As the name suggests, the International Institute of Business Administration — FRIDAS  aims at establishing and promoting close relations with institutions of higher learning in Western countries. With this aim in view, we have already developed and implemented joint programs with our partners in France (Universities of Montpellier, Rennes, Nice, Lyons, Paris), Finland (Jyväskylä University of Applied Science — JAMK) and Sweden (IFL- Entrepreneur, Stockholm, Sweden). Another long-term partner of FRIDAS is TIPS program, Tennessee, USA, that since 2002 provides summer internships for FRIDAS students in the US.

Relations with finland Jyväskylä University of Applied Science — JAMK (Jyväskylä, Finland)

• Cooperation started in 1995 with student and teacher exchanges. In 1996 — 2002: ca. 20 JAMK students trained at FRIDAS in Russian language and culture. In 2005: 2 JAMK students interned at Metra and Medbiopharm and trained at FRIDAS. In 1996 — 2009: more than 40 FRIDAS students trained at JAMK. Annual teacher visits since 1997. Courses in International Business and Marketing for FRIDAS students and courses in Russian Business culture and Marketing for the Russian Market for JAMK students.
• Dual degrees: Agreement signed in May 2002. In 2003 — 2008 11 FRIDAS students received such degrees. 4 students are expected to gain dual degree in 2009.
• Joint Conference «Politics and Business in the Changing World» started in 1998. It is held every 2 years, 6 conferences have been held so far. More than 140 international students from 23 countries and more than 800 Russian students from 40 regions of Russia have taken part in it. Upcoming conference is due in April 2010.
• RUNBIZ Project in 2006: Level of interest in Jyvaskyla and Kaluga region in promoting mutual trade and business was identified (app. 70 and 30 companies, respectively). Students and teachers on both sides were involved. Guide for doing business in Kaluga region for international businesspeople was developed and published.
• In 2007 the two schools started to develop a joint Master's Program. The Master's Degree programme in International Business and Technological Competence Management is expected to be launched in 2010. The program is a practical, work-life oriented programme of higher education, which consists of 60 ECTS and can be completed in 2 years. Teachers and tutors from both schools will take part in it. Training will take place both in Russia and Finland.

Connections with business, joint training programs for business and public administration

• Based on the agreement FRIDAS has the official status in representing , marketing and selling training and educational services of JAMK in Kaluga region of Russian Federation starting January the 1st 2008.
• 2 groups of businesspeople from Kaluga and Obninsk were trained at JAMK in August 2008 and May 2009.
• FRIDAS helps JAMK to arrange visits for Finnish businesspeople to Russia and find partners

Promotion of interregional relations between Jyvaskyla and Obninsk, Central Finland and Kaluga region FRIDAS and JAMK jointly promote relations between their respective regions — Kaluga oblast and Central Finland. An Agreement on Cooperation was signed between the two regions with active assistance on the part of both schools. Numerous business, governmental and cultural visits have been arranged with active involvement of both FRIDAS and JAMK.

Relations with Sweden IFL-Entrepreneur, Stockholm, Sweden

FRIDAS started cooperation with IFL-Entrepreneur in 1999 under the Regional Partnership Program sponsored by SIDA (Swedish International Development and Cooperation Agency). The main goal of the project was to establish management training institutions in Russia in order to promote the development of market economy and business.

Four management training programs were transferred to FRIDAS under this project. These programs are offered by FRIDAS on the Russian market today («Develop your business», «Efficient Management Team Training», «From Hierarchy to Partnership» и «Innovation Entrepreneurship»). During 1999 — 2006 more than 800 people were trained by FRIDAS under these programs.

Grow Kaluga Project

In 2004-2007 the Grow Kaluga Project was successfully implemented in Kaluga region. The aim of the project was to establish the infrastructure for innovation entrepreneurship support within the region. The Project was implemented in cooperation with Linkoping University and IFL.

The project involved the following activities:

• Three «ENP-Innovation Entrepreneurship» programs (60 trainees totally). Each program involved a visit to Sweden with visits to business-incubators, science parks and a training program with Swedish experts (October 2004, October 2005 and April 2007). Training programs were gradually transferred from Swedish trainers to Russian and since 2006 FRIDAS trainers deliver the program.
• Mentorship program: 15 experienced businesspeople from Kaluga region were retrained in FRIDAS and in Sweden (October 2005) to coach ENP trainees (start-up businesspeople).
• Train-the-Trainers program was held for the ENP program involving «shadow training» in programs, and visits to Sweden Программа (10 trainers). Methodology training was held in September 2005 at FRIDAS. (15 trainers).
• Infrastructure development program — training and business-plan development for various Russian stakeholder organizations for the Grow Kaluga network. A business trip to Sweden for the top management of Kaluga region including the Anatoly Artamonov, the Governor, was arranged in September 2005 (15 people). The visit involved training, visits to to business-incubators and science parks and meetings in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sweden, with the Governor of Ostergotland province and Mayor of the City of Linkoping. Training program for infrastructure representatives was held in Sweden in September 2006 (21 trainee).