November 17, 2025
Roundtable "UNESCO's Role in the Development of Education, Science and Culture," dedicated to the 80th anniversary of UNESCO's foundation
Roundtable "UNESCO's Role in the Development of Education, Science and Culture," dedicated to the 80th anniversary of UNESCO's foundation, held at Belgorod University of Cooperation, Economics and Law (BUCEL) on November 14, 2025, Belgorod.
The participants included the Rector of the University, Doctor of Economics, Professor E.V. Isaenko; the First Vice-Rector for Research, Doctor of Economics, Professor E.E. Tarasova; as well as faculty, students, and postgraduate students of Belgorod University of Cooperation, Economics and Law (BUCEL). Furthermore, the round table was joined by heads and staff members of UNESCO Chairs from Russia and Africa. Among them were A.M. Belousova, Secretary of the UNESCO Chair at Lomonosov Moscow State University; V.I. Kruglov, Head of the UNESCO Chair on Comparative Studies of Higher Education Quality at the National University of Science and Technology "MISIS"; E.R. Sadykova, Executive Director of the Humanitarian Field Chair, Director of the Service Department at the University of Management "TISBI," and Head of the Department of Social, Cultural Service and Tourism; and Marie Bernadette Atouma, Secretary of the ANGUNDA Financial Cooperative in Africa, Cameroon.
The event was moderated by E.E. Tarasova — First Vice-Rector for Research at BUCEL, Executive Director of the UNESCO Chair "Education for Sustainable Development of Cooperatives," Doctor of Economics, Professor.
The participants were welcomed by the University Rector, Doctor of Economics, Professor E.V. Isaenko. Elena Vitalyevna highlighted the significant number of events organized by the university during the International Year of Cooperatives, including those held under the auspices of the UNESCO Chair "Education for Sustainable Development of Cooperatives" at BUCEL. She emphasized the joint initiatives with UNESCO Chairs at partner universities and the university's membership in the UNESCO Associated Schools Network. In conclusion, E.V. Isaenko wished the round table participants productive work and an engaging discussion.
During the round table, presentations were made by:
– Kristina Likhanosova, a student of the Law Faculty, with a report titled "UNESCO: Mission, Goals, and Role in Russia." The speaker discussed the establishment of UNESCO, Russia's participation in the organization, its goals, functions, governing bodies, and mission, including the protection of cultural heritage sites;
– Olga Khodyreva, also a student of the Law Faculty, presented a report on "Cooperatives as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage." The speaker noted that in 2016, the concept of credit cooperation according to the Raiffeisen theory was recognized as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity. She spoke about Raiffeisen, the origins and development of his credit cooperation concept, and the emergence of Raiffeisen Bank in Russia;
– Polina Karavatskaya, Valeriya Valikhovskaya, and Alena Anriets, students of the Faculty of Customs Affairs and Information Technologies, delivered a report on "The UNESCO Associated Schools Network in Russia." The presenters covered the development of the UNESCO Associated Schools Network in Russia, its objectives, the UNESCO Associated School at BUCEL, its organizers, participants, organized events, and plans for further development.