News

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)
10 June 2025

General Meeting of our International Network

General Meeting of UNESCO / UNITWIN Chair Network for Inter-Religious Dialogue and Intercultural Understanding took place on June 10, 2025. The Network comprises at present 31 Chair from 27 countries and forms an important institution elaborating and coordinating UNESCO activities focused upon educational, scientific and cultural aspects of intercultural and interfaith communication and rapprochement. The Meeting was presided by Mr. F. Mansouri, who serves as the Convenor of our Network, and as professor at Deakin University, Australia. Our Chair was represented by D.Spivak. The meeting which took place online, was dedicated to both current problems and prospects of our Network, and to strategic issues in UNESCO policies, such as digitization, migration, intercultural dialogue, and social cohesion.

Photo by D.Spivak
5 June 2025

International Symposium ‘W(est)-E(ast) Identity in Space of Metaculture’

8th International Symposium ‘W(est)-E(ast) Identity in Space of Metaculture’ took place in St. Petersburg, Russia, on May 24, 2025, basing at the facilities of Sociological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences. The Symposium was co-organized be Sociological Institute; Chair of Russian Philosophy and Culture, State University of St. Petersburg; Kyongbuk National University, Republic of Korea; Institute of Philosophy, Mongolia, and, the last but not the least, our UNESCO Chair. Program of the Synposium consisted of 20 reports, dedicated to various aspects of Eastern cultures and spiritualities, mostly Chinese. Japanese, and Mongolian. Mr. A. Alekseev-Apraksin, who is a professor of our Chair, served as Chairman of the Organisation Committee, and gave the initial talk, entitled ‘Metaculture: New Outlooks on Identification Practices’.

Appendix: Program (in Russian)

Photo by A. Alekseev-Apraksin