UNESCO – Page 4 – 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

6 November 2019

Annual National Scientific and Practical Conference ‘Traditional Religions for Stronger Russia’

Annual National Scientific and Practical Conference ‘Traditional Religions for Stronger Russia’ took place on November 6, 2019, basing at the premises of B.N.Yeltsin Presidential Library in St.Petersburg, Russia. The conference was organized by Spiritual Administration of Muslims of St.Petersburg and North-Western Russia, acting in partnership with St.Petersburg Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church, St.Petersburg Buddhist Temple, Big Choral Synagogue, as well as Administrations of St.Petersburg and of Leningrad Oblast, along with a number of leading state universities and scientific research institutes. UNESCO Chair on Comparative Studies of Spiritual Traditions, their Specific Cultures and Interreligious Dialogue was represented by D.Spivak, Chair, who gave an invited plenary talk entitled Actual Problems of Interfaith Dialogue in Cultural Strategy of UNESCO.
16 September 2019

Fifth International Symposium: West/East In the Chronotope of Cultural Memory

Co-organised by the UNESCO Chair on Comparative Studies of Spiritual Traditions, their Specific Cultures and Interreligious Dialogue, the Fifth International Symposium: West/East In the Chronotope of Cultural Memory explored intercultural dialogue, with a primary focus on the Buddhist world.

A number of prominent speakers from China, Korea, Mongolia and Russia were in attendance. To view the symposium program, click here.
6 July 2019

New Book: ‘Space of Wanderings’

A new book, ‘Space of Wanderings‘, dedicated to the creative productions of prominent Russian artist Alexei Smolovik, has recently been published under the auspices of the UNESCO Chair on Comparative Studies of Spiritual Traditions, their Specific Cultures and Interreligious Dialogue held by Dr Dimitri Spivak. The book is reflective of the on-going nature of intercultural dialogue.

Smolovik draws his inspiration from a wide range of traditions: The Byzantine icon, the traditional Russian icon, the Russian 20^thcentury visionary Nicholas Roerich, and Russian post-revolutionary avant-garde artists. Old Chinese masters, French Impressionists, as well as modern Dutch genius Piet Mondrian, have also been important influences on Smolovik.
28 June 2019

The meeting of the Northern Caucasus affiliation of the Chair

On June 28, 2019, in Makhachkala, at the Dagestan State University, as part of the meeting of the Academic Council, a renewal ceremony was held for the affiliation of the UNESCO Chair for comparative studies of spiritual traditions, the specifics cultures and interreligious dialogue in the North Caucasus, based on the basis of Dagestan State University, Derbent Historical and Architectural and the Art Museum-Reserve and the Museum of the History of World Cultures and Religions in 2015.
The ceremonial scientific event was held by the Scientific Secretary of the UNESCO Chair Mikhail Stepanov and the Head of the Department of the UNESCO Chair in the North Caucasus Gulchohra Seidova.
The department’s activities are aimed at studying the cultural heritage of the North Caucasus region, selecting and testing the best practices of world culture in a multinational region.
27 June 2019

International Scientific Conference ‘Religious World of St.Petersburg’ (26 June, 2019, St.Petersburg, Russia)

International Scientific Conference ‘Religious World of St.Petersburg’ took place on June 26, 2019, at the historical hall of the Taurian Palace in St.Petersburg, Russia.

The conference was organized by the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of the City of St.Petersburg and the North-Western Federal District of Russia, and by the Administration of St.Petersburg. UNESCO Chair in Comparative Studies of Spiritual Traditions, their Specific Cultures and Interreligious Dialogue, which works basing on the facilities of D.S.Likhachev Russian Scientific Research Institute of Cultural and Natural Heritage (Moscow, Russian Federation) served as co-organizer of the conference.

The leaders of practically all the major Muslim communities of Russia, including Tatarstan and, Chechen Republic were present, as well as a number of prominent experts in the interfaith dialogue, and representatives of the Christian, Lamaist, and Jewish communities of St.Petersburg.

Dimitri Spivak presented an invited plenary talk, dedicated to Interfaith Dialogue in the Cultural Strategy of UNESCO. Two basic documents, relevant for this purpose, were analysed, i.e. Medium-term Strategy 2014-2021 (37 C/4), and Action Plan of the International Decade for the Rapprochement of Cultures 2013-2022. Another focal point was formed by the general shift from the communicative aspect of dialogue to the cognitive one, which forms part of the research conducted in the framework of the UNESCO chair.In addition, D.Spivak briefly analyzed peculiarities of the strategy of King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Centre for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue (KAICIID), which acts as a keynote partner of the Decade, and presented essential features of a new flagship project of UNESCO, entitled ‘Revive the Spirit of Mosul’.
24 May 2019

Intercultural and Interfaith Dialogue and its place within UNESCO’s Cultural Strategy

In his capacity as UNESCO Chair in Comparative Studies of Spiritual Traditions, their Specific Cultures and Inter-religious Dialogue and Director of the Saint-Petersberg Branch of the Russian Institute for Cultural Research Dr Dimitri Spivak was invited to speak at the Papal University of John Paul II on 6 May 2019.

Dr Spivak’s talk, which had as its main focus intercultural and interfaith dialogue and its place within UNESCO’s Cultural Strategy, reflected on actual tendencies within the theory of intercultural dialogue, especially the general shift from its communicative aspect to the cognitive one.

Pragmatic issues were examined — based on the analysis of UNESCO’s Strategic Objectives 6 and 7 of the Medium-Term Strategy 2014-2021 37 C/4. In the former case, intercultural dialogue was regarded as an essential part of the sustainability science and in the latter case it was presented as an integral component of the preservation and revitalization of cultural heritage, especially the shared / cross-border one.

Actual trends in development of interfaith dialogue formed another focal point of Dr Spivak’s talk. The trends outlined were based upon the UN General Assembly Resolutions: (59/23 (2004) “Promotion of interreligious dialogue”; (60/10 (2005) “Promotion of interreligious dialogue and cooperation for peace”; (60/11 (2005) “Promotion of religious and cultural understanding, harmony and cooperation”; (60/150 (2005) “Combating defamation of religions”; (66/226 (2011) “Promotion of interreligious and intercultural dialogue, understanding and cooperation for peace”; and the Action Plan of the International Decade for the Rapprochement of Cultures 2013-2022. In conclusion, Dr Spivak looked at the key issues and prospects of the International Network of Interfaith Dialogue for Intercultural Understanding.
3 May 2019

Third Academic Forum of UNESCO Chairs/Unitwin Network On Intercultural And Interreligious Dialogue

Scientific secretary of the chair Michail Stepanov took part inThird Academic Forum of UNESCO Chairs/Unitwin Network On Intercultural And Interreligious Dialogue which took placeon May 1, 2019 in Baku (Azerbaijan). He presented report ‘Islamic education in multi-ethnic region: experience of the North Caucasus affiliation of the UNESCO Chair on Comparative Studies of Spiritual Traditions, their Specific Cultures and Interreligious Dialogue’ (with the participation of Gulchohra Seyidova). Summary Report
30 April 2019

Notre Dame de Paris: The Cathedral’s Place in European History

The Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris (“Our Lady of Paris”), part of the “Paris Banks of the Seine” UNESCO World Heritage Site, suffered a devastating fire on 15 April 2019.

Professor Dimitri Spivak, UNESCO Chair in Comparative Studies of Spiritual Traditions, their Specific Cultures and Inter-religious Dialogue, provided expert commentary on Channel 5 (Russian Federal TV channel), discussing the cultural and religious significance of the Cathedral within Western culture. To watch, click HERE. (Commentary provided in Russian).
26 March 2019

The participation of the UNESCO Chair in the celebration of the 65th anniversary of the UNESCO Associated Schools Network in the framework of the Jubilee X St. Petersburg International Educational Forum

March 26, 2019, the head of the UNESCO Chair for comparative studies of spiritual traditions, the specifics cultures and interreligious dialogue, operating at the Institute of Heritage, D. L. Spivak, deputy head A. V. Venkova and academic secretary M. A. Stepanov took part in the special venue “65 years of the network of UNESCO Associated Schools: history, experience, new thematic areas of activity” at the Jubilee X St. Petersburg International Educational Forum.
The event, which was attended by more than 300 people from different regions of Russia, was dedicated to the anniversary of the network of UNESCO associated schools in Russia and included a large-scale press conference with the participation of representatives of all UNESCO departments in the North-West Region, the Education Committee of St. Petersburg, the Committee for state control, use and protection of historical and cultural monuments of the Government of St. Petersburg.
The participants were greeted by the Executive Secretary of the Commission of the Russian Federation for UNESCO, G. E. Ordzhonikidze, the national coordinator of the UNESCO Associated Schools project in the Russian Federation, the rector of TISBI Management University N. M. Pruss, the regional coordinator of the network of UNESCO Associated Schools in the region “Baltic-North” T.V. Vlasova. The conference discussed the protection and promotion of cultural heritage among students and young people, the development and consolidation of “best practices” and strategies for harmonizing intercultural and interreligious dialogue in UNESCO strategies, especially the work with objects of intangible cultural heritage.
As part of the event, the UNESCO Chair organized and conducted a master class “Work with objects of cultural heritage in UNESCO strategies”.
12 March 2019

The 4th National Congress of UNESCO chairs in the Russian Federation

The 4^th National Congress of UNESCO chairs in the Russian Federation took place on March 6-7, 2019, in Kazan (Tatarstan, Russia), basing on the facilities of the Tisbi University, Kazan.

The Congress took place in presence of UNESCO Director General, Ms. A.Azoulay, and under general coordination of G.Ordzhonikidze (National Commission of the Russian Federation for UNESCO), and V.Egorov (Coordination Committee of UNESCO Chairs in Russia).Problems and prospects of about 60 UNESCO chairs, being active in Russia, in the fields of science, education, and culture, were presented and discussed.

At the meeting of the Coordination Committee, its four-year report (2015-2019) was presented, and its fellows for the next four-year period were elected. Applications of four major Russian universities for the initiation of new UNESCO chairs were discussed as well. Dimitri Spivak took part in the works of the Congress as head of one of the most respected chairs, working in the realm of culture, in Russia, and as a full member of the Coordination Committee. Problems of Culture and Dialogue were regarded in his plenary report, which was concentrated upon basic insights of the cultural strategy of UNESCO, including the paradigmatic shift from the concept of intercultural dialogue – to the rapprochement of cultures, as well as problems and prospects of interfaith dialogue on the vast territory of Russia, especially between Orthodox Christianity, Northern (Lamaist) Buddhism, and Islam, both Suni and Shi’a; and upon basic issues in the work of our UNESCO/UNITWIN Network of Interfaith Dialogue.

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