Seminar “Universities, cultural development and regional identity”

Kazan, 10 April 2008

Conclusions of the international seminar

The participants of the seminar wish to thank all those who supported the seminar and contributed to its success, and in particular:

Mr Andrei Fursenko Russian minister of education;

Mr Farid Mukhametshin, President of the Parliament of the Republic of Tatarstan and President of the Committee on Culture and Education, Chamber of Regions of the Council of Europe Congress of Local and Regional Authorities;

Mr Yavuz Mildon, President of the Chamber of Regions of the Council of Europe Congress of Local and Regional Authorities;

Mr Myakzyum Salakhov, Rector of the Kazan State University;

Mrs Svetlana Orlova, Head of the Russian Delegation of the Congress.

The exhibition “Tatarstan universities”, inaugurated in the foyer of the Parliament of the Republic of Tatarstan on the occasion of the seminar, underlines the immense contribution that the universities of Tatarstan have made to the cultural and economic development of the region during the more than 200 years of their existence.

Kazan, home of the famous Kazan university, Russia’s first provincial university and the third university in Russia, has been at the centre of this development, with its strong academic tradition, the rich collections of its museums and libraries, and its leading role in the support and development of oriental languages and traditions. Kazan is also important for its excellent example and long experience of intercultural dialogue and inter-religious tolerance, of the peaceful coexistence of the multiethnic, multi-religious and multilingual peoples that make up the Volga region.

Since the 13^th century, universities have been great centres of culture as well as science, technology and intellectual debate. The university tradition is a product of European civilization and has been crucial in promoting European values, democracy and human rights.

Universities have a dual responsibility: to maintain and promote the universal values of democratic civil societies, and to become centres of expertise and excellence in their areas of specialisation and the studies that are specific to the regions in which they are rooted.

Universities are by nature dynamic institutions and they must continue to develop in order to maintain their traditions and standards. The international activity of universities is a key element of this development: the exchange of academics and researchers and students with universities in other countries is part of the life-blood of the university.

Universities not only translate, preserve and pass on knowledge, they are also responsible for developing and extending it. For this they require a strong research base, which needs to be properly funded. They need the capacity to attract the best academic staff and researchers. They require logistical support to continue to develop the areas of expertise for which they are rightly famous.

The Bologna process is an important aspect of such exchanges and its implementation in Russian institutions should be further encouraged. Universities cannot exist in isolation, they need to cooperate with each other. The creation of networks between universities is central to this cooperation. Universities should be encouraged to pursue such developments themselves and at their own initiative.

Universities, in Russia and elsewhere in Europe, remain strongly dependent on state funding and need to maintain a strong dialogue with the state educational authorities to ensure that the needs of both are understood and promoted. At the same time, Russian universities could benefit from the experience of other European universities which have been successful in attracting funding from other sources.

Universities are centres for training those who will lead our societies in the development of their culture and economies.  A key factor for the successful development of universities is the development of civic society institutions and democratic structures within the university itself. This includes structures for the participation of students in decision-making and for bringing all the actors in the university together.

A strong regional identity is crucial for a region’s development. In its report “The need for regional cultural identity”, the Council of Europe Congress reaffirms the important role of minority languages for a region’s identity. We recognise the valuable contribution that Kazan universities have made to the development and promotion of the Tartar language and national culture and underline the importance of the Council of Europe’s European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages for standard-setting in this area.

Universities have a responsibility towards the societies of which they are part. To fulfill their role, they must play their part in finding optimal solutions to the social and cultural issues that their societies are facing. Professors and students both have their role to play in this. We welcome the proposal to launch an academic journal to debate such issues.

Universities in Kazan, the Russian Federation and all the member states of the Council of Europe have a brilliant past. We must work together to ensure that they have a brilliant future. We recommend that a regular university conference be organised to debate the issues that our societies are facing and we support the offer of the Kazan authorities to host the first such conference.