Youth exchange programs in the SCO countries and their integrative potential: Russia’s vantage point

In today’s world international cooperation is the basis for sustained economic growth and development, allowing overcoming imbalances and improving the quality of life, renovating technologies and knowledge, achieving other goals of the millennium development. The importance of studying perspective of development of youth exchanges in countries members of the SCO is determined by its role in strengthening mutual trust and good neighbourly relations; development of the integration process in the fields of education, science and technologies; giving new impetus to enhancement of multilateral cooperation. The purpose of this article is to present the analysis of youth exchanges among Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan based on the results of sociological survey among participants of international exchange programs (n=449). It was found that young people are more interested in cultural programs and programs aimed at developing youth policy rather than educational and academic programs. Expectations and intentions of youth from the SCO countries are often linked to Russia, most respondents have plans to participate in youth exchanges in this country. The research led to findings about factors of development of youth exchanges within the SCO, that could be used for correction of strategies, choice of methods and forms of work, more effective decision-making in the field of youth policy, forecasts about potential of the development of the SCO youth organization.