, which certify dissertations presented for a candidate degree in technical sciences.
The ASU has a qualified faculty of 500, more than 30 are Professors and Doctors of Science; there are about 130 assistant professors and Candidates of Science.
The Amur State University's library has a collection of more than three million publications including scientific, popular-science, educational literature and reference books. Every year the University subscribes to more than 400 periodical and information publications. The library's collection is formed according to academic trends. There are educational and scientific sections, reading rooms, and a reference department.
The patent department contains about 2.5 thousand descriptions of inventions, copyrights and patents which have been registered in our country during the last 20 years including the complete descriptions of inventions by the Amur region's scientists. The ASU, with its collection, is the unique information center in the Far East.
The department conducts search of information on inventor's request. The library is united with publishers and along with research materials they publish a newspaper called "Amur State University" as well as a scientific journal "The Amur State University Herald".
There are different research centers at the Amur State University. The research institutes of high technologies was established to concentrate scientific potential on the most perspective trends of science, education and technology development. Today the Institute includes research laboratory of physics of lazer technology, x-ray analysis , quality of surface and vibroabrasive technologies, ceramics etc.
The Amur State University, together with the Amur center of the Far East Branch of the Russian Academy of Science has not only created a research base connected with new technologies in materials processing (processing of ceramic, lazer processing), but also educate aspirants and doctoral candidates.
The modern information base that provides access to the global information resources has been also created at the University.
In 1998 the Internet-center was opened with support of Soros Foundation. It consists of a connection center, Web lab and 4 classes for 80 places. The modern Web lab is in charge of managing and maintaining information resources.
The opening of the Internet-center has increased the base for developing the modern information telecom technologies. It's also very important for creation the local information servers of the region, the city, universities and other institutions. It gives opportunity to get access to the global information resources for teacher, students and members of education and cultural institutions.
The Amur State University has established collaboration with a number of Universities in the USA, Germany, China, Korea and Japan. It has partner relations with the Berlin Technical University, Beijing University and the Beijing Polytechnics. Being a member of a four-country Union of Universities, it has direct agreements for collaboration with the Chinese Yan Byan University, the Korean Chang Shin College and other universities of the Asian countries on the Pacific Ocean. The Amur State University a member of International and Eurasian University Associations, it participates in international research programs and international conferences.
There is a Students' Scientific Society, a University Theatre, a Sports Club, a Students' Fashion Design Theatre, and two recreational resorts for students, faculty and staff: one is in Primorsky Krai and the other is on the beautiful bank of the Zeya River.
