8th Annual International Conference 'Education and Global Cities: Third Mission of Universities and Students'

The new conference is dedicated to Third Mission and students, one of the most significant and visible social groups in any big city. The experts invited to participate in the conference will shift the focus of the discussion of students and student body from the possibilities of educational and non-educational institutions' influence on them, to the crucial role that students themselves play in shaping the university reputation and universities' realization of their third mission - direct influence on the dynamics of social development of the cities. The third mission of the university relates to a set of activities linked to the traditional missions of teaching and research, which involve directly opening the university to its environment in order to influence its economic and social development.

Universities play a unique role in ensuring a sustainable tomorrow because they are the ones responsible for disseminating responsible knowledge and practices. They have realized the need to reflect their role as socially responsible parts of society, and this goes beyond the implementation of quality learning processes and the generation and transfer of knowledge derived from research, resulting in a scenario in which the university acts as a key factor influencing the progress of society through these opportunities, and which is simultaneously fueled by these processes to ensure its sustainability.

The central themes of the conference will be:

Students and the Third Mission of the university
Effective student self-governance.
Student diversity in the context of urban development.
Student projects for the benefit of the city.

Best practices in the application of social entrepreneurship within students
Students and the development of creative industries
Universities as institutions fostering the development
Sustainability on campus

Three tracks

Track 1: The third mission of the university: the role of students in the development of the city, region and country

The track involves representatives of federal and regional authorities, the university community and student organizations. The key topics for discussion will be the development of the third mission of universities in the Russian regions, student participation in the preparation of initiatives for the development of cities and regions of the Russian Federation, as well as the prospects of innovative entrepreneurial activities of universities.
Track 2: Students, their expectations and actions - a key element of university reputation

The track includes a discussion of such issues as working with students' expectations of university education, the role of alumni in shaping the university reputation, the influence of international students on the representation of the university in the world, etc.

Nowadays students take the initiative and expand their opportunities to create movements aimed at improving the quality of life in the city, region and country. Therefore, university reputation management cannot but include the issues of social responsibility of universities and their stakeholders, communication, coordination of interaction with students, as well as the integration of their views in decision-making at the highest levels of university management.
Track 3: Student-centered university

The track is dedicated to discussing educational products that take into account students' perspectives, their experiences, and the development of the student as an individual in the era of digital transformation. The discussion will focus on ways to improve the competitiveness of universities through the development and creation of innovative learning models, through which students can choose alternative trajectories to develop skills beyond the chosen curriculum or receive education in two or even three specialities. Experts will present their experiences in transforming the educational landscape to keep up with the latest work and career trends.