Prospects for building a common scientific and educational space in the EAEU: a university perspective

Cooperation in science and education is a key dimension complementing the integration agenda of many regional organisations. The European Union is widely regarded as the flagship model for developing systems of academic exchange and scientific collaboration within an economic union; however, APEC, the SCO, ASEAN, and the Organisation of Turkic States are also advancing dialogue in the academic sphere. Against this background, the EAEU faces an important question: should cooperation in these areas be expanded, or should the Union remain focused solely on economic integration? Drawing on the neoliberal approach to regional economic integration, this article examines the extent to which universities, as direct participants in this process, are interested in shaping a common scientific and educational space within the EAEU. Based on a survey conducted among representatives of 43 leading universities in the member states in June 2024, the study identifies key dimensions of their collaboration and a number of major challenges. The findings highlight the insufficient integration of educational systems, a lack of specialised institutional support, and the need to establish a unified EAEU knowledge space amid growing competition from other integration initiatives. Recommendations are formulated for the inclusion of these proposals into the EAEU’s supranational policy agenda.