Faculty of political and social science

Chair of international relations

Head of the Chair,      Full Professor, Doctor of Hisrtory, Maksimova Valentina Semenovna A.Nevsky str.8/3, room#309, Tel.: (814-2) 73-17-21 e-mail: alla_aleshkina@psu.karelia.ru               maksimova@psu.karelia.ru

Training of specialists in international relations is of special significance for Petrozavodsk State University due to the geographical location of the Republic of Karelia. During the last decade external relations both of the Republic and of Petrozavodsk State University extended significantly. Ongoing processes in the sphere of international affaires require elaboration and introduction of qualified training programs for specialists to become in this sphere. This served as the main precondition for opening in 2001 the chair of international relations. Petrozavodsk State University carries on training of professionals in this sphere: consultants and advisers, interpreters at the faculty of political and social sciences. Graduates may be employed in regional and local governmental bodies, research institutions and in private sector which is actively developing international contacts.

The Faculty and Chair of international relations have been carrying out a complex research on the issue of “The Republic of Karelia in the system of regional and international affairs: resources, perspectives and the dynamics of changes” (political and sociological analysis). Professor V.S.Maksimova is the coordinator of the program.
The Chair of international relations publishes on the regular basis the results of scientific work of its members and, as a result, an annual of scientific articles written by the members of the chair is published.

Well-known professors from Saint-Petersburg and Moscow are invited every year to conduct a series of lectures for students of international relations. Certain courses are led by the Finnish researchers and professors.
Two educational programs for post-graduate students have been introduced at the Chair of international relations:
    - Theory of politics, history and methodology of political science
    - Political problems of international relations and global development

The postgraduate students are supervised by Prof. V.S.Maksimova and Prof. V.A.Achkasov (Saint-Petersburg State University).

Since September 2005 “Cross-border university” project (CBU) has been given start at Petrozavodsk State University. The benefit of the CBU project for the Faculty consists in the possibility to further develop the scientific basis of the teaching of International Relations with a view to the application of recognised European practices in this field. In terms of the content of education, these consist in the enhancement of local competence in the 'state-of-the-art' in contemporary European IR theory and methodology, the increased participation of the Chair staff in European networks of IR teaching and research, the prioritisation of the development of individual research skills of the students, the enhancement of the range of elective courses, including the courses offered by visiting European lecturers. In terms of the organisation of the educational process, these consist in the adoption of the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS), the promotion of international student mobility, the introduction of more flexible, transparent and accountable methods of teaching, evaluation and quality assessment. Through its participation in the CBU project the Chair will act as a pilot project for the increased participation of the Russian Federation in the Bologna Process, spearheading the adoption of European practices by Petrozavodsk State University and other institutions of higher education in the Republic of Karelia.
The Chair is actively establishing and developing scientific contacts with leading Russian and foreign universities. Joint efforts are aimed at improvement of educational process at the Faculty and expansion of scientific activities of the Chair as a whole and of the Faculty, in particular. For the time being establishing new contacts is one of the highest priorities for everybody who works at the Chair.

Recent events:

1. Annual International Summer School “Geopolitics” (July 2004, in cooperation with Lapland University (Finland))
2. Youth seminar “Perspectives of the relations between the EU and Russia: a focus on education, culture and scientific research” (November 2004, with the support of the Delegation of the European Commission in Moscow)
3. Annual International Summer School “Eurasia” (July 2005, in cooperation with Lapland University (Finland))