On November 13, 2018, the Constituent Conference of the Association of Rectors of the Transport Universities of BRICS was held within the framework of the Betancourt International Engineering Forum at the Emperor Alexander I St. Petersburg State Transport University.

36 institutions of higher education took part at the Constituent Conference: from Russia (12 universities), China (20 universities), India (2 universities), South Africa (2 universities) and Brazil (1 university — participation in absence).

The Association aims to support efforts of the leaders of the BRICS countries in the implementation of the planned joint programs in the economic, humanitarian, cultural and academic fields. The purpose of the Association is to unite efforts to integrate higher education institutions into the global educational and scientific community, to build and maintain the reputation, improve university rankings on the international education and research market, promote the export of educational services, and transport sectors development.

The success of the organized in 2014 Association of Rectors of the Transport Universities of Russia and China inspired the initiators of the Constituent Conference and, first of all, Emperor Alexander I St. Petersburg State Transport University for the creation of the Association of Rectors of the Transport Universities of BRICS. The Association of Rectors of the Transport Universities of Russia and China has shown its effectiveness as an international platform for the exchange of experience and search for new forms of interaction between the related universities of the two countries. Over the past four years, the number of joint academic, scientific and cultural projects and programs that are being implemented in accordance with bilateral and multilateral agreements of partner universities have significantly increased.

The participants of the Association of Rectors of the Transport Universities of Russia and China came to the conclusion that the time has come to include transport related educational institutions of India, the Republic of South Africa and Brazil into the sphere of joint activities. Preparatory work began: an exchange of letters and delegations, a draft Charter of the Association was prepared and discussed in absentia. Finally, on November 13, 2018, the Constituent Conference of a new international public organization was held in Emperor Alexander I St. Petersburg State Transport University.

The conference established the Charter of the Association. The founding organizations unanimously voted for the reciprocal admission to the Association. The board of the Association was elected. The rector of the Emperor Alexander I St. Petersburg State Transport University A.Yu. Panychev was elected as the Co-chairman of the Association.

Participants thanked the Rector of the Emperor Alexander I St. Petersburg State Transport University A.Yu. Panychev for organizing the conference and expressed confidence in the successful work within the Association.