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Regular version of the site

Contemporary Area Studies: Dr.Galina Nikiporets-Takigawa

On October 27, 2021, the School of International Regional Studies of the Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs, HSE University, within the framework of the permanent online seminars «Contemporary Area Studies», organised a meeting with Galina Nikiporets-Takigawa, Candidate of Philology, PhD, Doctor of Political Science, Dean of the Humanities Faculty and Head of the Department of Political Science and International Relations of the Faculty of the Russian State Social University (RSSU), Research Fellow at the University of Cambridge.

The meeting was moderated by Dr. Vera Vishnyakova, Head of the School of International Regional Studies, Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs, HSE University.

In her speech, Dr. Galina Nikiporets-Takigawa answered questions about the experience of training specialists in regional studies (hereinafter - RS) in Russian universities in general and in RSSU in particular, the identity of the RS and explanations of the differences between foreign regional studies and international relations or political science.

The speaker based her answers on her personal experience of work in educational organizations and gave examples of the implementation of the educational process on the FRS on the example of foreign higher educational institutions (Cambridge, Oxford, Tokyo University).

The speaker described about the current state of the RS in Russia. She noted that with a fairly wide coverage of regions, some regions (for example, Africa) are not given as much attention in higher education as needed.

The speaker noted that not all Russian people understand the difference between foreign regional studies and international relations or political science. Taking this into account and her experience of teaching at foreign universities, Dr. Galina Nikiporets-Takigawa talked about the identity of the RS direction, noting that specialists in this area are political scientists in international affairs who specialise in a country or region and have a deep understanding of various spheres of people’s activity, which is ensured by good knowledge of language of the respective state or region.

During the speech, the speaker expressed the opinion that it is necessary to pay attention to the study of languages. This must be done adequately in order to achieve the required level of proficiency in the language. During the explanation of the position, the speaker gave examples of restrictions in the choice of additional languages, and also described the practice of training directly in the countries of the chosen language.