With foreign students representing a major source of income for Australian universities, the country's move into the Russian market was seen as a sign that foreign institutions have great potential here.

Even though Australia started virtually from scratch when it began marketing its universities in Russia early 1999, progress was soon made.

In 1998, before it had started implementing any real strategy, about 200 Russian students were undertaking long term studies Down Under.

In 1999, that figure rose to 364. And, for this year, the Australian Embassy in Russia would like to see a 50 percent increase on those figures.

"Russia has a huge potential," said Rosemary Lorenz, responsible for the Russian-Australian program, whose goal it is to promote Australian universities in Russia. "In time, it is possible that it could become the European country that sends the largest number of students to Australia."

But in spite of those encouraging figures, Lorenz is intent on remaining cautious. "We are still in a preliminary phase. For the moment, I am quite happy to grow the business slowly," she said.

That attitude pretty well sums up the stance of those Western countries that have an interest in attracting foreign students and who, along with Australia, will take part in Moscow's third Education Fair, to be held from March 23-25.

"The potential is certainly there, and there are quite a number of people who can afford to send their children to study abroad," said Jean-Marie Verger, attache in charge of education cooperation at the French Embassy. "In Moscow alone, it is fair to assume approximately 1.5 million people enjoy living standards comparable to those in the West.

"Furthermore, there are some quite wealthy people in some large cities in the regions, such as Tyumen, which largely lives from the oil industry. But of course, no mass movement should be expected."

Even the British Council, which managed to attract 2,000 Russian students for full year courses to British institutions in 1999, as well as several thousand more on shorter programs, still considers Russia a small market.

"However, the growth of the Russian economy makes me feel rather optimistic," said Ursula Woolley, assistant director of operations at the British Council in Moscow.

Russian students wanting to study abroad are mostly interested in business studies, said Sergei Kulik, director of MV Center, the Russian private company that organizes the Moscow Education Fair.

"If you want to be able to work in the West, or for a Western company in Russia, you have to have an international education. Another factor is that there are very few good business professors here in Russia," he said.

But even if there are Russian students willing to go study abroad and who can afford the expenses, some obstacles remain for centers trying to attract foreign students.

"One of the problems we have is that it is sometimes difficult to find really professional agents, that is, Russian companies representing the interests of Australian universities in Russia and trying to attract Russian students for them," said Lorenz. "In particular, it is not easy to get an agent really committed to you."

The French, many of whose universities are free, have other problems. "We sometimes have a hard time making the Russians understand that just because a university is free doesn't mean it is worthless. We try to explain to them that studies there actually have a cost, which is not small, only the bill is footed by the French state."

Finally, getting Russian students visas is often no small task, although few dare state the facts as bluntly as Rosemary Lorenz: "Australia is interested in Russian students. It is not interested in beautiful young women trying to get married in Australia."