February 16-19, 2015, the Chairman of the MCCI Italian Commission Konstantin Krokhin visited Italy and Switzerland, where he held a number of meetings with the leadership of the leading Italian and international universities and Italian companies from  high-tech sector of the economy in order to develop cooperation in the field of   scientific research and exchanges, traineeship and double degree programs.

On February 16,  in a solemn ceremony, which was held  in a historic building of the University of Turin , the University with more than 600 years of history, Rector Jeanmarie Adjani signed an Agreement on cooperation between the University of Turin and RANEPA (The Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration). Sergio Bortolani,  the provost  for International Affairs, the Head of the School of Management and Economics UNITO,  professor I.N. Bartsits,  the director of RANEPA and Konstantin Krokhin attended the signing of the Agreement.

This Agreement provides a wide choice of destinations and programs for effective interaction in many specialties, starting from 2015.  University of Turin is one of the oldest educational institutions in Europe, whose graduates were such famous people as Erasmus, Italian President Professor Luigi Einaudi, former president of Fiat Group and Club JUVENTUS Giovanni Agnelli, and also  it is  the leading universities in Italy, one of the four best universities in the country. Newest and  the most modern campus, bearing  the name of Luigi Einaudi, was designed by architect Norman Foster with the participation of leading Italian bureau Giugiaro Arkitettura. Intensive international activities of the Turin University and its unique geographical position in the north of Italy, in the "steps" distance from the university and technology centers in France and Switzerland, will expand opportunities for RANEPA students and teachers to improve the effectiveness of training, educational and scientific exchanges.

During acquaintance with the campus and the faculty of the University of Turin were held meetings and discussions about  specific forms of cooperation within the Department of social, legal and social Sciences, and Department management, which will be carried out since September 2015.

In the framework of the visit to Turin Konstantin  Krokhin, together  with professor I.N. Bartsits, the RANEPA director, visited the headquarters of the world-famous company ITALDESIGN - GIUGIARO, a leader in the field of industrial and car design, industrial and public architecture. The Italian side held the presentation of technological advances, presented projects, implemented in Italy and abroad, showed the work of specialists in imaging center and prototypes museum. During the negotiations an agreement on conducting research in areas of mutual interest and participation in actions strengthen ties between high school and the manufacture was reached.

On February 17, RANEPA delegation visited Polytechnic University of Milan , School of Management and the Department of Production Management. During the meeting Professor Bartsits I.N. and Konstantin Krokhin  made  a presentation of RANEPA, acquainted with the Milano Bovisa campus, faculties and programs of mutual interest. On the basis of meeting, was reached an accord on the preparation of the Agreement on the areas of cooperation that has a specific interest: master's programs in the field of management, marketing, international business, applied research, student and faculty exchange.

In Milan, also was held  several  meetings with the General Consul of the Russian Federation A.B. Nurizade and  representatives of EXPO 2015, to discuss issues of preparation for the World Expo 2015 in Milan and cooperation during its implementation from May to October 2015.

February 19, 2015, Konstantin Krokhin participated in the 20-th edition of the International Humanitarian Conference (IHC) , held at the Palais des Congrès in Geneva and dedicated to the problems of the family and migration. Mr. Krokhin visited the campus of the International University of Geneva Webster , a famous  international educational institution, celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, and one of the main organizers of this conference. He acquainted with the programs of the University and student learning conditions. During the meeting with the leadership of the University of Webster was reached an  agreement  to start cooperation between  RANEPA and the three European campuses of  Webster University - in Vienna (Austria), Geneva (Switzerland), Leiden (Netherlands). Wide range of programs in management, international business and management, marketing, finance, psychology and journalism, as well as a great international network of campuses of the University of Webster allow us to make an optimistic forecast on the prospects of cooperation between our institutions.