Going Global-2015 attracted participants from over 80 countries. The main objective of the conference was to stimulate an international exchange of ideas and experience, and share successful problem-solving approaches in higher education.
The participants credit education with the potential to change the lives of people and society in general. The first day kicked off with the plenary session by Aung San Suu Kyi, the Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, who noted the importance of arming young people with knowledge so help them make the right decisions.
“That’s the main role of education – help young people make the right decisions,” said Aung San Suu Kyi.
The opening plenary continued with a speech by the UK’s new University Minister Jo Johnson. In the first speech since his appointment, the minister announced the new protection measures for international students against fraud in the UK and talked about his personal affliction for international education, which, according to the minister, opens new horizons. His ideas are supported by a new British Council study that shows that a combination of a social studies degree and experience in international education or work abroad is the most common background of political leaders around the world.
The conference featured plenary and theme sessions, seminars and panel discussions on various aspects of improving the effectiveness of higher education. Establishing an English-speaking environment in colleges and using English as a medium of instruction was also one of the hot topics. Maria Didkovskaia, Director of ITMO University’s Foreign Language Training Center covered some of the topics at the conference at the invitation of the British Council.
“The term English as Medium of Instruction (EMI) suggests that students get an opportunity to study physics, mathematics, urban science and other subjects in English,” she said. “Therefore, students learn the curriculum and at the same time boost their English. ITMO University adopted a new system of English studies last October and plans to dive deeper into EMI during next school year. It will be another step towards improving the English-speaking environment on campus and improve its chances of becoming global.”
Ms. Didkovskaia pointed that many Russian universities already have the components of English as Medium of Instruction that are part of the joint educational programs with classes taught English. But these programs are only part of master’s curriculum.
“Starting next year, we’ll start developing courses in English for third and fourth-year bachelor students,” Didkovskaja said. “They will be launched in time for the students who started studying English in their first year using our new intensive program.”