18.05.2016  Conference with the participation of colleagues from five countries as a culmination of a Week of International Cooperation at NovSU

On May 17, the International Conference "University as a Diverse Organization: Creating Strategies for Inclusive Environment" started its work at the main building of the Novgorod State University. Numerous Russian and international guests were welcomed with traditional Russian bread-and-salt.

The Russian scientists from many universities in the country and their colleague from Germany, the USA, Italy, and Belarus will take part in conference organized within a Week of the International Cooperation at NovSU. The conference is the final within the framework of the TEMPUS IV/VI European project "Training of Teachers and Educational Managers for Work with Heterogeneous Groups and Organizations".  

“It should be noted that only two guests who represented Germany and the USA participated in the first Week of the international Cooperation at NovSU, which passed ten years ago.”- The Vice Rector for International Relations Mikhail Pevzner has remarked. - “During this time, we have opened many international centers, and today almost each subdivision of our university has the International Center. 10 years ago, we had only two international guest. Today, more than 50 guests attend the week from 10 countries. However, today our South Korean colleagues arrived and the figure had changed to 11 countries".

While welcoming the guests of the international conference, the rector of NovSU Viktor Weber pointed out: "The international activity is one of priority and most effective fields of our university. We train more than five hundred students from abroad. We cooperate with 68 international universities and organizations from 22 countries. Our last project Tempus IV dedicated to inclusive education has proved that the field of international activity extends and we are very pleased with this fact." Victor Weber also reminded that last year, the agreement with Israel has been signed and now 22 post-graduate students from this country are trained in NovSU. During this anniversary week, the cooperation agreement has been signed with the Institute Superieur D’Osteopathie Paris. The first group of students will be enrolled this year. They will get double diploma.

During a ceremonial opening of conference "University as a Diverse Organization: Creating Strategies for Inclusive Environment", another agreement was signed - strategic partnership with the Ryazan University named after S.A. Yesenin. The document was signed by the rectors of both universities - Viktor Weber and Alexey Zimin. Before the plenary session, nine NovSU students were awarded the Certificates of Completion of the international training course in Corporate Pedagogy. 

During the international conference "University as a Diverse Organization: Creating Strategies for Inclusive Environment", the following issues of inclusion will be discussed:

• Creating an Inclusive Environment at Higher Education Institution: How to Manage Diversity.
• Inclusion as a Socio-Cultural Issue of Teacher Education.
• Psycho-Pedagogical Support of Personal Development of Graduate Students in a Heterogeneous Environment at University/
• Accessibility to Education for US Students in Higher Education: Laws, Policies, and Practices.
• Italian University as a Heterogeneous Microsystem.
• Poleski Region: the Educational Needs of Students from Various Heterogeneous Groups, etc. 

After the plenary session, the competition of professional skill «Special Educator of the future", including a fashion show "Fashion without Borders" will take place at 03:30pm. 

On May 18, the Conference will continue its work in concurrent sessions:

Section 1. Management of Diverse Environment at Higher Education Institution: How to Manage Diversity (NovSU School of Humanities, Antonovo, room 1204).

Session 2. Issues of Inclusion of International Students into the Educational Environment of the University: How Does the Corporate Culture Change? (NovSU School of Humanities, Antonovo, room 1306).

 Session 3. University and the Social Partners: What are the Networking (NovSU School of Continuous Pedagogical Education of NovSU, ul. Chudintseva, 6, Room 217) 

On May 19, the international conference will continue its work in St. Petersburg. The participants will visit the Center of inclusive Education of the St. Petersburg Academy of Postgraduate Pedagogical Education, will take part in final discussion and sum up the results of the conference "University as a Diverse Organization: Creating Strategies for Inclusive Environment".

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