Regional module A

Seminar "The modernization of the university education"

Regional module A, Tver, Russia

Research Project Theme

SCIENCE AND SPIRITUAL VALUES IN REFORMING CONTEMPORARY RUSSIAN UNIVERSITY EDUCATION

The project is aimed at the study of the relations of science and spiritual values in the reform process of contemporary Russian university education. This problem is deeply imbedded in the general climate of globalization age, as well as in the particular challenges facing Russian university education that should be radically reformed in order to find a strategy of readjustment to the standards and practices existing in this area in the technologically advanced and highly developed countries.

The university role in the society has considerably changed in contemporary postmodern age as compared with the classical modernity. Preservation, reproduction, innovation, and dissemination of different kind of knowledge considered as product of “pure thought” should no longer be understood as a self-sufficient task of the university education. Together with the coming of the contemporary pattern of cooperation between the post-classical science, technology, and humanities, the university is gradually changing its role in society. It is becoming a place where cultural tradition and knowledge should meet and produce a picture of variable facets of the universe and human person needed for the permanent restructuring and productive renovation of society. The knowledge based society of the future is inconceivable without a vision of the university education role aimed at establishing new and widening horizons for the development of culture and society. Contemporary vision of culture with its emphasis on the aesthetic dimension of human creativity persistently demands the establishment of a certain unity of scientific-technological rationality with other areas of human spiritual activity. Thus, the reformulation of a possible co-existence format of science, religion, morality, art and other spheres of human spiritual activity becomes a permanent task of contemporary university education. Despite the evident achievements of science and technology, other areas of man’s spiritual life are no less important due to their resources to create the field of meanings and values needed for overcoming cultural contradictions and perspectives for the future.

After signing the Bologna treaty, the joining the European university education space became the officially proclaimed policy of the Russian government. However, this task appears to be a hard and serious one when looked upon in the perspective of its financial and professional basis that should be provided on the part of the federal government and local power institutions of all levels. The enormous problems arising in the process of reforming of the Russian university system are most deeply felt in the province. To make the university education of the country adequate to the demands of a knowledge based society means to solve the problem of the existence of science and humanities taught at the university within a certain cultural milieu with its set of spiritual values having a considerable impact on practices and preferences of the students.

Research team (five participants):

I. Head of research group - Ph. D., Prof., Chair of the Theory and History of Culture Dept. of Tver State University Boris L. Gubman.

 CURRICULUM VITAE

PERSONAL INFORMATION

Name: Boris L. Goubman

Address: 170000, Russia,Tver, Simeonovskaya  54, Apart. 6

Telephone: 34-78-89 ( home )

 34-66-64 (office)

E-mail: Gubman@tmail.ru

Fax: 48-08-84 (for Prof. B. Gubman)

Date of Birth: December 20, 1951

Place of Birth: Perm (USSR)

Nationality: Russian Federation

EDUCATION

1969-1973 Tver State University - Diploma cum laude

Major: History

Minor: English language

1973-1977 Postgraduate Program in Philosophy at Tver State University

1977 Degree: Ph.D. - Candidate of Sciences (Philosophy), University of St.-Petersburg

1980-1982 Research Program for the highest degree of Doctor of Sciences at the Institute of Philosophy of the USSR Academy of Sciences (Moscow)

1983 Degree: Doctor of Sciences (History of Philosophy), Institute of Philosophy of the USSR Academy of Sciences (Moscow)

EMPLOYMENT

1989-2006 Head of the Department of Theory and History of Culture, Tver State University

1992 Exchange Prof. at Eastern Washington University (USA)

1988-1989 Prof. of Philosophy, Tver State University

1982-1987 Associate Prof. of Philosophy, Tver State University

1982 Assistant Prof. of Philosophy, Tver State University

Selected PUBLICATIONS (total 232)

1.                  Contemporary Philosophy of Culture. Moscow: Rospen, 2005.

2.                  Historical Narrative in the Age of Post-modernity // Language Forum. Vol. 30, N 2,

3.                  July-December, 2004.

4.                  The Neo-Eurasian Temptation: Religion and Politics. – East European Perspectives.

5.                  Vol. 6. N 1-2. Jnuary 2004.

6.                  Idealism – Ecyclopedia of Russian Hstory. In 4 volumes. Ed. by J.R. Miller.

7.                  Vol. 2.

8.                  Horizons of the Open Society: K. Poppper on Value Foundatios of History and

9.                  Politics Relations – International Journal of Communication. Vol. 13. N 1-2. 2003.

I.                                                        Kant and H. Arendt’s Anthropology – Akten des IX Internationalen Kant-

10.              Congress. Berlin, 2001. Bd. 4.

11.              Modernity-Postmodernity Debate, Cultural Pluralism, and Freedom of

12.              Communication in R. Bernstein’s Philosophy – International Journal

13.              of Communication. Vol. 11. N 1-2. 2001.

14.              World Philosophy in a Dialogue of Cultures - British Journal for

15.              the History of Philosophy. Vol.9, Number 1, March 2001.

16.              Nietzschean Foundations of Soviet Culture: Beyond Good

17.              and Evil.-British Journal for the History of Philoso-

18.              phy. Vol.5, Number 1, March 1997.

19.              The Enlightenment Problem in G.Fedotov's Philosophy of

20.              History.-Transactions of the Ninth International Cong-

21.              ress on the Enlightenment. Oxford, 1996.

22.              La sindrome eurasiana.-La Nuova Europa. Numero 3,1995.

23.              The Postmodern Epoch: Contemporary World and Universal

24.              Values.-Dialectic, Cosmos and Society. Winter 1994,

25.              vol.2, N 1.

26.              Contemporary Russia: Alternatives of the Future Deve-

27.              lopment.-International Social Science Review. Spring

28.              1993, vol.68, N 2.

29.              The Horizons of the Organic Vision of the Universe and

30.              Humanity: Vladimir Solovyev Revisited in the Light of

31.              Process Theology.-Process Studies.Winter 1993,N 4.

32.              Before and After the Abortive Coup in the USSR.-Inter-

33.              national Social Science Review. Winter 1992, vol.67,

34.              N 1.

35.              20-th Century Western Philosophy of Culture. Tver:Le-

36.              an, 1997.

37.              Russia and Europe in Philosophy of Russian History.

38.              Tver: Tver State University Press, 1997.

39.              Introduction to Philosophy of Culture. Tver:Tver State

40.              University Press, 1995.

41.              The Meaning of History. Moscow: Nauka,1991.

42.              The New Philosophy and Religion.-The Annual of the

43.              Philosophical Society of the USSR. 1991. Moscow:

44.              Nauka, 1991.

45.              "Bochensky J.M.","Blondel M.","Contemporary Thomism",

46.              "Coreth E.","Gilson E.","Levy B.-H.","Marcel G.",

47.              "Maritain J.", "The Phenomenon of Man", "Rahner K.",

48.              "Teilhard de Chardin P."-Contemporary Western Philo-

49.              sophy. A Dictionary. Moscow:Politizdat, 1991.

50.              Humanistic Culture and Rationality. -The Annual of the

51.              Philosophical Society of the USSR. 1989-1990. Moscow:

52.              Nauka, 1990.

53.              Contemporary Catholic Philosophy: Man and History .

54.              Moscow: Visshaya Shkola,1988.

COURSES FOR UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

Critical Thinking.

History of Philosophy.

Philosophy of Culture.

20-th Century Western Philosophy of Culture.

Russia and Europe in the Philosophy of Russian

History.

Contemporary Philosophy of History.

AREAS OF ACADEMIC CONCERN

Neo-Thomist theology and philosophy of religion.

Science and religion.

Comparative analysis of 19-th-20-th century Russian and Western philosophy.

20-th century Western philosophy of culture.

Contemporary Western philosophy of history.

Philosophy of culture.

Culture and Politics.

LANGUAGES

English, French, Italian, German.

DISTINCTIONS AND HONORS

Member of the Board of Experts of the Russian Foundation for Humanities

Member of the Board of Experts of the Russian Chapter of the International Institute of Education (Ford Foundation).

Member of Russian Federation Academy of Social Sciences and Humanities.

Advisor of the International Association of Educators for World Peace ( UN, UNICEF & UNESCO ).

Grant holder of Central European University (G. Soros Foundation) and USIA.

Grant holder of the Russian Ministry of Education.

Member of the Presidium of Tver chapter of Russian Federation Cultural Foundation

II. Ph. D., Prof., Chair of the Dept. of Physical Chemistry of Tver State University Yuri G. Papulov;

 CURRICULUM VITAE

PERSONAL INFORMATION

Name: Yuri G. Papulov

Address: 170023, Russia,Tver, Lenin prosp.

 43, Apart.26

Telephone: 34-78-89 ( home )

 36-53-43 (127-office)

E-mail: Papulov@tversu.ru

Fax: 32-12-74 (for Prof. Yu. Papulov)

Date of Birth: June 4, 1935

Place of Birth: Troyitsk (USSR)

Nationality: Russian Federation

EDUCATION

1953-1958 Moscow State University – Dept.of

 Chemistry

 Major: Chemistry

1958-1961 Postgraduate Program in Physical

 Chemistry at Moscow State University

1962 Degree: Ph.D. - Candidate of

 Sciences (Chemistry), University

 of St.-Petersburg

1966-1968 Research Program for the highest

 Degree of Doctor of Sciences at Tver

 State University

 Degree: Doctor of Sciences (Physical

 Chemistry), Moscow Pedagogical University

EMPLOYMENT

1973-2006 Chair of the Department of Physical

 Chemistry, Tver State University

1969-1973 Prof. of Physical Chemistry, Tver State

 University

1963-1973 Associate Prof. of Physical Chemistry, Tver

 State University

1961-1963 Head of the Physical-Chemical Lab., Tver

 Institute of Artificial Fibers

Selected PUBLICATIONS (total 350)

Substance Structure in the Natural Sciences Picture of the World. Tver,2005.

Calculation Methods in Atomic Approach. Tver, 2002.

Mathematics in Chemistry. Tver,1997.

Symmetry in Chemistry. Tver,1988.

COURSES FOR UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

1.                     Contemporary Natural Science

 Theories

2.                     Quantum Chemistry.

3.                     Substance Structure.

4.                     Stereo Chemistry.

5.                     Molecular Graphs.

AREA OF ACADEMIC CONCERN

Relations of substance properties with molecular structure: computer modeling

Science and Religion in Contemporary Cultural Context

LANGUAGES

English, German.

DISTINCTIONS AND HONORS

Honorary scholar of the Russian Federation

Distinguished Professor of the Tver State University

G.Soros Professor

Member of the Natural Science Academy, Russia

Member of New York Academy of Arts and Science

Grant holder of the Russian Ministry of Education.

III. Ph. D., Prof. of the Theory and History of Culture Dept. of Tver State University Michael A. Lukatsky.

CURRICULUM VITAE

Obrazovanie i kultura v tvorchestve L.N. Tolstogo. M.: MPSI; Voroneg: MODEK, 2006.

Otechestvenaya gumanisticheskaya pedagogicheskaya misl: traditsii i sovremenost. M.: MGAU, 2006.

Filosofiya obrazovaniya L.N. Tolstogo. Tver: TOIUU, 1998.

Filosofiya kulturi L.N. Tolstogo. Tver: TGU, 1996.

Problema kulturi v religioznoi filosofii L.N. Tolstogo. Tver: VPU, 1994.

LANGUAGES – English

IV. Ph. D., Prof., Chair of the Philosophy and Psychology Dept. of Tver State Technological University Elena A. Evstifeeva;

 CURRICULUM VITAE

PERSONAL INFORMATION

Name: Elena A. Evstifeeva

Address: 170000, Russia,Tver, Bazanova 5, Apart.15

Telephone: 32-22-19 (home)

 31-15-28 (office)

Date of Birth: February 18, 1958

Place of Birth: Rjev ( USSR )

Nationality: Russian Federation

EDUCATION

1976-1980 Moscow State University -

Major: Philosophy

Minor: English language

1984 Degree: Ph.D. - Candidate of

Sciences (Philosophy), Moscow State

University

1995 Degree: Doctor of Sciences (Philosophy)

EMPLOYMENT

1995-2006 Head of the Department of Psychology and Philosophy, Tver State Technical

 University

2002-2006 Head of the Department of Psychology and Philosophy with courses of bio-

 ethics, culturology and Russian history, Tver State Medical Academy

Selected PUBLICATIONS (total 80)

Faith role in man’s spiritual life. Moscow: Russkiy mir, 1995.

Faith and problem of counsciousness. Tver State Technical University press, 1997.

Faith and understanding. Journal for Reflexive processes of management. 1998.

COURSES FOR UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

1. Psychology of personality.

2. Problems of human self-knowledge.

3. History of philosophy.

AREAS OF ACADEMIC CONCERN

1. Psychoanalysis and humanist psychology.

2. Existential psychiatry and psychotherapy.

3. Consciousness studies and religion.

4. Philosophy and psychology of somatology.

5. Bioethics.

LANGUAGES

English.

DISTINCTIONS AND HONOURS

Grant holder of G. Soros Foundation.

Grant holder of the Russian Ministry of Education.

Grant holder of Russian foundation for fundamental

Sciences.

Grant holder of Russian foundation for Humanities.

V. Ph. D., Assoc. Prof. Tver State University Sergej V. Rassadin.

 CURRICULUM VITAE

PERSONAL INFORMATION

Name: Sergey V. Rassadin

Address: 170002, Russia, Tver, Tchaykovskogo 31, Apart.123

Telephone: 32-24-11 (home)

31-15-28 (office)

E-mail                          n_s@pochta.ru

Date of Birth: January 29, 1970

Place of Birth: Starica (USSR)

Nationality: Russian Federation

EDUCATION

1987-1993 Tver State University -

Major: History

Minor: German language

2001 Degree: Ph.D. - Candidate of

Sciences (Philosophy), Tver State University

EMPLOYMENT

1996-2001                                                                       Assistant Lecturer in Philosophy at the Department of Psychology and Philosophy, Tver State Technical University

2001-2006                                                                       Associate Professor at the Department of Psychology and Philosophy, Tver State Technical University

1999-2006                              Associate Professor at the Department of Theory and History of Culture, Tver State University

Selected PUBLICATIONS (total 30)

Genealogical Analysis of Culture F. Nietzsche // Language, Culture and Society in Human Paradigms. Moscow-Tver, 1999. P.148-156.

Representation of Religious Discourse in modern Russian Educational Dimension. Religious Studies in Russia. Moscow, Rudomino. 2002. P.56-60.

A. Block: Crisis of Culture and “Revolution of Spirit” // Culture and Politics. . Tver State University press, 2004. P.75-84.

COURSES FOR UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

1. Philosophy.

2. Logic.

3. History of Philosophy.

4. Philosophical Anthropology.

AREAS OF ACADEMIC CONCERN

1. Philosophy of Religion.

2. Political Power and Mass Consciousness.

LANGUAGES

German.

DISTINCTIONS AND HONORS

2000 Grant holder of Institution “Open Society” (Russia) of G. Soros Foundation.

2001-2002 Grant holder of the Russian Ministry of Education.

2004 Grant holder of Russian foundation for Humanities.

Module Research and other activities

The research group will conduct the research at Tver State University in close cooperation with Tver State Technological University, Tver State Medical Academy and other educational institutions of Tver region.

Regional partners:

the State Academy of Government (St.-Petersburg);

theYaroslavl State University.

Sociological research of the prevailing value orientations and preferences of the university students should be conducted within the format of the project.

Seminars to be conducted:

There will be 4 sessions of the seminar per year aimed at discussing different issues related to the project:

1.                              Modernizing University Education in Russia: the Problem of Values.

2.                              Science and Spirituality in Russian University Education Today.

3.                              Faith and Reason in Contemporary Culture.

4.                              The Role of Human and Social Sciences in the Renewal Process of Russian University Teaching.

Interregional conference to be organized: “Science and Spiritual Values in Reforming Contemporary Russian University Education”, May, 2008. The Tver State University will be the organizer of the Conference with the expected 50 participants representing a number of educational institutions of the North-West region of Russia.

Final volume: “Scientific progress VS spiritual value in postmodern studies” (200 p.) collection of articles will be based on research materials and conference papers. The research results will be also published in “Philosophy and Political Science Review of the Tver State University”.

Participation in the seminars, international conference (2008) and final volume of Moscow team.