UNESCO – Page 2 – 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

1 April 2025

Session of Coordination Committee of UNESCO Chairs

Spring session of Coordination Committee of UNESCO Chairs in Russian Federation took place on March 28, 2025, basing at the premises of the federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Moscow. Following an introductory address by the Executive Secretary of the National Commission for UNESCO of the Russian Federation, Mr. A. Alimov, applications for foundation of two new UNESCO chairs were regarded, both coming from the city of St. Petersburg. One of them was submitted by the Presidential Academy of Economics and Management, another one, by National University of Traditional Folk Crafts. A number of other issues were discussed, especially program of the forthcoming National Congress of UNESCO Chairs, which is due to take part in May, later this year. Our Chair was represented online by D.Spivak.
30 December 2024

International Forum on Actual Issues of Sustainable Development

On December 24, 2024, International Forum ‘This is My World: Territories, Languages, Cultures in Sustainable Development’ took place in Ufa, the capital of the Republic of Bashkortostan, which forms part of the Russian Federation. The Forum was summoned under the auspices of Commission of the Russian Federation for UNESCO, and State University of Ufa. Representatives of quite a few universities and research centres from Russia, as well as from foreign countries, took part in its work. Our Chair was represented by D. Spivak, who gave a plenary talk, dedicated to Intercultural Dialogue and Sustainable Development in UNESCO Strategy.

Program (in Russian): Attacment
5 November 2024

6th National Congress in Cultural Studies

6th National Congress in Cultural Studies took place from October, 30 till November, 1, 2024. in Moscow, Russian Federation, basing at the facilities of D.S. Likhachev Russian Scientific Research Institute of Cultural and Natural Heritage. Our Chair took most active part in the organization of congress and in conducting its scientific program. D. Spivak served as plenary speaker, and as moderator of a section meeting dedicated to Cultural Identity in Multipolar World. A. Venkova served as moderator of a section on Cultural Facets of Visuality, and gave a talk dedicated to this aspect of cultural studies. M. Stepanov served as moderator of a section devoted to Digital Issues and Artificial Intelligence, and gave a talk dedicated to these topics. The Congress became a landmark in Russian cultural science, so we are glad that our Chair contributed to its success.

Appendix: official program of the Congress and report summaries of its participants (in Russian)
14 October 2024

6th Bolgar Forum with International Participation “Theological Legacy of Muslims in Russia”

6th International Forum dedicated to Theological Legacy of Muslims in Russia, took place from October 7 till 11, 2024, in the holy town of Bolgar, which is situated in the Republic of Tatarstan, Russian Federation. Our fellow, Ms. Gulchokhrah SEIDOVA, took part in the Forum, giving a talk devoted to problems and prospects of present-day family life. She also served as co-moderator of three sessions, one of which was dedicated to legal aspects of Muslim families; another one, to their regional peculiarities in Russia; the third one, to their educational facets. In all cases, special attention was devoted to the present-day UNESCO viewpoints and strategies.

Attachment: official program of the Forum (in Russian)
14 October 2024

Intercultural Dialogue in Unesco Medium-Term Strategy

A new paper dedicated to actual aspects of UNESCO Medium-Term Strategy (2022–2029) was recently published by D.Spivak, Chair, in a Russian peer-reviewed scientific journal. Systematic comparison of the vision of intercultural dialogue in the actual Program of UNESCO activities (2022-2025), and in the main text of the aforementioned Strategy, form the main subject of the paper. Basic directions in the development of intercultural dialogue are presented in the framework of the intersection of five Major Programmes, and of four Strategic Objectives, forming the main peculiarity of UNESCO planning for the actual four-year period. These directions are: protection of languages and cultures of indigenous peoples, promotion of multilingualism and learning through mother tongues and national languages; theoretical elaboration of both its cognitive and communicative aspects; and ways of its linking with preservation and revitalization of cultural heritage, primarily in the framework of ‘diversity of heritage’. Basic dimensions of the activities of the Russian Federation in the framework of UNESCO activities as a whole, are carefully regarded. Promotion of intercultural dialogue, primarily in the framework of International Decade of Indigenous Languages (2022–2032), forms a particularly constructive trend, inter alia.

Attachment: full text of the paper (in Russian)
6 June 2024

Panel Discussion on Intercultural Projects

On May 5 to 8, 2024, St.Petersburg International Economic Forum took place in St.Petersburg, Russia. The Forum is a global event, gathering more than 17,000 participants from about 40 countries, ranging from state leaders and politicians to academics and business tycoons (St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (forumspb.com). Our Chair was invited to take part in a Panel Discussion ‘Uniting Cultures and Traditions in Modern Intercultural Projects’, which took place on June, 6. D.Spivak gave a brief talk dedicated to ‘Actual Trends in Theory of Intercultural Rapprochement’, mostly centered upon intercultural issues in Medium-Term Strategy of UNESCO (2022–2029), and International Decade of Indigenous Languages (2022–2032), and took part in a lively discussion.

Program: Business programme (forumspb.com) Photo by D. Spivak
22 May 2024

Conference ‘Promoting Traditional Family Values in Age of Globalization: Religious Viewpoints’

On May 20 to 23, 2024, National Scientific Educational Conference ‘Promoting Traditional Family Values in Age of Globalization: Religious Viewpoints’ was conducted in the city of Mahachkala, which is the capital of the Republic of Daghestan, Russian Federation. The conference was supported by Federal Agency for Ethnic Issues; Institute of Oriental Studies, Russian Academy of Sciences; State University of Daghestan, and a number of other state institutions and non-governmental organizations, primarily religious ones.

Three our fellows took part as speakers: head of our Affiliation in Northern Caucasus, Ms. G. Seidova (‘Traditional Family Values and Globalization’), professor Ms. A. Buttaieva (‘Peculiarities of Practicing Islam in Daghestani Families (Traditions and Innovations)’, and scientific consultant Mr. Sh. Kashaf (‘Participatory Projects of Muftiiyats of Northern Caucasus and of Ural-Volga Region in New Regions of Russia: Religious Axiological Foundations and Practices of Social Interaction’).

Attachmemt: Official program (in Russian). Photo: G. Seidova
27 April 2024

Conference Dedicated to I.Kant

On April 26, 2024, National Scientific and Practical Conference dedicated to the 300^th anniversary of the great German philosopher Immanuel Kant, was conducted, basing at the facilities of University of Science and Technologies in the city of Ufa, Bashkortostan. Local UNESCO Chair in Education in Multinational and Multi-confessional Society served as a co-sponsor of the event. The conference was attended by several dozens of local academics. Our Chair was invited by the organizers of the event to provide an opening address and introductory plenary talk entitled ‘Intercultural Dialogue in Present-day UNESCO Strategy’ (for Program in Russian, see Attachment).
29 March 2024

Spring Session of Coordination Committee of UNESCO Chairs

Spring session of the Coordination Committee of UNESCO chairs of the Russian Federation took place on March 28. 2024, in the city of Kazan, basing at the facilities of the local TISBI University. The session comprised talks given by Ms. T. Dovgalenko, CEO of the Commission for UNESCO of Russia, by Ms. I. Nichanian, a representative of the general staff of UNESCO, as well as a number of UNESCO officials and experts. Discussion of applications for the creation of new UNESCO chairs was conducted. This time two applications were presented, one by the Federal University of Kazan (Republic of Tatarstan, Russia), another by an affiliation of the National Academy of Economics and State Service (St. Petersburg, Russia). Our chair served as the official reviewer of the former application, and a participant of a rather detailed discussion of its details, which provided us with new insights into present-day UNESCO tactics and best practices in the realm of cultural diversity and inter-cultural dialogue, as well as World heritage (there are four objects of the official UNESCO list of World heritage in Tatarstan, i.e. Kazan Kremlin, historical island town of Sviyazhsk, historical city of Great Bolgar, and Astronomic Observatory of the Kazan Unibersity). We also took active part in the discussion on the latter application, which was centered upon cultural and creative industries in the framework of ‘smart cities’. The session resumed by discussion of our actions in the course of the year 2024.

Photo by D.Spivak
14 February 2024

International Scientific and Practical Conference ‘New Outlook for Regional Development – Incorporation into Eurasian Economic Perspective’

On February 8–9, 2024, 17th International Scientific and Practical Conference ‘New Outlook for Regional Development – Incorporation into Eurasian Economic Perspective’ took place in the city of Stavropol, in the South of Russia, basing at the facilities of the local Institute of Friendship of Nations of Caucasus. A number of scientific institutions, as well as business organizations, served at its co-organizers, ranging from the Eurasian Scientific Club to Chamber of Industry and Commerce of Stavropol region. About a hundred speakers took part in the rally, both from this country and from abroad. Our Chair served as a co-organizer of the conference. D.Spivak, Chair, gave an opening speech at the initial ceremony. G.Seidova, Head of the Northern Caucasus affiliation of our UNESCO Chair, served as a member of the Organization Committee, and as a moderator of Section 4 of the Conference, dedicated to the ‘Consolidating Mission of Moral Values for Nations of Eurasian Commonwealth’.

Official Program of the conference (in Russian)

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