Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Peoples'Friendship University of Russia
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
At the end of last year, the international forum "Traditional Spiritual and Moral Values of the Union State" was held in Minsk. The event, which brought together 137 in-person participants and 67 online guests at a branch of the Russian State Social University, marked an important step in strengthening humanitarian cooperation between Russia and Belarus, particularly among young people. Ekaterina Glebova, Director of the Center for the Promotion of International Youth Relations at RUDN University, moderated the discussion panel "Dialogue of Cultures: Values Unite."
The forum reaffirmed the two countries' commitment to supporting public-societal projects based on shared spiritual values. Participants represented 130 organizations from 14 regions of Russia and all regions of Belarus.
Universal language of intercultural dialogue
Discussing traditional values at such a venue is a direct reflection of RUDN's mission. The university, which unites cultures, sees respect for history, family, work, and mutual assistance as unifying rather than divisive principles. As participants noted, these universal principles create a solid foundation for trusting dialogue, overcoming superficial differences. The discussions revealed both obvious and profound points of contact between the youth of the two countries. In addition to shared historical memories, participants discussed the value of creative work and professional integrity, as well as responsible patriotism, which manifests itself in personal involvement in solving social problems through volunteerism and local initiatives.
In her presentation, Ekaterina Glebova focused on the university's distinctive practices for working with international students.
"An effective mechanism for developing international youth cooperation is engaging young people in international cultural, economic, and scientific processes. This fosters sustainable contacts between young people from different countries, creates an international network of professional connections, and creates conditions for cultural exchange. Creating an active youth community will allow students to pool their efforts in addressing pressing social issues," says Ekaterina Glebova.
Colleagues were particularly interested in RUDN University's experience integrating international students into cultural, educational, and volunteer projects. Vepa Atakhanov, a fifth-year student from Turkmenistan, presented the activities of the Volunteer Center for International Medical Students, discussing their participation in Blood Donor Day events, events for cancer patients, and introductions to Russian classical music. Volunteering allows international students to gain a deeper understanding of the values and everyday life of Russians.
The Role of the University and the First Steps to Community
The forum clearly highlighted a trend toward the growth of public-society projects. RUDN University engages students, particularly international ones, in this work by integrating relevant tasks into curricula and extracurricular activities. The university provides platforms for dialogue with government agencies, supports students' social initiatives with grants, and develops a mentoring system. Through this system, senior students help new students become involved in significant projects, becoming facilitators of humanitarian cooperation.
What are the first steps RUDN students of different nationalities can take to develop youth cooperation? University experts recommend starting with a conscious dialogue—creating informal spaces for discussing not only cultural differences but also deep similarities in understanding values such as family, respect, and justice. Such sincere exchanges are the foundation for genuine joint projects.
According to the RUDN University delegation, the main outcome of the forum was the strengthening of the shared humanitarian agenda with Belarusian partners at the strategic level. The event clearly demonstrated the consolidation of positions: traditional spiritual and moral values are an unshakable foundation for both youth policy and international cooperation.
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.