President Samia Suluhu Hassan is expected to be awarded an honorary Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree by RUDN University in recognition of her contribution to social development, public service, and international cooperation.
The award is set to be conferred during her official visit to the Russian Federation, where she is holding high-level talks aimed at strengthening diplomatic, economic, and development cooperation between Tanzania and Russia.
RUDN University said the recognition reflects President Samia’s efforts in promoting inclusive development, improving access to social services, and advancing partnerships that support education, health, and human development both in Tanzania and globally.
The university is one of Russia’s most diverse higher learning institutions, hosting about 44,000 students from more than 160 countries.
It has trained over 200,000 professionals since its establishment more than 65 years ago and is ranked 367th globally in the QS World University Rankings 2025.
The institution also maintains strong educational ties with Tanzania. By 2025, 570 Tanzanian students were studying at RUDN, while a total of 1,132 Tanzanians have graduated from the university over the years.
These graduates continue to serve in various sectors including health, engineering, diplomacy, and business.
During the visit, President Samia was received in Moscow by Russia’s Minister of Economic Development, Maxim Reshetnikov, marking the beginning of a busy diplomatic program focused on strengthening cooperation between the two countries.
She is also expected to hold bilateral talks with the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin. The discussions will focus on expanding cooperation in trade, investment, energy, education, agriculture, and technology for mutual development.
President Samia’s visit is historic, as she becomes one of the highest-level Tanzanian leaders to visit Russia after Mwalimu Julius Nyerere.
The visit highlights Tanzania’s continued efforts to strengthen international partnerships and expand economic diplomacy.
She is also expected to participate in the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, where world leaders, investors, and policymakers gather to discuss global economic trends and investment opportunities.
At the forum, Tanzania is expected to present key investment opportunities in sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, mining, tourism, infrastructure, and energy.
The aim is to attract investors and strengthen trade relations between Tanzania and international markets.
The visit comes at a time when Tanzania is preparing to implement its Vision 2050 Development Framework, which focuses on building a strong, skilled workforce, expanding industrial production, and increasing private sector participation in the economy.
The plan targets long-term economic transformation, including job creation, value addition, and expansion of exports to support sustainable national growth.
In her remarks, President Samia said the visit is important for advancing Tanzania’s development priorities and strengthening cooperation in key sectors that directly benefit citizens.
She said discussions will focus on strategic areas that improve people’s lives and support national development goals.
“We will hold discussions with our hosts aimed at strengthening cooperation in strategic sectors that directly affect the lives of citizens,” she said.
She also noted that Tanzania will use the visit to promote investment opportunities and expand market access for Tanzanian products in Russia and other international markets.
The honorary doctorate is seen as recognition of her leadership in promoting development-oriented diplomacy and strengthening Tanzania’s global partnerships, while also highlighting the growing academic and economic ties between Tanzania and Russia.
