UNESCO IITE participated in the meeting of Russian ASPnet schools organized at the University of Management “TISBI” on 16-17 June 2015 in Kazan, Russia. It was held under the chairing of prof. Nella Pruss, UNESCO ASPnet National Coordinator of the Russian Federation, Rector of the University of Management “TISBI”, and prof. Alexander Khoroshilov, UNESCO IITE Officer-in-Charge, together with the Head of Educational Programmes of the Cоmission of the Russian Federation for UNESCO Ms. Ksenya Gaverdovskaya and Executive Director of the UNESCO ASPnet in the Russian Federation Ms. Natalia Larionova.
IITE-ASPnet Pilot Project “Learning for the Future” (LFF) initiated by IITE was launched in 2012 and successfully completed in October 2014. The primary aim of the LFF project was defined as to fully integrate the effective use of ICT in education in order to renew pedagogy and enhance the learning experience in the present and for the future. The project united 42 ASPnet schools from 14 Member States. By the request of the Commission of the Russian Federation for UNESCO, the LFF-Russia project has to be launched in 2016 by IITE. The LFF-Russia Project is aimed to create an ICT based community of practice for all ASPnet members and candidate ASPnet schools in Russia. The general concept of the project was introduced to the representatives of the Russian ASPnet schools and discussed with them. Among new features of the LFF-Russia Project are additional directions for joint activities of ASPnet schools (ICT and multicultural education, ICT in Science, Technical and Engineering Education, ICT and Inclusive Education, ICT and Global Citizenship Education) as well as a joint initiative of IITE and its partner – GlobalLab Project for Russian ASPnet Schools.
At the end of the meeting, the Memorandum of Cooperation between UNESCO IITE and University of Management “TISBI” was signed. The special priority in the Memorandum of Cooperation is given to the realization of the project of the IITE and associated schools of the Russian Federation “Learning for the Future – Russia” and the development of education and innovative pedagogy. Within the framework of the Memorandum, UNESCO IITE and “TISBI” University agreed to improve the mechanisms of interaction of UNESCO global networks, cooperate in the sphere of training techniques and research activities, share experience on the problems of education development, give recommendations on the introduction of ICT in education and disseminate the results obtained within the framework of their cooperation among Russian universities.
The Memorandum is a great step towards the implementation of the LFF project in Russia. During the meeting, Prof. Nella Pruss and Prof. Alexander Khoroshilov discussed important issues and prospects of cooperation between UNESCO IITE and “TISBI” University, a long-term and reliable partner of UNESCO IITE.