Rector of the Russian University of Economics Ivan Lobanov opened the Fifth All-Russian Congress of UNESCO Chairs at Plekhanov University

Opening the Fifth All-Russian Congress of UNESCO Chairs, Ivan Lobanov, Rector of Plekhanov University, noted that the University traditionally maintains close cooperation with the UNESCO Chairs network, being an important participant in international educational initiatives and research projects aimed at the sustainable development of society:

"We should note enormous role of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, the Commission of the Russian Federation for UNESCO and the efforts of Sergey Viktorovich Lavrov, Grigory Eduardovich Ordzhonikidze and Alexander Sergeevich Alimov personally in countering the "culture of cancellation" that broke out in the world against Russia during this turbulent time. The painstaking, systematic and daily work of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs staff makes it possible to neutralize all attempts by unfriendly countries to limit Russia's opportunities and weaken its position in the field of humanitarian and social cooperation with the world community within the framework of UNESCO's activities," Ivan Lobanov said.

The rector of Plekhanov University also added that throughout the years of the existence of the UNITVIN programme, UNESCO chairs have been accumulating the best practices and knowledge of experts in their field, providing unique research of universal significance.

For many years, the network of departments has provided an opportunity for mutually beneficial partnership and joint implementation of projects, allowing us to cross the borders of states and cultures in our turbulent times. The staff of the departments set as their main task the feasible solution of global problems of mankind. Therefore, the UNESCO Chair network serves as a powerful tool for the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals and promotes the consolidation of efforts of domestic and foreign scientists in this area.

"It is within the framework of this mission that the UNESCO Department of Socio-Legal and Ethical Foundations of the Knowledge Society (Information Society), which was opened in 2019, is working productively at our university. This year, UNESCO has placed great trust in us and approved the opening of another chair on Socio-Economic Models of Biosphere Reserves," said the rector, adding that "the serious analytical, research and organizational basis of the university and the unique competencies of scientists are an important help in the work of UNESCO chairs at the Russian University of Economics. The University is open to dialogue and is ready to share the resource in the framework of scientific collaborations with other departments.

The work of the Fifth All-Russian Congress of UNESCO Chairs will focus on discussing the most important strategic issues that will determine the activities of the chairs for the next four years.