Role of Soviet Specialists in Formation of Higher Education System of the PRC: the Case of Northeast Agricultural University in Harbin

The author in their article examines the role of Soviet specialists in the development of the higher education system of the People’s Republic of China in the 1950s through the example of the Northeast Agricultural University in Harbin. From 1952 to 1959, Soviet experts made a significant contribution to the development of curricula, organization of research activities, and personnel training, laying the foundation for the modernization of agricultural education in China. The authors analyze the activities of key Soviet specialists, such as P.D. Tretyakov (agricultural technology), A.S. Khrustalyov (veterinary science), and P.F. Dyachenko (dairy technology), whose works contributed to the introduction of best practices and the creation of new faculties. Particular attention in this article is paid to the translation of Soviet textbooks into Chinese, the development of curricula, and the organization of research laboratories. The study is based on archival materials from the Museum of History of the Northeast Agricultural University, Chinese publications, and previously unstudied documents. The authors conclude that Soviet - Chinese cooperation in the field of education not only strengthened the PRC academic base but also laid the foundation for a tradition of international partnership that continues in modern projects such as the Alliance of Universities of Northeast China and the Far East.