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On the sidelines of the III International Forum “Truth and Morality - a Strategic Resource of Public Diplomacy” Belgorod State Technological University (BSTU) named after V.G. Shukhov (Russia) has entered into cooperation agreements with Nahdlatul Ulama University of Yogyakarta (Indonesia), Damascus University (Syria), Ajloun National University (ANU, Jordan) and Al-Bayan University (Iraq).
Belgorod University of Cooperation, Economics and Law (BUKEP) (Russia) has entered into cooperation agreements with Nahdatul Ulama University of Yogyakarta (Indonesia), Damascus University (Syria), Ajloun National University (Jordan), International Institute of Cultural Diplomacy (UAE) and the University of Jordan (Jordan).
The organizers of the Forum are the Eurasian Peoples' Assembly and BSTU named after V.G. Shukhov with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, Rossotrudnichestvo, the Association of Arab Universities, the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy (UAE), the Government of the Belgorod region and leading universities in the region.
“Despite difficult international events, the university community finds ways to unite and cooperate. This is proved by today's agreements, which provide for comprehensive and long-term work both in education and science, and in the field of cultural exchange,” - said Rector of V. Shukhov State Technical University Sergey Glagolev.
He added that one of the priority areas of cooperation between Belgorod University and universities in Arab countries will be Smart Cities technologies.
Damascus University President Dr. Mohammad Osama al-Jabban noted that the agreements open up the opportunity for student-teacher exchanges and the creation of new educational programs.
“Universities and students around the world play an increasingly important role in addressing issues of further development of society. Our goal now is to help our peoples. Our university today has a slogan: students serve the peoples,” - said the Head of the Syrian university.
In his turn, the President of Ajloun National University Dr. Feras Ahmad Hamid Hanandeh pointed out the importance of developing joint research in the field of artificial intelligence and improving the quality of life through smart technologies.
“I see common ground with the Belgorod University in the area of building “smart campuses” with the possibility of further extending these smart systems to entire neighborhoods and cities." - emphasized the President of the University of Jordan.
President of the International Institute of Cultural Diplomacy Dr. Mohammed Kamil Al Muaini (UAE) noted that agreements are important for fruitful exchange between universities, for penetrating and learning cultures, languages and building a peaceful future
“We try to conduct exchanges between students, different cultures, languages. Our mission is peace. The remedies are patience and building friendly bridges. Our motto is that we build cultural bridges, and bridges are the future. Thus, our forum has three leitmotifs - unification, interaction and focus on the future,” - said Dr. Mohammed Kamil Al Muaini.
BUCEP Rector Elena Isaenko expressed hope for productive work within the agreements and noted that the relevance of the Forum’s theme – truth and morality – is supported by the increasing role of universities in public diplomacy.
The third International Forum “Truth and Morality - a strategic resource of public diplomacy” was held at the BSTU named after V. Shukhov; BUCEP and Belgorod State National Research University (NRU BelSU) on October 9 – 12, 2023. It was attended by 100 representatives of universities from 40 countries of Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America.
The forum participants considered the problems of humanitarian modernization in the Eurasian context and the development of innovative methods of cooperation in the spheres of science, education, culture and business within the framework of public diplomacy.