• Start date:  01.09.2020
• End date:  01.09.2020
• RU:  Новая образовательная программа РГГУ. При поддержке Сочинского диалога
• DE:  An der RGGU-Universität fand die feierliche Eröffnung des Bachelor-Studienprogramms «Russland-Österreich: Geschichte, Politik, Wirtschaft, Kultur» statt.
• Status: Completed

Link to the "Photo Report".

On September 1, the Day of Knowledge, the Russian State University for the Humanities hosted the opening of the scientific and educational program "Russia-Austria: History, Politics, Economy, Culture". Starting this year, leading Austrian diplomats, cultural, political, scientific and economic figures will conduct training sessions for RSUH students for the first time.

The festive occasion was opened by the Assistant to the President of Russia, Co-chairman of the coordination committee of the Russian-Austrian Civil Society Forum "Sochi Dialogue" Andrey Fursenko. According to Andrey Alexandrovich the forum continues to work actively: webinars with the participation of Austrian speakers are held, online courses on culture, art, and the economy of Austria are launched. "Communication remains in demand," added Andrey Alexandrovich. — The new educational program will bring the study of Russian-Austrian relations to a new level."

Rector of RSUH Alexander Bezborodov, in turn, noted that the "Sochi Dialogue" was developed on a strong historical foundation of Russian-Austrian cooperation. “RSUH is a constant participant in the cooperation. In the new Russia, since 1992, the university has been among those universities in our country that were the first to develop broad cooperation and interaction with Austria. And here we have always walked hand in hand with a wonderful friend and partner of our university, the co-chairman of the Russian — Austrian Commission of Historians, Stefan Karner," Alexander Borisovich stressed. "The University values friendship very much and is proud of our relations with our Austrian colleagues. They contain great potential for the future."

In his video message to the participants of the event, Honorary President of the Federal Chamber Civil Society Forum "Sochi Dialogue" Christoph Leitl stressed that "first of all, students of the program should know the past, where our common spiritual and cultural roots come from, where we feel that we, Europeans, should be together."

Austrian ambassador to Moscow Johannes Aigner called the creation of this program a very important step towards strengthening international relations between Austria and Russia. "Supporting civil society is a high aspiration. The Commission of Historians has been contributing to mutual understanding between our countries for 12 years. This program covers a wide range of topics - from politics and economics to culture. The main thing is the knowledge of foreign languages, " said Johannes Aigner.

What are the advantages of the new program? This question was answered by the academician, Deputy Chairman of the Russian-Austrian Commission of historians, scientific Director of the Institute of world history, Russian Academy of Sciences, the President of the State Academic University for Humanities Alexander Chubaryan: "In Russia there is a shortage of country researchers, so training, specifically focused on the study of Austria, is a huge contribution to the development of Russian-Austrian relations. Also, for the Austrian side, the program "Russia-Austria: History, Politics, Economy, Culture" is one of the first bachelor's degree programs organized jointly with a leading Russian university."

Stefan Karner, co-chairman of the Russian-Austrian Commission of Historians, member of the Coordinating Committee of the Sochi Dialogue Forum, addressed the participants of the event via video link: "The Austrian - Russian Commission of Historians collectively studies the history of our countries. You, dear students, will create it in the future". He hopes for fruitful cooperation of Austrian professors, diplomats, journalists and experts with RSUH students.

The program also creates new opportunities for communication. "Science and education create something that is now so necessary and so demanded in our troubled world — the dialogue," said Olga Pavlenko, First Vice–Rector for Research at RSUH. "A face-to-face dialogue where we try to understand each other and create a space of mutual understanding and stability."

The Rector of the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna, Emil Brics, not only congratulated the students on the opening of the program, but also immediately invited future graduates to continue studying international relations in Vienna, at the master's program at the Diplomatic Academy: "I am convinced that in relations between Russia and Austria, it is necessary to create an atmosphere of mutual trust, especially among young people. And mobility, meaning, Russian students visiting Austria and Austrians visiting Russia, is an important contribution to the development of a new Europe, in which I deeply believe."

Director of the Y. V. Knorozov Mesoamerican Educational and Research Center of the Russian State University for Humanities, member of the Presidential Council for Science and Education Galina Yershova highlighted the importance of the Mesoamerican research that was conducted in the past and continues to be implemented by Austrian specialists.

Maria Matveeva, Director of the Russian-Austrian Civil Society Forum "Sochi Dialogue", presented a specially developed website of the program "Russia-Austria: History, Politics, Economy, Culture". http://russia-austria.study/ . On the website, you can learn more about the program, partner universities, get acquainted with the requirements for admission, as well as ask questions and get answers to them.

The bachelor's degree program was created in 2019 at the initiative of the Russian State University of Russia, the Boltzmann Institute for the Research on the Consequences of Wars and the Russian-Austrian Commission of Historians and received the support of the Russian-Austrian Civil Society Forum "Sochi Dialogue". A year ago, 17 students of the Faculty of International Relations and Foreign Regional Studies of the IAI RSUH entered the program with an in-depth study of foreign languages. Today, these students talked about their achievements and plans after completing their studies.

Since this year, the program is aimed at developing a comprehensive knowledge of Austria, taking into account the understanding of the processes taking place at the macro-regional, micro-regional and national levels in relation to global trends in world development.

As part of the international academic mobility program, students will be able to complete internships at universities and research centers in Austria, such as the University of Vienna, the University of Graz, and the Boltzmann Institute for the Research on the Consequences of Wars.

The event is organized by the Russian-Austrian Civil Society Forum "Sochi Dialogue", the Russian State University for the Humanities, the State Academic University for the Humanities, and the Russian-Austrian Commission of Historians.