Политология/9. Проблемы европейской интеграции

в странах постсоветского лагеря

PhD in History Bogoliubova N.M., PhD in History Nikolaeva Yu.V.

St. Petersburg State University, Russia

Cultural integration in the post-Soviet space: the educational dimension

Abstract. This article describes the main forms of integration of the CIS countries in the field of education. It is made on the basis of original sources. Authors revealed problems and prospects of educational cooperation in the CIS and showed the importance of this direction for the modern states.

Keywords: integration in the educational sphere in the CIS, forms of educational contacts, prospects of development of educational cooperation.

A distinctive feature of modern international relations can be called a sophisticaton of tools of foreign-policy activities of states and more and more active use of opportunities of culture, science, education and sport for activation of international dialogue. These circumstances allow to consider intercultural exchange as an independent magnitude of international relations and foreign policy.

At the beginning of XXI century the factor of culture as a component of “soft power” in world politics acquired a new significance, its influence on worldwide social and economic processes and interstate relations increased considerably. As a result states begin to pay more and more attention to their activities, involving culture as a mean of solving foreign-policy problems. That explains the introduction of the term of «foreign cultural policy» [1, p. 25] into scientific turn.

If we consider the cultural integration as a global convergence process of ethnic cultures and values, in the course of which the best cultural achievements spread and take root in the modern world rapidly, then we can conclude that, undoubtedly, the foreign cultural policy promotes the development of integration cultural ties.

Together with traditional arts and culture direction of the foreign cultural policy, an important place is held by the educational direction, exchange of specialists, scientists, professors, students, pupils, as well as scientific, methodological and pedagogical literature, information materials.

CIS countries act as the main geographical priority of foreign cultural policy of the modern Russia. The development of cultural cooperation in this region is aimed at solving such problems as: strengthening of a common cultural, informational and educational environment, preservation of the Russian language positions, interaction with associations of compatriots.

Since the beginning of 90-s years of XX century the statutory and regulatory basis for cooperation of Russia with the Commonwealth of Independent States and certain countries, which are its members, has already been establishing. Many states, that emerged after the dissolution of the USSR as early as the beginning of 90-s years of XX century, showed their aspiration to promote the formation of a common environment in the field of culture, science, education, including the tourism sector. Our general history, which is a foundation of the modern dialogue, can be called the most important basis for the development of relations in the field of culture.

The fundamental document, governing the interaction of the Russian Federation with CIS countries, is the Agreement on cooperation in the field of culture, signed on May 15, 1992 in Tashkent. It contained the aspiration to create favorable conditions for the development of cultural ties and cultural exchange in the broadest areas of cultural cooperation: «in the field of musical, theatrical, fine, variety and circus arts, cinema, television, library and museum affairs, protection and rational use of objects of cultural and historical heritage» [5], science and education, sport and tourism. Cultural ties are determined as the most important line of cooperation in the CIS space; their significance was noted in this document.

Later, on the basis of the Agreement of 1992, a branched documentation, reflecting the key events in the relationship of Russia with CIS countries, was executed, current problems and promising directions were discussed. The current stage of cultural partnership of CIS countries is regulated by the document - «The main activities of cooperation of CIS Member States in the field of culture up to 2015» [6].

A coordinating role in the development of cultural ties between the countries is played by the Council for Cultural Cooperation of the Commonwealth of Independent States, created at the initiative of 12 member-states of the Commonwealth on May 26, 1995. The Council promotes the formation of a common cultural environment of CIS countries, deals with problems of the status of cultural cooperation. A number of agreements, conceptions, programs, which are fundamental for the development of the current cultural cooperation within CIS countries, has been prepared since the creation of this body.

Education is the most important area of cooperation of CIS countries. In order to develop this direction, the Agreement for cooperation on the formation of a single (common) educational environment of CIS countries [4] was signed in Moscow in 1997, and the Council for Educational Cooperation was created.

Conferences, exhibitions on various lines of cooperation in the field of education are carried out with the participation of the Council annually. In 2004 the interest of experts was aroused by the International research-to-practice conference on discussion of problems and prospects of the formation of a single (common) educational environment of CIS countries, within the framework of which a project of the Interstate Program of Cooperation of CIS member states was discussed.

Recommendations on the procedure for assessment and accreditation of educational institutions of CIS member states, a model educational standard for higher education systems according to the direction/specialty of CIS member countries and passports of scientific specialties were developed. A coordinated vocabulary of terms and definitions of educational systems of CIS member states was published.

Nowadays an essential role in the development of the current cultural cooperation is played by the Interstate Humanitarian Cooperation Fund of CIS Member States (IFESCCO), established on May 25, 2006 [2]. Its goal is to promote the development of a common humanitarian environment and intercultural dialogue in the Commonwealth.

Much attention in the Fund activity is paid to problems of education and development of educational ties. Developing the main lines of cultural cooperation, the Fund establishes a wide range of awards, which play a key role in the cultural development within CIS countries. In the field of education and science, the Fund supports the International youth scientific forum “Lomonosov – 2009”, the International summer school of young scientists-historians of CIS countries, Higher Courses of CIS countries on modern research methods of nanosystems and materials. Updated textbooks for learning the Russian language were published for schools in CIS countries with the assistance of IFESCCO.

We should particularly mention the creation of the Network Open University of CIS countries. The «Network University of CIS countries» was created at the initiative of the Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia, which had advanced such proposal as early as 2008. Then this idea was supported at the highest ministerial level. The meeting of the Council of the Heads of CIS member states, at which the Presidents of Independent States discussed the results of the Russian presidency in the Commonwealth and outlined priorities of activities for the near future, took place on December 10, 2010 in the Kremlin, within the framework of presidency of Russia in the Commonwealth of Independent States. In his speech, the President of the RF Dmitry Medvedev noticed the high significance of the project of the Network University of the Commonwealth of Independent States, which would promote the integration in the educational area in the CIS space, increasing prestige of higher education, strengthening cooperation and interuniversity relations in the field of higher education in the territory of CIS member states [3; 8].

In 2010 the project obtained its final conceptual documentation and the first admission of students into the Network University took place. Nowadays the project is focused on organizing and implementing high-quality joint master’s programs, strengthening international cooperation in the field of training of top-qualification specialists, facilitating the exchange of graduate students, conducting joint scientific researches. According to the Executive Director of IFESCCO Armen Smbatyan, with the opening of the Network University we can say that the basis of the academic mobility system is laid in CIS countries. «Many students from CIS countries obtained an opportunity of simultaneous education in the best universities of our countries and getting two master’s diplomas», - he noticed [7].

The University operates as a Consortium with the equal partnership of all partner universities and is open for entrance of other organizations. The Consortium of the Network University includes 27 leading institutions from nine countries: the Republic of Armenia, the Azerbaijani Republic, the Republic of Belarus, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Republic of Moldova, the Russian Federation, the Republic of Tajikistan and Ukraine.

The Interstate Humanitarian Cooperation Fund of CIS Member States provides substantial assistance to the Network University.

In 2012 the first graduation of students from the Network University took place. 139 persons from 7 CIS countries successfully completed a course under joint master’s educational programs. The Network University is an original analogue of the European program «Erasmus Mundus» within the framework of a single (common) educational environment of CIS countries and serves as a model of the development of successful interaction in the field of education.

Integration in the field of education in the CIS space is also aimed at the preparation of updated teaching and learning aids on the languages of CIS peoples for educational institutions of CIS countries, the maintenance of cooperation and advanced training of young scientists from CIS countries, the conduction of Higher Courses on nano- and information technologies, the creation of the International innovation center for nanotechnologies of CIS countries, the encouragement of the most outstanding scientific achievements on behalf of all countries of the Commonwealth.

The educational direction is really recognized as the most important one by all participants of CIS countries, and its development is understood as an effective framework for convergence and formation of a common cultural and humanitarian environment.

Successes of education, achieved in the Soviet times, even today allow to develop contacts, which flow in different ways between Russia and CIS countries. However despite apparent successes of cultural and educational cooperation in the CIS space, it should be noted that contacts between the states flow irregularly. Russia and, most of all, major cities of the Russian Federation are still the main center of cultural integration. Regions are being involved into the dialogue only at the present stage, but so far their role in the integration in the post-Soviet space is not too significant.

A significant drag of a steady development of cooperation and integration in the field of education and culture can be called a political instability in different states, emerged in the post-Soviet space, economic problems, underfinancing of different activities.

Possibilities of educational exchanges and scientific trainings are used insufficiently. The most important long-term goal is to switch to the system of long-term joint projects in the field of education, which should replace non-recurrent cultural activities.

All participants of the dialogue should look for new forms of interaction, turn to present-day developments more actively, that will allow to bring into the dialogue a young audience, to extend the geography of projects realization significantly.

Bibliography:

1. Bogolyubova N.M., Nikolaeva Yu.V. Setting the definition of foreign cultural policy in the modern scientific discourse//Historical, philosophical, political and legal sciences, the history of culture and study of art. Theory and practice issues. 2012. № 4-1. P. 25-27.

2. Interstate Humanitarian Cooperation Fund of CIS Member States - http://www.mfgs-sng.org/mfgs/smi/

3. Press-conference regarding the results of the meeting of the Council of the Heads of CIS member states - http://kremlin.ru/transcripts/9783

4. The Agreement for cooperation on the formation of a single (common) educational environment of CIS countries. Web portal of CIS countries. - http://www.e-cis.info/page.php?id=11164

5. The Agreement on cooperation in the field of culture between Russia and CIS countries of May 15, 1992 - http://cis.minsk.by/main.aspx?uid=7602

6. The main activities of cooperation of CIS Member States in the field of culture up to 2015. Web portal of CIS countries - http://www.e-cis.info/page.php?id=11164

7. The Network University of the Commonwealth of Independent States - http://imp.rudn.ru/su_sng/agreement5.html

8. The opening statement at the meeting of the Council of the Heads of CIS member states - http://news.kremlin.ru/transcripts/9784