VIII International Scientific and Practical Conference

VIII International Scientific and Practical Conference

“Current Issues in Global Studies:

Megatrends of Global Development”

May 21–23, 2026

Information Letter

Organizers

Faculty of Global Processes

Lomonosov Moscow State University

Russian Committee of the UNESCO Programme

“Management of Social Transformations (MOST)”

International Academy of Global Studies

Co-organizers and Partners

Russian Commission for UNESCO

International Organization for the Promotion of Public Diplomacy, Scientific, Educational and Youth Cooperation

“Eurasian Commonwealth”

International Big History Association

Russian United Nations Association

UN Information Centre in Moscow

Association of Russian Diplomats

Coordinating Committee of UNESCO Chairs

Bioethics Committee under the Russian Commission for UNESCO

Scientific and Educational Organizations

Party School of the Sichuan Provincial Administration Committee (China)

Plekhanov Russian University of Economics (Russia)

Yaroslavl State Medical University (Russia)

University of Limpopo (South Africa)

University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (China)

Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (Brazil)

Chengdu University of Technology (China)

Shanghai University (China)

UNESCO Chair in Global Issues Studies, Faculty of Global Processes, Lomonosov Moscow State University

UNESCO Chair in Human Rights and Democracy, MGIMO University

International Club of Russian–Latin American Studies, Lomonosov Moscow State University

Research and Education Centre “Confucius Institute”, Lomonosov Moscow State University

Russian–African Club, Lomonosov Moscow State University

Information Support

International Affairs Journal

UNESCO Journal

Main Conference Themes

1. Globalization in a Polycentric World: Transformation of the Global System, World Order, and Global Governance.
2. Platformization of the Global Economy: Integration of National Economies into Global Digital Ecosystems, Complicated by States’ Countervailing Demand for Technological Sovereignty.
3. Transformation of the Global Financial Architecture amid Geo-Economic Fragmentation: Institutionalization of Alternative Financial Institutions, Fragmentation, and De-Dollarization of the Global Economy.
4. Global Demographic Shift: Aging of the Earth’s Population, Declining Birth Rates, and Shrinking Human Capital.
5. Anthropological Transition: Development of Artificial Intelligence and an Evolutionary Leap.

Format: Hybrid (In-Person and Online)

Venue: Faculty of Global Processes, Lomonosov Moscow State University

Address: 13A Building 1, Leninskiye Gory, Moscow

Program

May 21, 2026

11:00–12:00

Venue: Building 13A, Building 1, Leninskiye Gory, Block V, 4th Floor, Room 440

Opening Ceremony

Welcome Speech Time Limit: 5 minutes

Invited Participants:

1. Alexander S. Alimov – Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation
2. Sergey A. Rachkov – Chairman of the Standing Commission on International Affairs, House of Representatives, National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus
3. Elena V. Galaktionova – Executive Secretary of the Russian Commission for UNESCO
4. Ivan V. Lobanov – Rector, Plekhanov Russian University of Economics; Chairman of the Coordinating Council of UNESCO Chairs
5. Alexey N. Borisov – First Deputy Chairman, Russian United Nations Association; Vice-President, World Federation of United Nations Associations
6. Shen Xiaorong – Professor, Executive Director of the Administrative Committee, Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China
7. Vladimir V. Kuznetsov – Director, UN Information Centre in Moscow
8. Zhang Wei – Professor, Head of the Department of Culture and Ecological Civilization, Party School of the Sichuan Provincial Administration Committee

Diploma Presentation

International Academy of Global Studies

1. Daniel Barreiros – President, International Big History Association; Professor, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (Brazil)
2. Lulu Nightingale Mmakola – Professor, University of Limpopo (South Africa)
3. Liu Yi – Director, Institute of Religion and Global Politics, Shanghai University (China); Professor

Opening Ceremony of the Research and Education Centre for Russian–Chinese Strategic Partnership

Coffee Break

12:00–13:00

Plenary Session

13:00–14:00

Venue: Building 13A, Building 1, Leninskiye Gory, Block V, 4th Floor, Room 440

Scientific Report Time Limit: 15 minutes

Invited Participants:

1. Plenary Report by the Faculty of Global Processes, Lomonosov Moscow State University (Russia):

Ilya V. Ilyin – Dean, Faculty of Global Processes, Lomonosov Moscow State University; Vice-President, International Academy of Global Studies; Chairman, Russian Committee of the UNESCO Programme “Management of Social Transformations (MOST)”

Askar A. Akaev – Professor, Faculty of Global Processes, Lomonosov Moscow State University; Foreign Member, Russian Academy of Sciences

By decision of the Program Committee, the time limit for the plenary report of the conference organizers is 30 minutes.

2. Liu Yi – Director, Institute of Religion and Global Politics, Shanghai University (China); Professor
3. Lulu Nightingale Mmakola – Professor, University of Limpopo (South Africa)

Connection to the Meeting of the Research Ethics Council under the Presidium of the Russian Academy of Sciences

4. Mikhail A. Piradov – Vice-President, Russian Academy of Sciences; Director, Research Center of Neurology; Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences
5. Nikolay A. Konovalov – Head, Special Department, National Medical Research Center for Neurosurgery named after Academician N.N. Burdenko; Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences
6. Oleg S. Grin – Director, Research and Education Centre for Legal Support of Bioeconomics and Genetic Technologies, Kutafin Moscow State Law University (MSAL)

Coffee Break

14:00–15:00

Plenary Session (continued)

15:00–16:00

7. Alexander I. Ageev – General Director, International Research Institute for Management Problems
8. Wang Xiaolong – Professor, Chairman of the Academic Council, Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China
9. Daniel Barreiros – President, International Big History Association; Professor, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (Brazil)
10. Zeng Wenqi – Dean, Institute of Marxism, Chengdu University of Technology
11. Igor Pelliciari – Professor, University of Urbino (Italy); Full Member (Academician), International Academy of Global Studies; Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of San Marino

VIII International Scientific and Practical Conference