I warmly invite you to join a free online conference I am organizing at UNESCO together with HSE University (Russia) on 14 and 15 February. All welcome with registration required (links below). Please share the information widely.

Date: Monday 14 February 2022 and Tuesday 15 February 2022

Time: 09:00 – 11:00 Caracas (UTC -4) / 16:00 – 18:00 Moscow (UTC +3)

Format: Online via Zoom. Open to all with prior registration required at:

February 14: https://unesco-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Laogb9rrS_2cYXvynV0XVw

February 15: https://unesco-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_d4-XAA_qToi9SDzQibrT8w

Language: English (Q&A will be available in English and Russian)

Website: https://www.iesalc.unesco.org/en/evento/next-generation-reflections-and-future-perspectives-on-higher-education-in-the-former-soviet-union/

Conference objectives

It has now been thirty years since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Higher education systems in the 15 ex-Soviet countries were profoundly impacted during and after this period. At the same time, ex-Soviet higher education institutions and systems have been shaped by an array of new ideas, altered funding arrangements, different governance arrangements, and international partnerships. Trends such as university rankings, privatization, and an emphasis on quality assurance are also proving influential. As we turn to the next 30 years, this could be a period of continuing convergence with globally circulating ideas and practices, a time during which the hallmarks of the past remain strong or opportunities may also be presented for these countries to take different paths towards their future higher education.

This conference is being held to mark the 30th anniversary of the collapse of the Soviet Union and to reflect on developments, trends, and future prospects in the higher education systems of the ex-Soviet space. Co-hosted by UNESCO International Institute for Higher Education (UNESCO IESALC) and HSE University (National Research University Higher School of Economics), the conference brings together researchers, policymakers, practitioners, and other participants with an interest in higher education in this region as well as in comparative global perspective.