The research project titled “A Comparative Study of World Universities: A Case Study of Eastern European Countries – Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Romania, Poland, and Kazakhstan” was conducted under a contract between Shahid Beheshti University and the Center for International Scientific Studies and Collaboration (CISSC), under the supervision of Dr. Selma Ami.

This study was carried out with the aim of understanding the trends and priorities of universities in Eastern Europe and identifying the potential for scientific and research collaboration with more developed countries. The outcomes of this research can provide a comprehensive benchmark for evaluating domestic universities. Additionally, this study may serve as a resource for students seeking to pursue higher education abroad by identifying top-performing universities, while also enhancing the knowledge base of higher education policymakers regarding global university structures. The findings are essential for the degree evaluation process at the Ministry of Science’s Graduate Affairs Department and also contribute to defining avenues for collaboration and expanding relationships between educational and technological institutions and companies.

The research began with an analysis of the higher education structures in Eastern European countries—namely Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Romania, Poland, and Kazakhstan—by comparing their higher education spending relative to their gross national income. The study further explored the roles and interactions of institutions related to higher education, including science and technology parks, innovation hubs, accelerators, knowledge-based companies, and start-ups (in terms of their number, types, and support mechanisms).

To assess the effectiveness of educational and research models, a comparative evaluation was conducted using global scientometric indicators and university rankings such as the Shanghai, Leiden, and Times Higher Education rankings.

The results indicate that Russia and Poland lead the region. Russia, in particular, is recognized as the foremost country in the internationalization of higher education in Eastern Europe through its success in attracting international research projects and foreign students. Its higher per capita spending on higher education and scientific development has yielded notable achievements in basic sciences, engineering, aerospace, and advanced industries.

Both national and international studies show that Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine have achieved significant progress in fields such as nanotechnology, emerging technologies in life sciences, genomics, information technologies, and sustainable development and climate change technologies.

In addition, Belarus and Poland offer considerable potential for collaboration in areas such as artificial intelligence, advanced engineering software, gaming and mobile applications, healthcare IT, agricultural technologies, banking software, laser and optical technologies.