Over 500 experts from all over the world have come to the Yelabuga Institute to share outlooks on contemporary education.

As usual, the festival commenced with a traditional handover of schoolbags and writing accessories to future first-graders. The man who laid the foundation for this tradition – First President and current State Counsellor of Tatarstan Mintimer Shaimiev – was present at this year’s ceremony and greeted the participants of the forum.

Rector Ilshat Gafurov, who is currently at another educational conference in Tokyo, sent a video address. Director of the Yelabuga Institute Yelena Merzon and Minister of Education and Science of Tatarstan Rafis Burganov personally greeted the attendants.

This festival’s tagline is School of Change. Multilingual educational space, digital education, giftedness in children, inclusive education, project schooling, teacher’s image, and many other topics will be discussed at the event’s many panels and master classes. Training sessions, expert lectures, roundtables, book sales, and competitions are also planned.

The proceedings started with Mr. Shaimiev’s lecture on Adymnar (Steps) – a new schooling project with a special focus on trilingual (English, Russian, and Tatar) education. It’s already underway, with the first school opening in Kazan this autumn and five more planned.

The forum is attended by researchers and educators from Russia, Germany, Turkey, India, Bulgaria, Span, Latvia, and China.

Source text: Kamill Gareev

Translation: Yury Nurmeev