April 22, 2026
Russian UNESCO Chairs: Results of International Partnership in 2025
On April 21, 2026, a meeting of the Russian Committee for UNESCO Educational Programmes was held at the Peoples' Friendship University of Russia (RUDN) under the chairmanship of its President, Vladimir Filippov.
On April 21, 2026, a meeting of the Russian Committee for UNESCO Educational Programmes was held at the Peoples' Friendship University of Russia (RUDN) under the chairmanship of its President, Vladimir Filippov. The experts reviewed the outcomes of a year of large-scale international activity, reporting on 19 major events held with over 7,500 specialists from 90 countries, and unveiled a plan for 2026 that includes 91 events - from scientific conferences to youth schools. The meeting paid special attention to the development of biosphere reserves, issues of sustainable development, and a call to broaden cooperation with the SCO, BRICS, and APEC countries to shape global educational trends.
The event was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation and leading specialists of UNESCO Chairs, including Svetlana Malkarova, chairholder of the UNESCO Chair on "Socio-Legal and Ethical Foundations of the Knowledge (Information) Society", and Pavel Terelyansky, co-chairholder of the UNESCO Chair on "Socio-Economic Models of Biosphere Reserves".
Acting on the instructions of Ivan Lobanov, Chair of the Coordination Committee of UNESCO Chairs of the Russian Federation, Rector of Plekhanov Russian University of Economics, and chairholder of the UNESCO Chair "Socio-Economic Models of Biosphere Reserves", Svetlana Malkarova made a report presenting an analysis of the international activities of UNESCO Chairs in the Russian Federation. Svetlana Malkarova noted that a series of major international events is planned for 2026, including 21 international scientific conferences, 7 research projects, and over 30 international meetings - such as round tables, seminars, online events, and youth schools. These events involve participants from CIS countries, Asia, Africa, and America. In response to a request from UNESCO, a pool of more than 40 world-class experts was also presented by the Russian Chairs. Their key areas of expertise cover sustainable development, environmental technologies, geoecology, biosphere reserves, monitoring systems in ecology, artificial intelligence, inclusive education, and digital transformation. The total number of significant publications and patents prepared with the participation of UNESCO Chairs exceeded 150.
Vladimir Filippov, Chairman of the Russian Committee for UNESCO Educational Programmes and President of RUDN University, noted the undeniable value of the analysis provided in the report. He called for a systematic effort to intensify the ties between Russian UNESCO Chairs and the SCO, BRICS, and APEC countries to shape global educational and scientific trends, further expand international partnership, and implement joint educational and research projects.