October 30 in the framework of the International Science and Technology Conference «SDN & NFV – The Next Generation of Computational Infrastructure» the ITMO University was visited by the key speakers of the forum - Anihiro Nakao (University of Tokyo), Michael Zink (University of Massachusetts) Jerry Sobieski (NORDUnet).

During the meeting of an international delegation consisting of 12 representatives from various universities, international research centers and laboratories of the United States of America and Japan, the colleagues were able to share their achievements. In an informal working environment Daria Kozlova, the director of the Institute of International Development and Partnerships, told about the ITMO University. A short film about the history of the university, as well as the six strategic drivers that allow university to move forward, was shown to the guests. The ITMO University appeared as a multidisciplinary, entrepreneurial, focused on the education of a new scientific elite, international university center.

"I really like the vision of the ITMO University, which was presented today”, Kuang-Ching Wang, the Associate Professor, Department of the Electrical and Computer Engineering of the Clemson University (USA). “Being a technical university professor, I can say that the development policies of our universities are similar. We also deal with optics, computer science, developing our research and design, strive to entrepreneurship, attracting foreign students and teachers, develop leadership skills of our students, cooperating with the state. Judging by what I saw today in the presentation, I can say that the ITMO University is developing very fast. And now, it is important not to stop there".

Working meeting was continued by the reports of foreign colleagues. For example, Mark Bergman, the vice president of development of the Raytheon BBN Technologies and the head of the GENI (USA) project office, dedicated his speech to the GENI environment, which was established to support global innovation and development of technological and social networks, and experiments. The ultimate goal of the program is to commercialize innovative discoveries in the field of global networks. Other colleagues presented international projects focused on specific technological developments in the field of IT.

The final event of the day has become a fascinating tour at the Research Institute of the High Computer Technology of the ITMO University, during which Alexander Boukhanovsky, the head of the Department of High Performance Computing, demonstrated numerous innovative developments of the Institute to the foreign colleagues.

"My impression of the university and the event in general is only positive”, Mark Bergman says. “I see great prospects for cooperation. In that short time we only have met with colleagues and shared some ideas, but we need to continue to communicate and to build links for the future of a successful partnership".

Acceptance of such a distinguished international delegation to the ITMO University is not only a chance to show our university and to establish a mutually beneficial partnership, but the opportunity to learn from the positive experience of the successful development of foreign universities.

"Today, a fine example was shown for us to follow - an example of cooperation of the scientific and educational communities of the United States who were able to unite in a well-functioning system, which includes more than 50 leading universities.Russia does now only the first steps in the creation of this consortium and associations of Russian universities. And such communities should be established not only for solving problems in a particular area, for example in the field of new architectural schemes for constructing the Internet, but for any interaction”, Sergei Horuzhnikov, the dean of the Faculty of the Infocommunication Technologies, sums up.

Visit of delegation and attention from foreign counterparts to the processes occurring in the university indicate the international status of the ITMO University, opened to the innovation and collaboration at the highest level.