UNESCO for People: Global Academic Voices Shape a New Era of Cooperation
29 January 2026
Today, an important Zoom meeting has been held by UNESCO as part of the UNESCO80 initiative, “Shaping UNESCO’s Future Together.” The meeting brought together UNESCO Chairs and UNITWIN Network Coordinators from around the world, including, of course, representatives from the Russian Federation.
The meeting was attended by heads and representatives of the Coordination Committee of the UNESCO Chairs of the Russian Federation, highlighting the active engagement of the Russian academic and research community in advancing UNESCO’s global mission. On behalf of the Committee, Dr. Ivan Lobanov, President of the Coordination Committee of the UNESCO Chairs of the Russian Federation, sent his greetings to the participants of the conference. The two UNESCO Chairs hosted by the Plekhanov Russian University of Economics also took part in the dialogue, underscoring the university’s strong involvement in international cooperation within the UNESCO framework.
The meeting was convened at the invitation of Professor Khaled El-Enany, Director-General of UNESCO, who opened the session with welcoming remarks. The objective of the exchange was to collectively reflect on how UNESCO can more effectively leverage the exceptional expertise of UNESCO Chairs and UNITWIN Networks to advance the Organization’s programmes and strategic priorities. Particular attention was given to how this expertise can contribute across the wider United Nations system through research, teaching, training, and concrete actions carried out with local and global communities.
A high-level panel discussion titled “Shaping UNESCO’s Future Together” followed, moderated by Stefania Giannini, Assistant Director-General for Education. An open and dynamic discussion then took place under the moderation of Sobhi Tawil, Director of Futures of Learning and Innovation, allowing participants to share perspectives, best practices, and forward-looking ideas.
In his final remarks, Director-General Professor Khaled El-Enany stressed his strong determination to make “UNESCO for people” more than a slogan, emphasizing the Organization’s practical impact and closeness to communities worldwide. He underlined that with the arrival of the new Director-General, a new era of partnership between UNESCO and the UNESCO Chairs has begun. He also highlighted that this first dialogue represents only the beginning of deeper and more structured cooperation in the future.
The meeting concluded with closing remarks by Stefania Giannini. Overall, the exchange was both interesting and insightful, fostering meaningful dialogue and reinforcing the vital role of UNESCO Chairs and UNITWIN Networks in shaping UNESCO’s future through collaboration, innovation, and shared expertise.
The meeting was attended by heads and representatives of the Coordination Committee of the UNESCO Chairs of the Russian Federation, highlighting the active engagement of the Russian academic and research community in advancing UNESCO’s global mission. On behalf of the Committee, Dr. Ivan Lobanov, President of the Coordination Committee of the UNESCO Chairs of the Russian Federation, sent his greetings to the participants of the conference. The two UNESCO Chairs hosted by the Plekhanov Russian University of Economics also took part in the dialogue, underscoring the university’s strong involvement in international cooperation within the UNESCO framework.
The meeting was convened at the invitation of Professor Khaled El-Enany, Director-General of UNESCO, who opened the session with welcoming remarks. The objective of the exchange was to collectively reflect on how UNESCO can more effectively leverage the exceptional expertise of UNESCO Chairs and UNITWIN Networks to advance the Organization’s programmes and strategic priorities. Particular attention was given to how this expertise can contribute across the wider United Nations system through research, teaching, training, and concrete actions carried out with local and global communities.
A high-level panel discussion titled “Shaping UNESCO’s Future Together” followed, moderated by Stefania Giannini, Assistant Director-General for Education. An open and dynamic discussion then took place under the moderation of Sobhi Tawil, Director of Futures of Learning and Innovation, allowing participants to share perspectives, best practices, and forward-looking ideas.
In his final remarks, Director-General Professor Khaled El-Enany stressed his strong determination to make “UNESCO for people” more than a slogan, emphasizing the Organization’s practical impact and closeness to communities worldwide. He underlined that with the arrival of the new Director-General, a new era of partnership between UNESCO and the UNESCO Chairs has begun. He also highlighted that this first dialogue represents only the beginning of deeper and more structured cooperation in the future.
The meeting concluded with closing remarks by Stefania Giannini. Overall, the exchange was both interesting and insightful, fostering meaningful dialogue and reinforcing the vital role of UNESCO Chairs and UNITWIN Networks in shaping UNESCO’s future through collaboration, innovation, and shared expertise.