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Yugra State University hosted a business game ‘CIS Model: Humanitarian Cooperation through the Eyes of Youth’, which brought together students of various specialties. The key topic that young people chose by voting to discuss and work out a decision at the meeting of the Commonwealth Heads of Government was ‘Youth co-operation within the CIS on the platforms of international forums and conferences.’
The opening of the Game was marked by a welcoming video message of the CIS Secretary General Sergey Lebedev. In his speech he noted that at present special attention in the Commonwealth is paid to intercultural dialogue and preservation of the common humanitarian space:
‘Numerous educational projects are being implemented, congresses of scientists, forums of creative intellectuals, sports games of the CIS countries, film festivals and book contests are held. All these are in-demand platforms for young people to communicate, to strengthen mutual understanding and friendship between the citizens of our countries. The CIS is a space of opportunities, and all proposals, aspirations to act and change the world for the better are of great importance for its future’.
The Game was moderated by Natalia Zabolotskikh, political scientist and head of the Model CIS project, coordinator of the international contest ‘Leader of Public Diplomacy’, president of the Eurasian Centre for Project Initiatives. In her speech, she emphasized the importance of involving young people in discussing issues related to the future of humanitarian cooperation:
‘We actively work on the formation of a youth agenda with an eye to the future. It is very important not to impose an agenda, but to listen to young people, to listen to their proposals, requests and vision of problem solving. Today we are talking about how young people from different countries and universities of Russia see future co-operation in education and science, in the sphere of humanitarian development in the Commonwealth. Moreover, our task is to create such an atmosphere of cooperation and development of ideas on the platform so that the guys feel the unity of all the countries and peoples that are members of the CIS’.
The moderator also emphasized that young people should be able to talk freely about challenges, generate proposals that may show new horizons.
‘It is noticeable that students subtly feel the influence of the established vertical system of decision-making. I wish there were more platforms for discussion and debate on building the future. Perhaps the solutions, they are working out now, will take effect in a few years. It is very important that the vector is set by them at our game,’ Natalia Zabolotskikh added.
Experts worked on the platform: Irina Galanova, member of the Coordinating Council of the National Parents' Association for Social Support of the Family and Protection of Family Values; Evgenia Mikhalyova, Director of the Autonomous Nonprofit Organization “Resource Centre for National Relations”; Olga Chulkova, Assistant to the Chairman of the General Council of the Eurasia and Africa Peoples’ Assembly.
During the event each participant had a unique opportunity to try on the role of a head of state, deputy prime minister, minister of education and science of the CIS countries. In the course of several hours of the intensives, the students proposed their own solutions to the issues on the agenda.
As a result of the game the students not only expanded their knowledge about the CIS, but also gained practical experience of working in a team, learnt to present their ideas in a reasoned manner and find compromises. Thus, the business game ‘CIS Model: Humanitarian Cooperation through the Eyes of Youth’ not only facilitated the exchange of opinions and ideas among students, but also became an important platform for the formation of a new generation of leaders ready to actively participate in the development of humanitarian cooperation within the CIS. The participants of the event demonstrated their readiness for dialogue and joint work, which gives hope for future cooperation between the CIS countries.
The most active students were awarded diplomas and memorable gifts.
‘All materials will be systematized and submitted to the CIS secretariat. We will include the winning students in our international projects and give them the opportunity to work not only in different regions of Russia, but also on international platforms to gain as much experience as possible, which will definitely be useful,’ said Natalia Zabolotskikh, summarizing the event.
Reference. The project ‘Business Game “CIS Model: Humanitarian Cooperation through the Eyes of Youth” is implemented by the ANO “Directorate of the World Public Summit”, established by the International Union of Non-Governmental Organizations “Eurasian and African Peoples’ Assembly”. The project is supported by the CIS Executive Committee and the Presidential Grants Foundation.
The Eurasian Centre for Project Initiatives is a partner of the Eurasian and African Peoples’ Assembly in developing and holding the CIS Model Business Game. The project is of high political and social significance and is able to unite a large number of foreign students from CIS countries studying in Russian universities around the idea of mutual cooperation in the humanitarian sphere through the development of common interstate approaches.
Photo: Yugra State University Press Service