BNU and UNESCO IITE: Exploring New Frontiers in Educational Innovation
The exchange enabled both institutions to showcase their expertise and identify common areas of interest. Maksim Nikitin, Deputy Dean for Global Engagement, introduced the IOE as one of Russia's leading centres for educational research, policy expertise, and professional training, and emphasised its international projects and long-standing partnerships. Professor Chen Guangju, Vice Dean of the Smart Learning Institute at BNU, presented the Institute's work on digital transformation, intelligent learning technologies, and AI-driven approaches to education.
These shared interests formed the basis for broader discussions about potential future collaborations. Anastasia Vyskubina, Deputy Head of the Centre for Special Projects at HSE eLearning Office, shared the HSE Online Campus's experience in developing online courses and invited colleagues from BNU to explore potential formats for cooperation in online education. Madina Davlatova, Deputy Director of the IOE Department of Educational Programmes, highlighted the Institute's educational portfolio and discussed opportunities for jointly developed courses and other academic initiatives.
Our cooperation with Chinese partners has been developing for several years, and we are delighted to see it continue to grow. Every visit creates new connections and helps transform shared research interests into practical collaboration. We look forward to continuing this work together,” said Maksim Nikitin.
The partnership also extends to educational innovation through the HSE Education Innovation Competition (KIVO). Diana Koroleva, Head of KIVO, presented the research agenda of the Laboratory for Educational Innovation Research, including proposals for collaborative projects with BNU on AI integration and educational innovation ecosystems. Anastasia Andreeva, Head of the Laboratory for Educational Innovations, shared how KIVO has evolved into a platform that not only identifies promising ideas but also supports innovators through research, networking, and expert guidance.
One of the most valuable aspects of this meeting was the opportunity to connect international researchers with educational innovators who are already developing solutions for schools and universities. Bringing these communities together helps to translate research into practice, while also creating lasting international partnerships,” noted Anastasia Andreeva.
Beyond institutional discussions, the event gave members of the KIVO community an opportunity to present their projects to international experts. Four Russian educational innovation teams received feedback on product development, internationalisation strategies, and adapting their solutions for new educational contexts, including China and other UNESCO partner countries.
The collaboration is already set to continue beyond this visit. Several KIVO participants were invited to present their projects at a conference hosted by Beijing Normal University in 2027, further strengthening ties between the Russian and Chinese educational innovation communities.
