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In partnership with Venice International University (VIU), the Russian International Affairs Council and Russian universities with its corporate membership are setting up the project "Globalization 2.0: New Approaches to Research and Teaching" intended to establish a bilateral exchange connected to research and education initiatives on globalization and based on international, Russian and Italian practices. The initiative is supported by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In partnership with Venice International University (VIU), the Russian International Affairs Council and Russian universities with its corporate membership are setting up the project "Globalization 2.0: New Approaches to Research and  Teaching" intended to establish a bilateral exchange connected to research and education initiatives on globalization and based on international, Russian and Italian practices. The initiative is supported by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.   

In his letter of December 2, 2014, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov wished the involved parties every success and expressed a conviction that the project would "bolster the mutually beneficial Russian-Italian ties in international research."

On December 1-3, Venice International University hosted the first English-language seminar devoted to exchanging Russian and Italian research and teaching experiences in the area of globalization. 

The Russian side was represented by Boris Yeltsin Ural Federal University, Russian State University for the Humanities, Siberian Federal University, St. Petersburg State University, Lomonosov Northern (Arctic) Federal University, MGIMO University, Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University, and Lobachevski State University of Nizhniy Novgorod.   

The attendees were welcomed by VIU President Umberto Vattani and RIAC Director General Andrey Kortunov, who focused on the exchange of perceptions on globalization, teaching and research practices, as well as creating a better understanding of globalization and anti-globalization myths. Dr. Kortunov also underlined the need for institutional support for research by Russian and Italian universities. "Nothing emerges in the absence of individual effort, but institutions must get involved to get the job done," he said.    

The program was split into several sessions and consisted of Russian and Italian parts, with the Russians presenting their curriculums and courses, as well as research projects on globalization in various fields.

Russian universities presented bachelor and master-level globalization programs covering international relations, world politics and international economics with postgraduate and advanced training opportunities. At the same time, the focus appears to be on politics and economics, while certain universities lack the civilizational and cultural components.

As far as matters of globalization are concerned, Russian universities require the following:

  • Joint development and improvement of lecture courses, teaching and methodical packages, and world-class lecturers.
  • Development of joint master-level and dual-diploma programs.
  • Joint elaboration of specialized, advanced training and PhD curriculums.
  • Joint publications in journals.
  • Joint Russian-Italian research.

Days two and three were conducted by the Italian side, with VIU Dean Agar Brugiavini delivering a report on the VIU's 20-year-long Globalization program marked by a multidisciplinary approach to the formation of the educational segments.

Professor Gustavo Piga of the School of Economics at Rome University of Tor Vergata delivered a report entitled "Globalization: Realities and Concepts" and shared his experiences on the development of a multidisciplinary program. "A global world needs universal decisions," he said, expanding on the inter-cultural communication difficulties he faced in staffing the faculty for the globalization program. The same problems exist in the Russian educational environment.

VIU Professor Ignazio Musu presented the postgraduate course "Challenges of Global Environment", while Filippo Grandi, an Italian expert, shared his 30-year-long experiences in UN international missions.

Day two was crowned by a report made by RIAC Program Manager Yekaterina Chimiris and Program Coordinator Anna Kuznetsova on the promotion of universities over the Internet.

The participants vigorously engaged in a discussion of the Italian presentations, emphasizing the promising scenarios for bilateral cooperation, among them student exchanges and the development of advanced training curriculums on globalization topics.

On day three, Professor Luca Pes familiarized Russian guests with the VIU admissions system, as well as selection approaches used for students and instructors for research projects, the methodology for establishing training courses, technologies for preparing students for their studies and trainings in an international environment, as well as methods for selecting educators. The Russians expressed interest in the recognition of educational credits provided by the VIU, the adaptation of foreign students, and research projects.

The topic of global economy was covered by Giancarlo Coro and Mario Volpe, professors of the Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, who spoke on Russian-Italian trade relations, pointing out the importance of advancing them in the current socio-political situation, as well as the role of oligarchic capitalism, that in combination with a lack of political and economic institutions, hampers Russia's economic advancement. 

The final session was devoted to summarizing the results of the seminar and coordinating the future steps of the project. On behalf of the host, Agar Brugiavini expressed gratitude to the Russian participants for their presentations, questions and fruitful discussion, suggesting several forms of cooperation.

Education

  • Advanced training for Russian university educators within European grant programs.
  • Internships and guest lectures for Russian educators.
  • Invitations for Russian students to VIU summer schools.

Research

  • Regional studies that require no administrative support.

The Russian participants thanked their hosts for the excellent organization and suggested a follow-up of the globalization discussion on the still untouched issues, with Kant University to be used as a platform for the next Russian-Italian globalization seminar.

RIAC invited the Russian participants to have their presentations placed on its website in a separate section on the Globalization 2.0 project and move ahead with the discussion upon an exchange of proposals for advancing the project, proceeding from the globalization needs of the universities.

Proposals for advancing the project were presented by RIAC project coordinator Tatiana Bogdasarova.

Education  

  • Trainings on globalization issues for Russian educators.
  • Creation of a globalization case base for future publication.
  • Creation of a data base of bachelor degree and master degree level globalization courses with methodological support for future publication.

Research

  • Creation of a globalization dictionary that would include the consensus definitions on issues of globalization.
  • Development of readers on globalization tentatively titled Globalization Today and Anti-Globalism for future publication. 
  • Participation in the RIAC project The World in 100 Years through the presentation of materials on bilateral cooperation over the next 100 years.
  • Discussion of additional globalization-related topics for inclusion in the second seminar, i.e. globalized education and higher education, global challenges to the world of today, globalization and culture, globalization and religion, and influence of global processes on regional development.

The first Russian-Italian seminar on globalization has been of great help in terms of acquiring European techniques in conducting trainings over globalization and international relations issues, as well as strengthening ties between Russian and Italian universities in research and educational fields.

VIU hosted the first seminar "Globalization 2.0: New Approaches to Research, Teaching and Training"

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