VIII Symposium: Education & City Concludes at Moscow State Pedagogical University
Moscow Symposium Explores Lasting Urban education in an Era of Uncertainty
MOSCOW – The eighth annual international symposium, “Education and the City: The Possibilities of Sustainable Development in the Era of Uncertainty,” convened at Moscow City Pedagogical University from April 17-19, 2025. Nearly 600 experts, researchers, public leaders, and managers from 17 countries gathered to exchange best practices and address challenges facing education in an unstable world.
Participants represented Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Vietnam, germany, Israel, India, Italy, kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Malaysia, Moldova, portugal, the USA, Tajikistan, and Montenegro. The three-day program featured over 30 events, including plenary sessions, workshops, and smaller symposia.
Key Discussion Areas
University as a Center of City Research
Sessions highlighted the critical role universities play in analyzing and shaping urban environments. Universities were identified as key research hubs influencing urban development and educational policy, as well as centers for social initiatives promoting urban inclusion, local history, and cultural preservation.
Presentations included examples of using Geographic Facts Systems (GIS) to study urban processes, pedagogical expeditions as a means for students to interact with urban realities, and methods for forming territorial identity and mapping the urban habitat.
Educational Environment of the City
Speakers explored the concept of the city as an open educational ecosystem,encompassing formal,informal,and non-formal learning formats. Discussions centered on the impact of extracurricular activities on educational outcomes, the potential of using the “city as a classroom,” and the involvement of children in designing school and urban environments.
Reports covered topics such as family schools, the use of urban cultural and natural resources in inclusive education, and new forms of interaction between kindergartens, schools, and the urban context.
Cultural Environment of the Metropolis as a Space for Innovative Humanitarian Projects
Culture was presented as a foundation for innovative and socially significant educational initiatives, with a particular focus on humanitarian practices in urban spaces. Topics included cultural memory, heritage interpretation, and engagement with “dissonant” spaces.
Presentations explored the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and virtual reality (VR) in cultural projects, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) strategies in schools, and reading as a form of receptive practice within the city.
Professional Development: City Context
The theme of professional development encompassed a wide range of topics, from teacher career paths in large cities to new training methods for “helping professions.” Speakers discussed network-based continuing education formats,the formation of professional communities,and specialized training emphasizing engineering and research skills.
A key focus was the development of professional skills through interaction with urban spaces, museums, and architectural environments.
Video recordings of all symposium activities are available. A file to quickly locate specific event recordings is also available.
Photographs from the symposium are published on the official website.A full photo gallery can be viewed via a provided link. Videos of the sessions will be published soon. Information regarding publishing articles can be found in the “Requirements for articles” section of the website. Inquiries about publishing materials can be directed to ucity@mgpu.ru.
Organizers expressed their gratitude to all participants, speakers, moderators, and partners. The ninth annual international symposium “Education and the City” is scheduled for 2026.