Contemporary Area Studies: Diana Albertovna Vladimirova

On March 25, 022 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», organized a meeting with Dr. Diana Vladimirova, Candidate of History, Associate Professor, Head of the Department of the Asia-Pacific Region and the School of Regional and International Studies, Far Eastern Federal University.

The seminar was moderated by Dr. Evgeny Kanaev – Deputy Head of the School of International Regional Studies, HSE University.

During the meeting three main issues were discussed: what is the main goal and mission of training specialists in direction of regional research, how it is possible to distinguish regional studies from other specialties: international relations, political science and history, following to the question of unique set of competencies a regional specialist should have and the final part: methodology of training regional experts.

Dr. Diana Vladimirova noted in her speech, that currently at the FEFU, the direction of foreign regional studies is represented on bachelor and master programs with its own characteristics. Thus, the direction of the master's program is, which makes it possible to add new disciplines and cooperate with foreign universities. Starting this year, students are offered free online courses (for example, an online course of Harvard University “Religion Conflict and Peace”, “CitiesX: The Past, Present and Future of Urban Life”). The acquired knowledge must be applied within the framework of 2 projects in teams up to 3 people. As for the bachelor's degree, this program is presented in two directions: North America and Canada, Asian Studies. Dr. Diana Vladimirova notes that bachelors realize their potential on a project in foreign regional studies and a project with an “audience”: school, exhibition, and other events.

Summing up the results of the lecture, the speaker emphasized that, in her understanding, a regional expert is a person who uses an excellent knowledge of the language as a tool for working with data, able to analyze history and current events not only within one country, but also within a region. The sector of “methodology” of regional studies is still an aspect that is not working efficiently.