The Institute of International Education at Tula State University held its traditional intercultural event – the VI International Scientific and Practical Conference dedicated to the preservation of UNESCO World Heritage Sites – in the lead-up to World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development.

This time, the conference moved beyond the university walls, hosted by the Tula Regional Youth Center.

The conference began with the ceremonial signing of a cooperation and collaboration agreement between TulSU and the Tula Regional Youth Center. The agreement was signed in fulfillment of the instruction of Russian President Vladimir Putin to continue the “Cultural Patronage” program, issued following the 2024 World Youth Festival. The goal of the program is to support systematically and jointly the activities of the International Friendship Club, based at the Tula Regional Youth Center, as a center of attraction for international and Russian students.

Olesya Evgenyevna Labadze, Vice-Rector for International and Project Activities at TulSU, and Yulia Aleksandrovna Rastvorova, Deputy Director of the Youth Center, addressed the conference participants and guests with welcoming remarks.

In her address, Olesya Yevgenyevna emphasized that the World Heritage of Humanity, culture and cultural codes of peoples are extremely important components of friendly intercultural interaction, which is especially important during the Year of Unity of the Peoples of Russia.

Yulia Alexandrovna, in her turn, spoke about the importance of strengthening peace and stability by overcoming cultural gaps and developing intercultural dialogue, as well as cultural diversity as means of enriching a person's intellectual, emotional, moral, and spiritual life.

The conference participants were addressed with welcoming remarks via videoconference by distinguished guests: diplomat, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Benin to the Russian Federation and the CIS countries (2012–2016), CEO of international projects, expert in international relations, founder of the Association of Foreign Students, Anicet Gabriel Kochofa, as well as representatives of the Center for Arabic Language and Culture named after Mahmoud Darwish of the Belgorod State National Research University.

At the plenary session, Olga Dmitriyevna Gladkova, Director of the Institute of International Education at Tula State University, Olga Valeryevna Rozanova, Senior Lecturer of the Department of Foreign Languages at Tula State University and Natalia Vasilyevna Chugunova, Associate Professor in the Department of History of State and Law at Tula State University, shared their expert opinions on the issues of preserving UNESCO World Heritage and cultural diversity with conference participants and guests.

This year, the conference was attended by Russian students from universities across the Russian Federation, as well as international students from Russian universities and universities in neighboring and distant countries. The presentations covered a wide range of fascinating topics and were structured around the conference's thematic sections: “Artificial Intelligence and Culture”, “Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development”, “Many Cultures - One Civilization”, “World Heritage Sites as Repositories of the Cultural Code of the World's Peoples”, “World Heritage Sites as Bearers of Outstanding Universal Value for Shared History”, “Cultural Heritage Protection as a Factor in Bringing Cultures Together”, and “Natural and Cultural World Heritage Sites in Russia”.

This time, the conference was a truly captivating journey through Russian cities, as well as countries near and far. Among the most compelling presentations were: “Tauric Chersonesos: History and Politics”, “Historical and Cultural Heritage of Medicine in Mesopotamia: from the Middle Ages to the Present Day”, “A Tour of Tolstoy Places on the Map of Tula”, “Artificial Intelligence and Culture”, “Nisa Fortress as UNESCO World Heritage Site and Its Historical Significance”, “Hill Forts of Rajasthan as a Monument of Indian Historical and Cultural Heritage," and others.

It was obvious that during preparing their reports, students intensified their research and exploration activities in the areas of studying and preserving natural, historical, and cultural heritage and the rapprochement of cultures. During the conference, they also learned about the cultural diversity of countries and peoples around the world, which was further enhanced by an exhibition of cultural and everyday objects from various nations held at the conference venue.

The conference concluded with an awards ceremony for the participants who prepared the best presentations and reports.