Moscow City University has expanded its focus from training teachers to becoming a city university that collaborates with the metropolis and urban communities. It takes responsibility for sustainable development and introducing innovations for the benefit of the capital’s residents.
The monograph titled “What is a city university? Education. Researches. Practices” features insights from MCU experts and scientists regarding the university’s journey towards greater engagement with the city. It is published in Russian and consists of 3 chapters. Below, we will outline the contents of each chapter.
“City University in Russia and the World Today”:
- description of the prerequisites and stages of urban universities’ development in Russia and abroad.
- analysis of the views held by leading Russian and foreign universities regarding their relationship with the city and the urban environment.
- systematisation of the approaches adopted by universities when working with the city and urban space.
“From the University in the City to the City University”:
- presentation of the experience of transforming the substantial “core” of educational programmes and the educational environment of the university, considering integration into urban contexts.
- demonstration of the transformation of the research agenda of the city university, focusing on urban issues, through research conducted at MCU and implemented projects.
- description of the urban socio-humanitarian practices that have emerged at MCU.
“Legal Support for the University’s Involvement in the Urban Environment”:
- analysis of the distinctive features associated with the legal status of organisations actively engaged in humanitarian activities;
- analysis of the legal status of organisations that function as socio-cultural centers.
The authors of the monograph outline the mission of Moscow City University as follows:
Moscow City Pedagogical University sees its mission as “the creation and dissemination of new social and humanitarian practices for the world city and the world of cities.” In other words, the university assumes the role of a producer of new meanings in order to develop human potential, which is especially important for the largest megalopolis in Russia.
To fulfill this mission, the university’s experts are involved in daily projects and activities, which include:
- Initiatives aimed at developing the educational and socio-cultural potential of the city, as well as transforming existing mechanisms within the university.
- Creation of new educational, research, and management practices both within the university and in the city.
- Projects designed to collect feedback, measuring the productivity and effectiveness of the university.
“The accumulated expertise and a set of research competencies should allow the city university to directly participate in the development of a city development strategy, the university’s ability not only to “remove” global urban trends, but also to transform and adapt this knowledge in accordance with the conditions of a particular city and its requests in the future will take the university to a new level, move it to “the Higher University League”.
The authors of the monograph emphasise that the work they have done serves as a valuable reflection in shaping the university’s future development. They express the hope that this book will serve as a contribution from MCU to the ongoing discussion on the prospects of implementing the third mission of Russian universities.
You can access the monograph through the provided link.
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