On April 27, a breakout session hosted by the Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC) entitled “Fostering Inclusiveness and Integration through Global Education” was held as part of the 7th UN Alliance of Civilizations Global Forum in Baku, Azerbaijan. The session was moderated by RIAC Programme Manager Ekaterina Chimiris and saw participants discuss various approaches to education and present specific educational practices designed to help overcome the difficulties that can arise when cultures clash.
On April 27, a breakout session hosted by the Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC) entitled “Fostering Inclusiveness and Integration through Global Education” was held as part of the 7th UN Alliance of Civilizations Global Forum in Baku, Azerbaijan. The session was moderated by RIAC Programme Manager Ekaterina Chimiris and saw participants discuss various approaches to education and present specific educational practices designed to help overcome the difficulties that can arise when cultures clash.
The Russian delegation was also represented by Olga Kuznetsova, Head of International Cooperation Administration at Siberian Federal University. Ms. Kuznetsova talked the unique experience that her university has of working with foreign students, highlighting the difficulties that can arise and possible ways to resolve them. Siberian Federal University attracts students from all over the world and is rapidly becoming an important centre of intercultural communication in the region.
Ambassador Tariq Al-Ansari, Director of the International Technical Cooperation Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Qatar, noted the importance of developing cooperation between states and all interested parties in science and education, paying particular attention to the importance of harmonizing the rules and regulations adopted by different universities around the world.
Senior Adviser to Secretary-General at KAICIID, Professor Mohammed Abu-Nimer, spoke about inter-faith and intercultural educational practices, and about the specific features of joint education for the representatives of different religions and cultures.
Ahmed Salim, Managing Director of 1001 Inventions, shared his experience of creating multimedia and exhibition projects designed to overcome Eurocentrism in the educational process of western countries.
Deputy Minister of Education of Azerbaijan Firudin Gurbanov elaborated on projects that are under way to develop the educational infrastructure in Azerbaijan, as well as projects centred on state policy with regard to multiculturalism.
The speakers at the breakout session agreed that global education is a unique tool that can be used to help overcome disunity, aggression and intolerance in modern multicultural societies.
