Dear óolleagues!
This is the sixth issue of the Annual of the
Association of Russian-American academic and cultural exchange programs alumni
"Professionals for Cooperation". The Association was created seven years ago to
promote a free exchange of information, to facilitate and develop professional contacts,
to broaden and spread the knowledge of the positive experience in the organization of
education and science abroad and implement it.
Seven years is a long time; the Association "Professionals for
Cooperation" has come of age; it sees its main goal in helping to develop civil
society institutions in Russia and takes an active part in furthering this process. The
construction of civil society presupposes major transformations in all spheres of social
life: the rule of law, strong institutions of political democracy, public organizations
and social partnership. In a country as big and polyethnic as Russia, a stable
intercultural dialogue and regional development within the framework of federal structure
are of special importance. That is why one of the priorities for our Association now is
cooperation with local administrations and with other national and regional non-profit
public organizations. This complex combination of interconnected problems is in the focus
of attention of our authors here.
Since the fifth issue of the Annual, there have been important dates
and events in the life of our Association, they too have shaped the structure and contents
of this issue.
Part One of the Annual is devoted to the
reporting and election Conference of the Association on October 3-4, 2003, in Moscow. [1] In the two years since the previous conference, the Association has
grown significantly, it has thirty-seven regional branches now and exercises an increased
influence. It is a measure of the clout the Association has gained, that in 2003 the
Association won in the competition for the right to participate in the program of civil
service reforms in Russia.
At the conference members of the Association discussed both the
experience accumulated in the past years and our future work. [2]
The Association has rearranged its priorities: the name of the conference - "The
Role, Place and Prospects for the Work of the Association in Local Communities" - has
outlined them from the very start. Various aspects of this general theme were discussed
both at the plenary sessions and in working groups. Ways and means for effective social
partnership, cooperation between government and public institutions were considered by
many speakers at the conference.
In this issue we publish the papers of three authors. Svetlana
Malkarova, Chairperson of the newly elected Association Council, comments on the
results of the conference and the tasks of the Association. Vice-President of the
Inter-Regional Public Foundation "Siberian Civic Initiatives Support Center"
(IRPF SCISC) Igor Baradachev, who spoke at the conference on "Public
Initiatives and Effective Cooperation with Bodies of Government", develops this theme
in his article here. He analyzes the cooperation of the non-profit NGO's with governmental
organizations and local government bodies in Siberia and comes to the conclusion that in
the past few years "the situation in the public sector has changed drastically":
"public non-profit organizations have grown, the part they play in social life has
increased, local legislation and other instruments and mechanisms of regional life are
gradually being worked out". Thus, we can say that in spite of the difficulties it
faces, the public non-profit sector exercises a serious influence strengthening the rule
of law and the fabric of civil society in Russia, and there is hope that this influence
will grow. Irene Reshta (the Siberian Civic Initiative Support Center) in her notes
shares with us her experience as coordinator of the Capacity Building for Alumni Groups
Program.
Part Two contains the materials prepared by
the members of the Omsk regional branch of the Association prefaced by a brief account of
the work of this branch. It is a collective project of our Omsk members, their collective
self-portrait, for the works of the authors reflect the sphere of their interests and, as
they themselves point out, the main directions of their professional development due to
the experience gained through their participation in the exchange programs.
The Director of the Inter-University Center of International
Cooperation and Academic Mobility at Omsk State Pedagogical University (OSPU) Associate
Professor Seregey Shirobokov and Deputy Director of the Center Nikita Brinyov discuss
methods of effective university management at the time of globalization and international
competition; they analyze the role of international education in building-up university
competitiveness. Associate Professor (the Ministry of the Interior Academy) Anna
Veretennikova writes about the methodology of teaching critical thinking. Senior
Instructor of the Department of Foreign Languages (OSPU) Liudmila Tsirlina suggests
that we should take a closer look at the impact of globalization on the development of
languages, its possible consequences for the linguistic map of the world. The linguistic
theme is carried on by Associate Professor (OSPU) Galina Babalova in her notes on
the international character of computer terminology.
The Editorial Board believe that this new heading - "a collective
self-portrait" - will be interesting and useful for our Annual, for it gives us all
an opportunity to get to know each other better, learn more - and at first hand - about
the life of the regional branches of our Association that embraces almost the whole of the
country, from its western to its eastern borders. We would like to include this heading in
our future issues, and we invite those who would like to become its "heroes" to
send their applications.
Part Three contains the materials of a round
table at the international conference of the Russian Association of American Studies held
at the Departments of History and Philology of Moscow State University in January 2003.
The discussion focused on problems of intercultural dialogue in its most difficult aspect
- the aspect of conflict. As the moderator of the round table Professor Tatiana
Venediktova (Moscow State University) rightfully says, "Cultural conflict, unlike
social or political conflict, may not have clear immediate consequences, but its roots are
deeper and its rationalization is more difficult. Compromise and consensus here are
especially problematic, since tactical concessions are hardly distinguishable from
sacrifices, fatal for the survival of cultural identity."
The participants of the round table discuss how conflict expresses
itself in different forms of social discourse and what it really means. The leading fellow
of the Institute of World History of the Russian Academy of Sciences Boris Shpotov
studies this cluster of problems analyzing American political rhetoric. Professor Olga
Nesmelova (Kazan State University) looks at the reception of American literature by
Soviet scholars in the 1920's-1930's. Associate Professor Olga Panova (Moscow State
University) analyzes the image of the U.S.A. in Russian rock-culture, regarding conflict
in it as a quest for self-identity. Professor Dmitriy Goudkov (Moscow State
University) studies the image of the U.S.A. in Russian "patriotic" newspapers
whose stance, they claim, is that of "enlightened nationalism". Professor Olga
Antsyfferova (Ivanovo State University) uses student chats in the Internet debates on
"Americanization of Russian culture".
Part Four is dedicated to an important date
- the 30th Anniversary of the Fulbright Program in Russia.
Senator Fulbright first thought of a program of international academic
exchanges as a way towards a better mutual understanding between peoples soon after the
end of World War II. Now, over half a century later, the Fulbright Program has become one
of the biggest and most prestigious in the world. The Program started its work in the
U.S.S.R (and was a success!) in the Cold War years, it has evolved with the passage of
time, the changes in our two countries and in the relationship between them.
Professor Alexander Kubyshkin (Volgograd State University) tells
about the life of Senator Fulbright describing his constant attention to matters of
education. Senator Fulbright understood very well that education is the safest way to
mutual understanding, that university education must aim at developing civic
consciousness, it should not sever knowledge from politics, science - from social life. He
was equally against anti-intellectualism and against a hostile attitude towards politics,
- a stance that has not lost its importance for us now. As Professor Kubyshkin says,
Senator Fulbright repeatedly emphasized that the task of the university is to convince its
students of the importance of effective government, to teach them that politics could be a
most respectable career.
The Fulbright Program began its work in our country at the Department
of History, Moscow State University. Professor of this Department Yuri Rogoulev in
his article tells about the thirty years of mutually fruitful cooperation between Russian
historians and their American colleagues through the Fulbright Program.
An important event took place in Moscow on March 25, 2004: the
symposium "Preparing for the Next Decade of U.S. Exchanges with Russia". [3] It brought together over 100 people from government organizations,
business, academia, the NGO community, and exchange programs alumni.
The U.S. Ambassador to Russia Alexander Vershbow and Assistant
Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs Patricia de Stacy Harrison, who
traveled from Washington to participate in the symposium, greeted its participants.
Ambassador Vershbow pointed out that in the past decade over 50.000 Russians and 5.000
Americans participated in the U.S. Department of State exchange programs and such
people-to-people exchanges between Russians and Americans benefit both countries by
improving our ability to understand each other, and to share approaches to common
problems.
This symposium was the first significant public discussion of the
exchange programs in over a decade, an opportunity to discuss how best to capitalize on
what has already been done and to ensure that exchanges will be fruitful in the coming
decade.
"We must no longer depend primarily on government-sponsored
exchange programs, rather we must involve many other sectors of our societies. Business,
academia, non-governmental organizations, and alumni all must contribute to the future of
people-to-people contacts", Ambassador Vershbow said. He expressed hope that there
will be a greater balance in the contacts between Americans and Russians and more
Americans will be brought to Russia.
Assistant Secretary of State Patricia Harrison, in her interview to the
newspaper "The Izvestia", suggested that our cooperation should evolve towards
equal partnership, for exchanges imply reciprocity and Americans could benefit a lot from
coming to know Russia and its culture better. [4]
The participants of the symposium met in five working groups on
specific themes including: public-private partnerships, higher education initiatives,
youth and secondary school initiatives, bringing more Americans to Russia, and steering
exchanges toward a new future.
The work of the symposium is under consideration in Part
Five of this issue. We publish the overview of the past decade of exchange
programs made at the symposium by Minister Counselor for Public Affairs, U.S. Embassy, Larry
Wohlers. This overview is published in its Russian version as it can be of interest to
a very wide range of readers, irrespective of their command of English. Dean-Curator of
the Distance Learning Institute at the Peoples' Friendship University of Russia Oleg
Volgin in his notes expresses his opinion on the results of the symposium and makes
suggestions on how to develop the exchange programs in the coming years.
The Editorial Board would like to continue the discussion of the themes
considered at the symposium and we invite members of our Association to send us their
articles and notes.
Part Six contains works on the changing educational environment: the interaction between education and new technologies, education and the new social realities of Russia. Associate Professors of the Department of Philosophy (Moscow State University) Arthur Demchouck and Julia Artamonova analyze the objective tendencies of the computer revolution. Professor Olga Antsyfferova (Ivanovo State University) gives a case-study of her university experience in using new technologies in teaching American Studies. Research fellows of the Internet Access and Training Program Center at the Institute of General Secondary Education (IOSO) of the Russian Academy of Education Dora Roudakova and Pavel Dick give a survey of the work of the Center. Director of the International Fellowships Program (IFP) in Russia Oksana Oracheva (the Institute of International Education) describes the new opportunities the IFP provides for postgraduate education. Postgraduate student Fiodor Gogolin (Moscow State University) writes about the integration of Russia into Bologna. Professor Marina Karasseva (Moscow State Conservatory) has written her article in a provocative style: she challenges her reader to an intellectual duel over the future of high culture, its chances to survive and develop in a market economy. The author herself is convinced that good marketing won't do classical music any harm, and exchange programs give a wonderful opportunity to their alumni to gain the necessary experience and bring it over to Russia.
In Part Seven of the issue Americans share their impressions of Russia; and Russians share their impressions of America. Problems of intercultural communication and mutual exchange of positive experience in the field of education and science are in the center of attention here. Director of the Fulbright Program in Russia Dr. Edward E. Roslof gives a survey of the differences in Russian and U.S. academic cultures based on the experiences of Fulbright scholars. Dean-Curator of the Distance Learning Institute at the Peoples' Friendship University of Russia Oleg Volgin analyzes the American system of education in comparison with its Russian counterpart; he sees them as two different models. He comes to the conclusion that, though there is no ideal model and each has its own strong sides, modernizing our system of education Russians should take into account the flexible model worked out by the U.S.A. IREX Moscow fellow Courtney Ranson writes about her impressions of Russia; Moscow Conservatory Professor Svetlana Sigida paints a portrait of America "through the eyes of a musician", recollecting her experience as a Fulbrighter. The article "Americans in the Heart of Moscow" that completes Part Seven has been prepared by the American Center in Moscow; it gives an example of a successful dialogue between the cultures of our two countries.
Part Eight provides useful and important
information. You can find a detailed description of the Inter-Regional Public Foundation
"Siberian Civic Initiatives Support Center" (IRPF SCISC) whose representatives Igor
Baradachev and Irene Reshta are our authors in Part One; information on the
U.S. Department of State exchange programs and the resources for the exchange programs
alumni. [5]
The Editorial Board would like to thank the authors who have provided
their materials. Unfortunately, the size of our publication has prevented us from
including all of them in this issue.
We look forward to new encounters with our authors and readers, and
hope that they will enable us to make the Annual even more useful and interesting.
The Editorial Board and the Association Council are sincerely
grateful to the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State
for support and assistance in the publication of this issue of the Annual.
Editor-in-Chief
Marina Kizima