BRICS Universities League

Last updated
BRICS Universities League
FormationJune 6, 2013;12 years ago (2013-06-06)
Founded at Fudan University, Shanghai, China
TypeEducation and Research
Headquarters Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
Location
Membership60 Universities from BRICS
Website nu-brics.ru

BRICS Universities League is a consortium of leading research universities from BRICS countries including Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. Initiated at Fudan University, Shanghai on July 6, 2013, the League aims to become a platform for academic and expert cooperation, comparative research, and international educational projects. [1] In October 2015, around 40 outstanding universities from the five BRICS countries gathered in Beijing Normal University, Beijing to hold the BRICS Universities Presidents Forum. After this Forum, the participating universities declared the Beijing Consensus, and they decided to establish the BRICS Universities League. [2] The League Secretariat is located in Beijing Normal University, with the BNU as a leading university in terms of BRICS higher education and academic cooperation. [3] The League is expanding to attract more and more outstanding BRICS universities to participate in its activities. [4] [5] [6] The BRICS Universities League has performed as a strategic pillar for the BRICS cooperation.

Contents

Recent developments

In the years following its establishment, the League has expanded its activities significantly. In 2024 a new event — the BRICS+ Universities Rectors' Forum — was held for the first time at Lomonosov Moscow State University, Russia, bringing together rectors and presidents of BRICS and BRICS-partner universities. [7] The 2025 edition will take place in Rio de Janeiro (5-7 June) under the theme “Education, Artificial Intelligence, Sustainable Development, Inclusion, Diversity, Poverty Alleviation and Standardisation in the BRICS+ Space”. [8]

In March 2024, a wider initiative — the BRICS+ Universities Association — was launched to include not only core BRICS universities but also partner-country universities across Asia, Africa and Latin America, aiming at a broader “BRICS+” higher education network. [9]

According to a 2025 analysis, BRICS-based universities are increasing their international visibility and shifting from regional to global scale research cooperation, assisted by networks such as the League. [10]

Current members

Brazil

University [11] [12] LocationYear foundedNote
Federal University of Minas Gerais Belo Horizonte 1927
Federal University of Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro 1920
Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul Porto Alegre 1934
Federal University of Santa Catarina Santa Catarina 1960
Federal University of Viçosa Viçosa 1922
Fluminense Federal University Niterói 1960
National Institute of Amazonian Research Manaus 1952
Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro 1940
University of Campinas São Paulo 1964

China

University [11] [13] [4] LocationYear foundedNote
Beijing Normal University Beijing 1902 Project 985, Project 211, Double First Class University
Fudan University Shanghai 1905 C9 League, Project 985, Project 211, Double First Class University
Harbin Engineering University Harbin, Heilongjiang 1953Project 211, Double First Class University
Hohai University Nanjing, Jiangsu 1915Project 211, Double First Class University
Huazhong University of Science and Technology Wuhan, Hubei 1952Project 985, Project 211, Double First Class University
Hunan University Changsha, Hunan 1903Project 985, Project 211, Double First Class University
Jiangsu Normal University Xuzhou, Jiangsu 1952Provincial Public University
Jilin University Changchun, Jilin 1946Project 985, Project 211, Double First Class University
North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power Zhengzhou, Henan 1951Provincial Public University
Northeast Forestry University Harbin, Heilongjiang 1952Project 211, Double First Class University
Sichuan University Chengdu, Sichuan 1896Project 985, Project 211, Double First Class University
Southwest University Chongqing 1906Project 211, Double First Class University
Yanshan University Qinhuangdao, Hebei 1920Provincial Public University
Yunnan University Kunming, Yunnan 1922Project 211, Double First Class University
Zhejiang University Hangzhou, Zhejiang 1897C9 League, Project 985, Project 211, Double First Class University

India

University [11] [14] LocationYear foundedNote
Banaras Hindu University Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh 1916
Indian Institute of Technology Bombay Mumbai, Maharashtra 1958
Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh 1959
Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur Kharagpur, West Bengal 1951
Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research Mumbai, Maharashtra 1987
Jamia Millia Islamia New Delhi 1920
National Institute of Technology Durgapur Durgapur, West Bengal 1960
National Institute of Technology Warangal Warangal, Telangana 1959
Tata Institute of Social Sciences Mumbai, Maharashtra 1936
TERI University New Delhi 1998
University of Delhi New Delhi 1922
Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee Roorkee, Uttarakhand 1847
Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology Nagpur, Maharashtra 1960

Russia

University [11] [15] LocationYear foundedNote
Higher School of Economics Moscow 1992
Information Technologies, Mechanics and Optics University Saint Petersburg 1900
Moscow State Institute of International Relations Moscow 1944
Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology Moscow 1946
National University of Science and Technology Moscow 1918
Moscow Power Engineering Institute Moscow 1930
Moscow State University Moscow 1755
Peoples' Friendship University of Russia Moscow 1960
Saint Petersburg State University Saint Petersburg 1724
Tomsk Polytechnic University Tomsk 1896
Tomsk State University Tomsk 1878
Ural Federal University Yekaterinburg 1920

South Africa

University [11] [16] LocationYear foundedNote
Central University of Technology Bloemfontein 1981
Durban University of Technology KwaZulu-Natal 2002
North West University Potchefstroom, Mahikeng and Vanderbijlpark 2004
Rhodes University Makhanda, Eastern Cape Province 1904
Stellenbosch University Stellenbosch, Western Cape 1918
Tshwane University of Technology Pretoria, Mbombela, Polokwane, Ga-Rankuwa, Soshanguve, Witbank (eMalahleni)2004
University of Cape Town Cape Town, Western Cape 1829
University of Johannesburg Johannesburg 2005
University of Limpopo Limpopo Province 2005
University of Pretoria Pretoria 1908
University of Venda Thohoyandou, Limpopo province 1982
University of Witwatersrand Johannesburg 1922

References

  1. ↑ "BRICS League of Universities was signed in Shanghai on July 6, 2013". www.hse.ru.
  2. ↑ "BRICS University President Forum was held in Beijing Normal University from October 17 to 18, 2015". fe.english.bnu.edu.cn. 2015-10-22. Archived from the original on 2022-10-01. Retrieved 2022-04-12.
  3. ↑ "University League helps push talent into the world". www.chinadaily.com.cn. 2017-09-05. Retrieved 2022-04-12.
  4. 1 2 "Chinese universities join BRICS Universities League". fddi.fudan.edu.cn. 2021-12-28. Retrieved 2022-04-12.
  5. ↑ "JSNU has Officially Joined the BRICS Universities League". en.jsnu.edu.cn. 2021-12-23. Archived from the original on 2022-03-20. Retrieved 2022-04-12.
  6. ↑ "2022 BRICS Network University Annual Conference-Background". brics.ncwu.edu.cn. Archived from the original on 2022-04-12. Retrieved 2022-04-12.
  7. ↑ "BRICS+ Universities Rectors' Forum to take place in Rio de Janeiro, June 5-7 2025". 5 June 2025. Retrieved 21 October 2025.
  8. ↑ "BRICS+ Universities Rectors' Forum will take place in Rio de Janeiro between June 5 and 7, 2025". 5 June 2025. Retrieved 21 October 2025.
  9. ↑ "BRICS nations launch new universities association". 19 March 2024. Retrieved 21 October 2025.
  10. ↑ "BRICS Universities on the Rise: Prestige, Power, and Global Cooperation". 17 September 2025. Retrieved 21 October 2025.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 "BRICS Network University". nu-brics.ru. Archived from the original on 2020-06-28. Retrieved 2020-06-28.
  12. ↑ "2022 BRICS Network University Annual Conference-Brazil". brics.ncwu.edu.cn. Archived from the original on 2022-04-12. Retrieved 2022-04-12.
  13. ↑ "2022 BRICS Network University Annual Conference-China". brics.ncwu.edu.cn. Archived from the original on 2022-04-12. Retrieved 2022-04-12.
  14. ↑ "2022 BRICS Network University Annual Conference-University List_India". brics.ncwu.edu.cn. Archived from the original on 2022-04-12. Retrieved 2022-04-12.
  15. ↑ "2022 BRICS Network University Annual Conference-Russia". brics.ncwu.edu.cn. Archived from the original on 2022-04-12. Retrieved 2022-04-12.
  16. ↑ "2022 BRICS Network University Annual Conference-South Africa". brics.ncwu.edu.cn. Archived from the original on 2022-04-12. Retrieved 2022-04-12.
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