Plekhanov University in Dubai at UNESCO Digital Learning Week

UNESCO’s Digital Learning Week (DLW 2025), held at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris from September 2 to 5, became an important platform for shaping strategic areas of cooperation between the Commission of the Russian Federation for UNESCO, the Permanent Delegation of the Russian Federation to UNESCO, and the Russian Coordination Committee of UNESCO Chairs.

During the discussions, special attention was given to the work of Plekhanov University in Dubai, which is actively developing international cooperation within the framework of the UNESCO Chair “Societal, Legal and Ethical Frameworking of Knowledge Societies.” Agreements were reached with UNESCO department heads on collaborative work in the fields of law, foresight sessions, international seminars, as well as the organization of expert exchanges. Another important topic of discussion was cooperation under the UNESCO Chair “Socio-Economic Models of Biosphere Reserves,” which brings together research and applied projects in the field of sustainable development.

The Plekhanov Russian University of Economics delegation’s active participation at the Week included attending meetings and sessions, holding negotiations with heads of key UNESCO departments, and discussing joint initiatives of UNESCO Chairs and Russian universities abroad. Such extensive engagement was made possible thanks to the thorough preparation of meetings by the Commission of the Russian Federation for UNESCO and the Permanent Delegation of Russia to UNESCO.

The Russian delegation was headed by Rector of Plekhanov Russian University of Economics, Dr. Ivan Lobanov, who is also Chair of the Russian Coordination Committee of UNESCO Chairs. He was joined by Plekhanov Russian University of Economics Vice-Rector, Director of Plekhanov University in Dubai, and Co-Chair of the UNESCO Chair, Dr. Svetlana Malkarova, who presented projects in the fields of digital education, AI ethics, and sustainable development.

During the meetings with UNESCO department heads — including Tawil Sobhi, Borhene Chakroun, Noah Dobrom, Hervé Ott-Morsan, Hans Thulstrup, Serena Heckler, and Maya Prince — the key areas of cooperation were outlined:

    •    Conducting joint sessions and foresight activities with Russian UNESCO Chairs and university branches abroad to develop long-term strategies in digital education and AI;
    •    Expanding research collaboration in law, ethics, and sustainable development in partnership with UNESCO Chairs;
    •    Establishing specialist exchange programs and student internships from Plekhanov University in Dubai at UNESCO platforms;
    •    Creating an online platform for networked educational courses, webinars, and discussions;
    •    Promoting the Russian language as a tool of international scientific dialogue.

The outcomes of the work were summarized at a meeting with Kirill Rynza, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to UNESCO, and Asya Ovchinnikova, Project Director of the Russian House in Paris.

“Participation of the Russian delegation in UNESCO’s Digital Learning Week has opened new horizons for integrating universities into global initiatives. For Plekhanov University in Dubai, this means new opportunities for cooperation with UNESCO in law, foresight, and sustainable development,” said Dr. Ivan Lobanov, Chair of the Russian Coordination Committee of UNESCO Chairs and Rector of Plekhanov Russian University of Economics.

Director of Plekhanov University in Dubai, Dr. Svetlana Malkarova, emphasized that the agreements reached

“Will serve as a foundation for bringing the university’s educational and scientific projects to a new international level, especially in the areas of knowledge exchange and joint research under the framework of UNESCO Chairs.”