Kazan University and Francoise Minkowska Center reached an agreement to establish a joint ethnic psychology and intercultural communications lab in Kazan. The sides are now preparing a grant application form to seek funding from the relevant European institutions.

Projects like this are important to all the parties involved because they allow to share expertise and results in studying ethnic psychology and intercultural dialogue. These topics are of big importance to Russia as well due to the recent strengthening of cooperation with Middle East, East Asia, integration within BRICS, Eurasian Union, Shanghai Cooperation Organization, etc.

The preliminary agreement with Francoise Minkowska Center was reached during International Summer Psychology School in Paris this July. Kazan University was a co-organizer of the event within the framework of the Research and Education Cooperation Agreement signed with Sigmund Freud University in December 2014.

Representing Kazan University was Endje Akhmadullina, Director of KFU Psychology Training Center, representing Sigmund Freud University Paris – Director Nicole Aknin. The Summer School attracted students from 15 countries. Achievements of the Kazan psychologists were featured prominently, the history of psychological science in Kazan (which was greatly influenced by its famous founder Vladimir Bekhterev) was also touched upon.

Francoise Minkowska Center was created 50 years ago to conduct psychological and psychotherapeutic work with immigrants from Eastern countries. The Center is focused on cultural integration on immigrants.