МГИМО (MGIMO) or Moscow State Institute of International Relations on Wednesday marks 81 years of founding.
The revered Russian institution was established
81 years ago, on October 14, 1944, by the People’s Commissariat for Foreign Affairs of the USSR, headed by Vyacheslav Molotov. It was decided then that specialized educational institution for diplomatic training was needed in the final years of the Great Patriotic War.
The then Soviet leaders came up with the noble idea of establishing the institution to train a new generation of professionals for its foreign service, this was as a result of the growing number of international contacts and negotiations on the post-war world order, the then Soviet Union required highly qualified experts fluent in foreign languages, as well as in history, law, and economics.
Notably, specialists were also needed for work in international organizations that were being established after the war – the United Nations and its affiliated bodies.
Subsequently, in 1946, MGIMO opened its doors to foreign students, laying the foundation for its international academic reputation. Since then, it has become one of Russia’s most international universities. Today, students from more than 90 countries study in MGIMO, making up about 16% of the total student community. In 2025 alone, 400 students from 55 countries enrolled as freshers.
Last year, this leading Russia’s university specializing in international relations celebrated its 80th anniversary with funfair and great nostalgia.
Over the decades of its active and fruitful work, MGIMO has rightfully earned its reputation as a world-class university – a genuine “foundry” of diplomats, journalists, and even presidents.
According to the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin
“MGIMO has firmly established itself among the world’s leading centres for the training of international specialists.
For many decades, MGIMO’s graduates have formed the professional backbone of Russia’s diplomatic service. Genuine professionalism also distinguishes MGIMO alumni working in other areas – in government agencies, academia, education, business, and the media.
It is no coincidence that a MGIMO diploma/degree is highly valued not only in Russia, but also around the world.
Russia’s foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov is an alumni of MGIMO that graduated in the Class of 1972.
Diplomacy is the art of negotiation. The formation of a multipolar world is a long process that may take an entire historical era. MGIMO graduates will definitely have enough work to do to achieve a just and new world order.
(GSF with contributions by MID)
