UNESCO chairs: analyzing what advantages they give to students in Turkmenistan
UNESCO, being the largest global structure in the field of education, science and culture, incorporates numerous programs in the field of higher education. One of such programs is UNITWIN, designed to develop cooperation between universities around the world. This program is better known as the "UNESCO Chairs Network".
What is the purpose of UNESCO chairs?
The main goals of the departments are to promote the ideas of gender equality through the participation of women in the educational process, networking between universities through seminars and conferences, and the activation of intercultural cooperation.
To achieve these goals, the program uses such methods as the exchange of professional information, the development of human rights competencies, knowledge exchange, publishing and partnership between universities of the Network.
By what criteria can a university join a network of departments?
At the moment, almost 900 UNESCO chairs have been created in the world. The program management can accept the university into the Network only if it meets the following criteria:
— Educational experience of teachers in the field under consideration and their ability to publish works;
— The university should promote academic exchange of knowledge and students, as well as cooperation with other universities;
— A stable and guaranteed financing plan for the next 4 years.
Universities that do not have a UNESCO chair in their composition may have an advantage for joining the Network, as well as if a woman is chosen as the chair.
What will joining the Network give Turkmen universities?
Two Turkmen universities — Magtymguly Turkmen State University and Seyitnazar Seydi Turkmen State Pedagogical Institute — became the first in the country to open corresponding departments. The department "Cultural Heritage: from the past to the future" will function at TSU, and the department "Environmental Education for Sustainable Development" will function at TSU.
By joining the Network, Turkmen students will be able to gain additional knowledge about how the UN and UNESCO are organized and work, as well as get a chance to participate in various scientific conferences and seminars at the international level.
In addition, students and teachers will be able to participate in the exchange of knowledge with their colleagues from other reputable universities of the Network, carry out research in the field under consideration with foreign experts, publish works on popular platforms.
The departments themselves will encourage scientific activity with the help of modern technologies, protection of intellectual property rights, promotion in the overall ranking of world universities, internships of teachers and students at universities with a high level of trust. Also, departments can stimulate initiative groups of citizens, educational and cultural institutions with competitions, programs and other events, for which the coordinators are responsible.
The most important thing is to integrate the latest teaching methods and disciplines into training, which will help students and teachers to replenish their knowledge base and acquire skills in their specialty.
Who will the UNESCO Chair consist of?
According to the current practice of UNITWIN, the department consists of the academic head of the department, teachers and experts of the university and other universities and institutes, including from abroad, students studying and conducting research under the patronage of the department, associate members - both domestic and foreign.
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It is obvious that UNITWIN in Turkmenistan will not be limited to only two universities: the platform for further cooperation is laid in other Turkmen educational institutions. Thus, since 2022, the UNESCO "Languages of the World" club has been operating at the Turkmen National Institute of World Languages named after D.Azadi, and the "Culture of Peace" at the Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan. These clubs have already formed an idea among the students of these universities about how effective the UN structures are.
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