Novosibirsk students offered debt forgiveness for military service

Students at the Novosibirsk State Technical University have reportedly been offered tuition debt forgiveness in exchange for joining the Russian military as researchers. The local news outlet Taiga.Info, which has obtained a copy of the message, wrote that students in years 2–4 were also told that one of the school administrators would be willing to “provide additional support by talking to professors who cause problems for students [who agree to the deal].”

The university’s administration told the outlet that military representatives visit the school every year to meet with students and inform them about the roles researchers play in the armed forces, but that academic debt was not discussed at this year’s meeting.