UNESCO – Кафедра юнеско по компаративным исследованиям духовных традицый, специфики их культур и межрелигиозного диалога

UNITWIN/UNESCO Chairs Programme in 1991 as an international action plan for academic solidarity to strengthen inter-university co-operation with particular emphasis on support to higher education in the developing countries.
The programme works towards establishing and reinforcing strong and durable linkages amongst higher education and scientific institutions worldwide and at facilitating the transfer of knowledge while combating the brain drain. Special attention is paid to providing assistance through inter-regional and (sub)regional linkages.
The UNITWIN/UNESCO Chairs Programme encompasses a broad spectrum of activities requiring very flexible modes of action. It is based on genuine, equal partnership among the higher education institutions which initiate various projects within its framework.
Two types of closely interrelated and interdependent activities have emerged as the base for the major strategies for implementing the Programme: inter-university networks and international UNESCO Chairs. While individual chairs responding to specific needs are possible, the programme endeavours to create the proper conditions to allow each chair to be a focal point of a network or to be a part of a network.

The UNITWIN network on Interreligious studies

News

30 September 2026

Islamic Conference in Kazan

On September 22 to 23, 2026, 12th International Islamic Theological Scientific and Practical Conference took place in Kazan, Republic of Tatarstan, Russian Federation. ‘Qur’an in Context of World History and Digital Age: from Manuscript Traditions to Printing Standards’ served as the focal point of the meeting. Participants from a number of regions of Russia, as well as from Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Iran and other countries of the Muslim world took part and gave talks. A wide range of actual topics was also discussed, especially intercultural dialogue and the interfaith one, in present-day world. Our UNESCO Chair was represented by Dr. Goolchokhrah Seidova who served as co-moderator of Section Meeting 2, dedicated to role of Digital Technologies in Preservation and Dissemination of Qur’anic Legacy.

Attachment: official program (in Russian).
30 June 2026

Swords into Plowshares Meeting

On June 30, 2026 global meeting of Working Group ‘Swords into Plowshares’, dedicated to actual issues in present-day peace culture, took place. The meeting was convened online. It was organized at the basis of UNESCO Chair in Transcultural Studies, Interreligious Dialogue and Peace, and UNESCO Crossings Institute for Conflict-Sensitive Reporting and Intercultural Dialogue, both working at University of Oregon, USA (Swords into Plowshares | University of Oregon – UNESCO Crossings Institute). The meeting was moderated by Mr. Steven Shankman, Chair, and by Mr. Yitzhak Husbands-Hankin (Rabbi Emeritus of Temple Beth Israel in Eugene, USA). About a dozen international participants took part in the rally, representing UNESCO Chairs in Australia, Austria, Finland, Macedonia, and other countries. General discussion was focused upon possible ways of promoting peace culture in present-day world, establishing working contact with UN Peacebuilding Commission, and гusing the opportunity of UNESCO Visit by the Pope planned for September 2026. Our Chair was represented by Mr. D.Spivak who briefly introduced main issues in our work and reminded about two major programs conducted by UNESCO this year, namely International NGO Forum conducted in the framework of ‘Africa Week 2026’, which was dedicated to Advancing a Culture of Peace in Africa: From Roots to Resilience; and UNESCO 2026 Youth for Peace Intercultural Leadership Programme.

Attachment: Program of the Meeting.
23 April 2026

New book on AI

A new book has just been published under the auspices of our UNESCO Chair. It was written by a professor of our Chair, Mr. Dmitry A. Ivashintsov. The book is entitled ‘Phase Transition’. It is devoted to present-day threats and challenges rooted in the Artificial Intelligence (AI), as well as to numerous problems and prospects of its incorporation into the human civilization. This is why two basic models of AI, namely GPT-3 and DeepSeek-V3, are named as co-authors of the book. The text contains a lot of fresh ideas and intuitions, as well as insights linked to the ethical aspects of AI.

Photo: front cover by Mr. Dmitry D. Ivashintsov.
25 March 2026

Forum of UNESCO Chairs in Russia

On March 12, 2026, our Chair took part in Forum of UNESCO Chairs working in the Russian Federation. The Forum took place at the premises of G. Plekhanov National Economic University in Moscow. Representatives of about 30 Chairs took part in the rally, either personally or, online. Actual tasks of Coordination Committee of UNESCO Chairs in Russia were discussed. Nine basic clusters of Chairs were introduced (Africa, Biosphere, Heritage, Indigenous People, Sciences, Inclusive Education, Arts Education, Intercultural Education, AI), necessity of formation of a national pool of UNESCO experts was formulated. Our Chair was represented by Ms, A. Venkova, Deputy Chair.
12 March 2026

New Issue of our Network Journal

The fifth issue of the journal of our Network of UNITWIN/UNESCO Chairs in Inter-religious Dialogue and Intercultural Understanding (IDIU) has just been published. The issue starts with a Foreword by the Convenor, professor F. Mansouri. The issue abunds in information concerning a number of forthcoming events, namely, Webinar in UNESCO Chair on Intercultural Competences Series entitled ‘Women Beyond Victimhood: Indigenous Peacebuilding and the Gendered Politics of Repair in South Sudan’ (March 2026); 4th World Conference for Religious Dialogue and Cooperation (Macedonia, June 2026), and UNESCO Chair on Intercultural Competence Annual Conference (Senegal, September-October 2026). Chairholder Spotlight is devoted this time to an Interview of our Chair, Mr. D. Spivak. Network News present manifold activities of Chairs belonging to our Network in Russia, and in France / Congo.
9 February 2026

International Conference ‘Anthropological Turn in Policultural Education: Values, Identities, Educational Strategies’

On February 6, 2026, International Conference ‘Anthropological Turn in Policultural Education: Values, Identities, Educational Strategies’ was conducted at A.I. Herzen Russian State Pedagogical University in St.Petersburg, Russia. It was an extremely frosty and sunny day. About a hundred researchers and educationers gathered at the majestic Coat of Arms Hall of the University. Our Chair took part in the preparatory work, a representative of ours served as a member of the Program Committee of the Conference. Dimitri Spivak gave an invited plenary talk, entitled ‘Intercultural Dialogue in UNESCO Educational Strategy’. The talk was focused upon contents and implications of such strategic documents as UNESCO Constitution (1945) and its Medium-Term Strategy (2022-2029), as well as Vision Statement of the UNO Secretary-General A. Guterrez on Transforming Education (2022), Fortaleza Declaration of the Global Education Meeting organized by UNESCO (2024), and Santiago Consensus adopted at World Summit of Teachers, sponsored by UNESCO. (2025). Alina Venkova gave an invited talk dedicated to ‘Anthropological Challenges of Digital Space: Mechanisms of Inheritance and Outlooks of Creativity’.

Attachment: Program (in Russian)

Photo by A.I. Herzen Russian State Pedagogical University
1 December 2025

Round Table on Present-day Approaches to Preservation of Urban Historical Environment

On November 25, 2025, a Round Table dedicated to 35th anniversary of inclusion of the city of St. Petersburg into World Heritage List of UNESCO was conducted in St. Petersburg, basing at the premises of the local State University of Aerocosmic Equipment.
The Round Table was organized jointly by all UNESCO Chairs actively functioning in this city, i.e. Chairs basing at: State University of Aerocosmic Equipment, A.I. Herzen National State Pedagogical University, Peter the Great Polytechnic University, and, the last but not the least, our Chair. The Round Table took place under the auspices of Commission of the Russian Federation for UNESCO, and of Coordination Committee of UNESCO Chairs of this country.
Present-day approaches to preservation and promotion of urban historical environment served as the focal topic, regarded from various angles by a number of speakers who represented both state authorities, and the academic world, as well a number of prominent educationers, especially those actively working in the framework of UNESCO Associated Schools. Our Chair, Mr. D. Spivak, and Academic Secretary, Mr. M. Stepanov took part in the meeting, acting as representatives of our Chair. M. Stepanov also gave an invited talk dedicated to basic approaches to Urban Environment: from Intercultural Dialogue to Dialogue of Heritages.

Attachment: Program (in Russian).
9 October 2025

UNESCO Chairs Seminar “Education in Multicultural Society at Current Stage”

On October 7, 2025, a seminar with the participation of representatives of UNESCO Chairs was held at the A.I. Herzen State Pedagogical University of Russia in St. Petersburg. Development of education in the face of new cultural and civilizational challenges was discussed at the seminar. Deputy Head of our UNESCO gave a plenary talk on ’Educational Practices as Object of Intangible Cultural Heritage”. As a result of the seminar, a decision was made to integrate UNESCO chairs of St. Petersburg more closely, in order to implement interdisciplinary projects, hold joint events, and share best practices that reflect UNESCO’s current strategies.

Program (in Russian)

Photos: Russian State Pedagogical University
6 October 2025

Inter-religious Conference in Bolgar

On September 22. 2025, Scientific and Practical Conference ‘Input of Inter-religious Dialogue into Patriotic Education of Young People’ took place in the holy town of Bolgar, Republic of Tararstan, Russian Federation. The conference was organized and conducted under the auspices of Bolgar Islamic Academy, which is the leading university providing Islamic education in Russia and neighboring countries. Participants represented both Islamic leaders and scholars from different places in Russia, as well as societal activists and academics belonging to other religions,all of them being dedicated to interfaith dialogue. Our professor, G. Seidova, took active part in the rally, serving as co-moderator of three of its Sections, and giving an invited talk, dedicated to ‘Universalization of Traditional Values as Means of Conflict Moderation by Young People’.

Attachment: Program (in Russian)
6 October 2025

3rd international Buddhist Forum

The 3rd international Buddhist Forum ‘Buddhist World in the New Millennium’ recently took place in the city of Elista, capital of the Kalmyk Republic, Russian Federation. Mr. A. Alekseiev-Apraksin, who is a professor of our Chair, served as the moderator of a special Section, dedicated to ‘Buddhist Culture: Literature, Art, Architecture’, which took place on September 26, 2025. The section was co-organized by Kalmyk State University, Foundation for Buddhist Educvation and Studies, Government of Republic of Kalmykia, and other organizations. The Section comprised reports of prominent researchers of Buddhist culture from Russia, Mongolia, Sri Lanka, presentation of cultural projects, and initiation of systematic collaboration between Russian universities and University of Granada (Spain), Confucius Institute (China), University of Delhi (India), to name but a few.Program of the Forum: https://buddha.forum/programs (in Russian)

All news

All