The Department has signed an MoU in 1995 with the Department of Russian & Methods of its Teaching of the Russian People’s Friendship University (RPFU), Moscow, which promoted collaborative conduct of academic programmes through the exchange of faculty and other related activities. As part of the MoU, during 1996 – 1999, the Department together with RPFU conducted a Foundation course in Russian meant for students seeking admission to the professional courses in RPFU. The ‘Foundation Course in Russian’ was equated to the ‘Preparatory Programme’ offered in RPFU. Besides, Introductory courses in French, German & Russian were also offered at Calicut city during’97-99.

A Centre for initiating inter-disciplinary studies and research in the field of Indian & Western literatures (viz. Centre for Comparative Literature) was instituted under the Department in the year 2000 and since then the Department has been recognized as a major academic centre to offer PG, M.Phil. & PhD. Programme in Comparative Literature as well as part-time programmes in Russian Language.

Besides, Open-Elective programmes in Russian are also offered to enable inter-departmental mobility of students, which is one of the core aspects of the Choice-based Credit Semester System (CCSS) introduced at the PG level from 2008 onwards in the 2nd & 3rd Semesters.

The interdisciplinary programme of Comparative Literature offered not only aims at imparting comprehensive knowledge in the area of Indian and western Literatures, it opens vast areas of research such as Comparative studies of Indian and Western Literatures, Russian Language and Methods of its teaching, Studies in Russian Literature and Culture in comparison with Indian and Western, Women’s writings in Russian and Indian Literatures, Russian Realistic fiction, Contemporary Russian Literature, Literary theories & Narratology, Translation studies, Scientific & Popular fiction in Indian & Russian Literatures and so on.

The syllabi and course curriculum are regularly revised and restructured. As part of the curriculum, every year the Department organizes a Translation workshop, which is one of the best practices for skill development followed. The Translation workshops not only aim at developing the skill of translation in students but also intend to inspire the participants to indulge in the task of literary translation /interpretation as a better tool for future career prospects the students. Translation workshops conducted by the Department are found very helpful to the students not only in developing their skills of translation and interpretation but also in acquiring cross-cultural information.

The Department regularly organizes Seminars / Conferences and Workshops on different themes relating to Language, Literature, Culture and Translation. It also arranges Extension Lectures on various topics.

Since 1987 the Department regularly brings out an annual research journal –The Journal of Russian Literature which was later renamed as ‘ Assonance: A Journal of Russian and Comparative Literary Studies.’ 17 issues have been brought out so far. The Journal is recognized by various Universities for promotion/upgradation of posts.

The Department has a very good library with nearly 10000 titles. They comprise books in Russian Language & Literature, creative works in Indian and Western literatures, books on Theory of Literature & Literary Criticism, Translation studies, Comparative Literary and cultural studies, Women’s Literature and so on, besides journals and albums in Russian. The Department is provided with ICT facilities like a computer lab, smart classroom, LCD projector & WiFi for staff and students.)

Recently, with the introduction of the school system, the Department has become a part of the School of Languages and Literature with its new name “Department of Russian and Comparative Literature.”