In his opening remarks, University Rector Ivan Lobanov emphasized the importance of cooperation within the UNESCO Chairs network, noting that the university actively participates in international educational initiatives and scientific projects aimed at promoting sustainable societal development. He remarked that for many years, UNESCO Chairs have been accumulating the best practices and expertise of leading specialists, conducting unique research of universal human significance.
During the plenary session “Best Practices in the Work of UNESCO Chairs,” heads of the Chairs presented successful projects and humanitarian initiatives. In particular, Nikolay Veraksa, Director of the International Pedagogical Academy of Preschool Education (IPAPE), shared the experience of organizing international and All-Russian conferences and forums, such as “Early Childhood Care and Education,” “Child in the Digital World,” and “ORIYENTIRY DETSTVA”. He announced upcoming events, including the V International Forum “Child in the Digital World” and the All-Russian Forum for Early Childhood Education Professionals “ORIYENTIRY DETSTVA 5.0.” As part of the “ORIYENTIRY DETSTVA 5.0” Forum, the IPAPE UNESCO Chair has initiated a roundtable meeting of UNESCO Chairs on the topic “Children’s Learning and Development in the Digital Era” and invites all Congress participants to attend this session.
Furthermore, the IPAPE UNESCO Chair is implementing an educational project dedicated to L.S. Vygotsky’s cultural-historical theory and its applications in modern preschool education, in collaboration with Monash University (Australia). This partnership has already resulted in co-authored books and joint research, the findings of which have been published in academic outlets.
The plenary session also featured presentations on projects in the fields of preserving cultural and historical heritage, environmental protection, sustainable territorial development, support for indigenous peoples, and the promotion of the Russian language and culture abroad, particularly in Asian and African countries. Participants also discussed initiatives related to the development of resource-saving technologies, the protection of copyright, related rights, cultural rights, and information rights, and shared results from studies addressing global challenges and emerging social and ethical issues facing large cities and their populations. Ideas for optimizing collaboration among UNESCO Chairs and proposed directions for interdisciplinary research were also explored.
The Congress served as a significant platform for exchanging experience and developing new principles for the coordinated activities of UNESCO Chairs, which will undoubtedly contribute to the advancement of education and science in Russia.
