05.03.2026

The Faculty of Journalism, Lomonosov Moscow State University continues its series of Topical seminar meetings, an ongoing program of online seminars featuring distinguished Russian and international experts. The first Topical seminar of 2026 is scheduled for March 10th at 3 pm MSK. This session will be devoted to examining the pressing issues in higher education and professional development in the digital era.

The first presentation, entitled Open Education and Open Science for Media Professionals, will be delivered by María Soledad Ramírez-Montoya, a Senior Research Professor and Level 3 member of the National System of Researchers of Mexico. Dr. María Soledad Ramírez-Montoya serves as UNESCO and ICDE Chair of the Open Education Movement for Latin America, where she coordinates training and research networks dedicated to promoting equitable access to learning and strengthening capacities for quality education worldwide. Her extensive teaching experience spans all educational levels, including the training of teachers, innovation leaders, and agents of educational change. Currently, she leads research groups and innovative projects focused on Open Education and Science, 5.0 Technologies, and intersectoral collaboration, with a consistent emphasis on sustainable development. Her talk will explore how open education and open science frameworks can be leveraged to benefit media professionals in today's rapidly evolving information landscape.

The second speaker will be Dr. Alexandra Akchurina, an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Journalism, Lomonosov Moscow State University, where she also holds the position of Vice-Dean for Academic Affairs. Dr. Alexandra Akchurina has been professionally engaged in university teaching since 2014, specializing in foreign language instruction methodology, the history of Russian journalism, and media linguistics. Her pedagogical responsibilities include teaching English and related courses, contributing to curriculum development, and participating in academic governance, while her scholarly work encompasses historical and pedagogical aspects of journalism and foreign language education, with numerous publications in leading peer-reviewed journals and collections. She is actively involved in mentoring students and advancing interdisciplinary scholarship at the intersection of journalism history and language instruction. In her presentation Challenges for Higher Education in the Digital Age, she will address the evolving demands and obstacles facing universities as they adapt to technological transformation and shifting educational paradigms.

The seminar will be held online on March 10th at 3 pm via Vk-calls. Pre-registration is required. Click here to fill out the registration form. Registered participants will receive a Vk-calls link in advance. 

Topical seminars are of utmost importance both for the integration of national research studies into the international academic environment, and for the conceptualization of distinctive features of Russian media studies. The Faculty of Journalism invites everyone to sign up for the seminar and hopes that the issues, touched upon in the course of the event, will trigger productive scientific discussion.