MainPIR Press NewsPIR Center delegation conducted negotiations on the development of the International Dual Degree M.A. Program “Global Security, Nuclear Policy and WMD Nonproliferation”
PIR Center delegation conducted negotiations on the development of the International Dual Degree M.A. Program “Global Security, Nuclear Policy and WMD Nonproliferation”
MONTEREY (USA). MAY 10. PIR PRESS. “I came to Monterey, California, for talks on the prospects of cooperation between the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, MGIMO, and PIR Center. In particular, we will compare our impressions with the management of the Institute about how the International Dual Degree M.A. Program Global Security, Nuclear Policy and WMD Nonproliferation is going on. The upcoming graduation procedure will be held already in June. The current application campaign is taking place already now. My business trip also includes meetings with American candidates who have been confirmed for the next cohort of this – in our time – unique program”, – Dr. Vladimir Orlov, Founding Director of PIR Center, Academic Advisor of the International Dual Degree M.A. Program Global Security, Nuclear Policy and WMD Nonproliferation (developed jointly by MGIMO University, Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, USA, and PIR Center).
From April 28 to May 7, 2023, Founding Director of PIR Center Dr. Vladimir Orlov and Deputy Director-Director of Education & Training Program of PIR Center Elena Karnaukhova, paid a working visit to Monterey, California, USA. The main purpose was to conduct negotiations on the development of the International Dual Degree M.A. Program Global Security, Nuclear Policy and WMD Nonproliferation (MGIMO-MIIS-PIR Center) with representatives of the American partner university.
Professor Jeffrey Knopf
On May 1, 2023, a welcoming meeting was held with Professor Jeffrey Knopf, Chair of the Program Nonproliferation and Terrorism Studies of MIIS. The discussions were devoted to education process within the framework of the 6th cohort of the students of the Dual Degree M.A. Program in Nonproliferation Studies (2021-2023) (MGIMO-MIIS-PIR Center), who will pass the state final exam in June of this year. Attention was also paid to the professional achievements of some of the graduates of the Dual Degree M.A. Program, including those who joined the author’s team of the monograph of PIR Center Russia-US Nuclear Nonproliferation Dialogue: Lessons Learned and Road Ahead (the second edition of the book was published by Palgrave Macmillan in 2022). The agenda of the meeting also included consideration of the prospects for joint work on the period 2023-2025 and the current application campaign for the new cycle.
On May 2, 2023, a seminar in the Train-the-Trainers format was organized jointly by PIR Center and James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies at Monterey (CNS) (in person and online format). It was attended by the Russian and American specialists engaged in educational activities and pedagogy in the field of nuclear nonproliferation, arms control, disarmament and global security.
Within the seminar the following panel discussions took place:
Nonproliferation education – the state of the field. Among the speakers were Dr. Vladimir Orlov, Founding Director, PIR Center, MGIMO University Professor; Professor William Potter, Founding Director, CNS, and Sam Nunn and Richard Lugar Professor of Nonproliferation Studies, MIIS, PIR Center Advisory Board Member; Masako Toki, Senior Education Project Manager, Research Associate, Nonproliferation Education Program, CNS.
Introducing nonproliferation to new students. Among the speakers were Professor Jeffrey Knopf, Chair, Nonproliferation and Terrorism Studies Program, MIIS; Professor Larisa Deriglazova, Professor, Department of World Politics, Tomsk State University; Professor Andrey Pavlov, Professor, Department of Theory and History of International Relations, St Petersburg University; Elena Karnaukhova, Deputy Director-Director of Education & Training Program, PIR Center.
Gaps in nonproliferation education and recommendations to fill them with the participation of ProfessorEkaterina Mikhailenko, Associate Professor, Ural Federal University (UrFU); Professor Anastasia Malygina, Associate Professor, School of International Relations, St Petersburg University, Dr. George Moore, Scientist-in-Residence, CNS.
The discussions were moderated by Sarah Bidgood, Director of the Eurasia Nonproliferation Program, CNS.
In general, the seminar was aimed at sharing the experience of educational activities and pedagogy in the area of nuclear nonproliferation, at finding its pros and cons at the current stage of development, formulating recommendations for the future, as well as discussing traditional and promising pedagogical methods. The seminar participants confirmed that education in the field of nuclear nonproliferation is one of the most important mechanisms for ensuring global security and supporting the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), despite the fact that it is still a young field of educational and pedagogical activities.
The impetus for developing nuclear nonproliferation and disarmament education was given by the 34 recommendations of the Group of Governmental Experts formulated in the United Nations Study on Disarmament and Nonproliferation Education: Report of the Secretary-General released in 2002. Dr. Vladimir Orlov and Professor William Potter, in particular, who contributed to preparing the report, shared with Russian and American colleagues their memories.
Jeffrey Dayton-Johnson
On May 2, Dr. Vladimir Orlov and Elena Karnaukhova also met with Jeffrey Dayton-Johnson, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of MIIS. The participants of the meeting discussed the results of implementing the International Dual Degree M.A. Program Global Security, Nuclear Policy and WMD Nonproliferation (MGIMO-MIIS-PIR Center), the main difficulties of its development in the context of an unprecedented deterioration of the international situation. They also confirmed their commitment to dialogue, the importance of cooperation between the three educational organizations of Russia and the United States, the relevance of maintaining the Dual Degree M.A. Program in Nonproliferation Studies (MGIMO-MIIS-PIR Center) for raising a new generation of specialists on nuclear nonproliferation and arms control in the interests of ensuring global security and strategic stability in the world.
On May 3, PIR Center management together with colleagues from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, conducted consultations on the question how to adapt the Dual Degree M.A. Program in Nonproliferation Studies (MGIMO-MIIS-PIR Center) to the current international situation. Both American and Russian sides demonstrated their readiness to continue working together and maintaining high standards of educational activities.
To get more detailed information about the Program please visit the websites of PIR Center, MGIMO University and MIIS. Questions on the Program can be also sent to Elena Karnaukhova Deputy Director-Director of Education & Training Program of PIR Center at edu@pircenter.org.
