The Rector of Plekhanov University, Chairman of the UNESCO chairs Coordination Committee Ivan Lobanov, opened the UNESCO Chairs Forum at PRUE.

The Forum of UNESCO Chairs of the Russian Federation was held at Plekhanov Russian University of Economics (PRUE) under the Commission of the Russian Federation for UNESCO. The event was opened by the Rector of Plekhanov University, Chairman of the UNESCO Chairs Coordination Committee Ivan Lobanov. The Forum brought together UNESCO Chairs from leading universities in the country and members of public organizations to exchange experiences in addressing global challenges facing humanity and implementing the UN Sustainable Development Goals, as well as to consolidate the efforts of domestic and foreign scientists in this area.

Executive Secretary of the Commission of the Russian Federation for UNESCO, Director of the Department for Multilateral Humanitarian Cooperation and Cultural Ties of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Elena Galaktionova noted a positive trend in the increasing frequency of meetings of UNESCO Chairs in the Russian Federation. She called on those present to actively engage with the Chairs' coordinators to exchange experience and to have the opportunity to act as experts at key platforms, and also shared the successes of the Chairs.

"We have gathered to take stock of the past year and outline plans for the future. I'll start with the positive developments. Our UNESCO Chairs family has grown with two new members. The UNESCO Chair 'Socio-Economic Models of Biosphere Reserves' has been established at the Plekhanov Russian University of Economics, which has warmly opened its doors to us today. In 2025, 18 Chair agreements were renewed. Also last week, we received notification from the UNESCO Secretariat about the renewal of five more agreements, which is certainly encouraging. I draw your attention to the fact that a UNESCO Chair is created, first and foremost, as an international entity. Continuous work with foreign partners and with coordinators from the UNESCO Secretariat is a mandatory condition for its existence. I urge everyone to pay more attention to interacting with the coordinators of your Chairs at the Headquarters and to actively participate in the seminars conducted by the UNITWIN division. This is the key to moving from being passive listeners to becoming, as experts in your fields, main speakers at such meetings and to sharing your unique experience at the international level," said Elena Galaktionova.

Welcoming the attendees, the Rector of Plekhanov University, Chairman of the UNESCO Chairs Coordination Committee Ivan Lobanov emphasized that the Russian network of UNESCO Chairs should act not only as a participant in international processes but also as a co-author of the solutions being formulated.

"We are at a point of transition from a phase of coordination to a phase of strategic interaction. The Coordination Committee of UNESCO Chairs of the Russian Federation is a professional community uniting all Chairs working in the areas of the global UNESCO agenda: education, science, culture, digital transformation, humanitarian cooperation, and sustainable development. The Coordination Committee is a key instrument for strategic communication between Russian universities, UNESCO Headquarters, and Chairs worldwide. I am confident that through our joint efforts, we will not only strengthen Russia's position in the global educational space but also make a significant contribution to shaping the educational, scientific, and humanitarian agenda of the 21st century," emphasized Ivan Lobanov.

A significant address was given by Sobhi Tawil, Director of the 'Future of Education and Innovation' Division within the Education Sector of the UNESCO Secretariat. The speaker noted Plekhanov University's contribution to organizing the event and emphasized that the UNESCO UNITWIN program aims to strengthen international scientific cooperation and expand UNESCO's laboratories of ideas. Russia ranks third in the number of national UNESCO network organizations, with 50 Chairs and two networks covering all areas of UNESCO's competence, Sobhi Tawil stressed. It is worth recalling that two Chairs – 'Socio-Legal and Ethical Foundations of the Knowledge Society' and 'Socio-Economic Models of Biosphere Reserves' – operate at Plekhanov University.

Ksenia Gaverdovskaya, Senior Advisor to the Secretariat of the Commission of the Russian Federation for UNESCO at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, reported on the key achievements of UNESCO Chairs in Russia for 2025/26. She presented best practices and shared positive experiences in organizing events under UNESCO's auspices, placing particular emphasis on the international cooperation of Russian Chairs. Notably, Ksenia Gaverdovskaya highlighted the creation of a scientific coordination committee for the study of biosphere reserves based at the Chair 'Socio-Economic Models of Biosphere Reserves' at Plekhanov University.

Svetlana Malkarova, Vice-Rector of Plekhanov University and Director of PRUE's branch in the UAE, Head of the UNESCO Chair 'Socio-Economic Models of Biosphere Reserves', thanked the Commission of the Russian Federation for UNESCO for its support and presented a detailed report on the organization of activities of the Coordination Committee of UNESCO Chairs. Svetlana Malkarova noted that the Committee's global objective is not only to ensure coordination but also to create conditions for the development of scientific, educational, and international projects, as well as for more active participation of Russian Chairs in UNESCO's global initiatives and the UNITWIN network. She also emphasized the importance of everyone's contribution to the project's development, noting that feedback will help shape the website into an effective and convenient resource for all members of the UNESCO network. As Svetlana Malkarova noted, the website was developed in a very short time. Important tasks of the website for the Coordination Committee of UNESCO Chairs of the Russian Federation are to ensure open information exchange between Chairs. Special attention is paid to systematizing information about the projects and events of UNESCO Chairs.

Larisa Belan, Director of the International Scientific and Educational Center 'UNESCO Chair "Geoparks and Sustainable Development Territories"' at Ufa University of Science and Technology, presented a report on the work of the Chair, which was established in 2025 to conduct comprehensive scientific research, create educational programs on sustainable development, and design, nominate, and promote UNESCO sites. She explained that the Chair's activities include implementing the development strategy for the 'Bashkir Urals' biosphere reserve, designing the protected zone of 'Shulgan-Tash', and developing eco- and geotourism.

The participants' work focused on discussing crucial strategic issues as well as planning joint events with foreign partners. At the conclusion of the meeting, Ivan Lobanov, Rector of Plekhanov Russian University of Economics and Chairman of the Coordination Committee of UNESCO Chairs, thanked his colleagues for their professionalism and active work, and emphasized his readiness for further cooperation.