However, the same can not be said about the cooperation of universities within the country. Indeed, the situation of competition for applicants is not conducive to cooperation of universities which provide educational services for the same national market. So the news about examples of such cooperation is lively discussed in the academic environment, and such news often become a sensation. For example, news about the agreement on strategic partnership between Lomonosov Moscow State University and St. Petersburg State University was actively discussed in blogs by representatives of the university community in August 2009. As a rule, if such cooperation is carried out, it is based in the framework of the international projects but not on a bilateral basis.
Cooperation of universities in Russia sometimes takes the form of integration (as a result on the basis of several universities is established a federal or a national research university). However, this is not due to market mechanisms, but rather to state control of education. The market does not motivate strong universities to integrate, particularly if they would loose their brand names in case of it. In addition, the integration of HEIs can change the nature of the education market from competitive to oligopolistic one.
12. Have there been case law or rulings on fusions of educational institutions, and the consequences for the competition and choice of educational provisions?
President of Russian Federation issued a Decree №716 “On the Federal universities” dated 7 May 2008, whish is intended to establish national research universities by the RF Government in the form of autonomous institutions on the basis of the decision of the President of Russian Federation. The aim is to create in Russian Federation a network of research universities, in order to support the large-scale projects in the field of high-tech Russian economy sector, which will continue developing. The integration of educational institutions is one of the mechanisms for establishing the Federal universities.
The government deliberately tries to make these universities the most competitive in the country, appropriating funds for financing of innovative development programs. For the sake of it Federal universities receive additional rights and freedom. In particular, in accordance with Federal Law №18-FZ “On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of Russia on Issues of Activities of Federal Universities” dated 10 February 2009, federal universities may implement educational programs based on their own, not state, standards and requirements. The Federal universities are established in the form of autonomous institutions. They have a right to establish Limited Liability Companies and Closed Joint-Stock Companies for the realization of their scientific attainments.