Corporation
of New York
Vol. 1/No. 1
Summer 2000
Also in this issue:
A Bright Future for Russian Higher Education
Academic Freedom in the Former Soviet Union
Between the Lions Rates a Roar of Approval
Liberal Arts for a New Millennium
Partnership to Strengthen African Universities
The Challenge: Academic Freedom in the Former Soviet Union
Sustainability is the Long-Term Goal
The Centers for Advanced Study and Education will be located on existing university campuses but will be independent organizations with advisory boards that guide their work. The Corporation will offer financial support, assistance in strengthening the institutions, support in domestic and international outreach and support in building regional and national networks of scholars.
Among the activities expected to be part of the CASEs are:
- fellowship grants for scholars in the social sciences and the humanities
- travel, conference and information support to individual scholars
- institutional support for CASEs
- support for workshops, conferences, public lectures and roundtables
- library support and publication programs
- dissemination of Russian scholarship abroad
The CASEs will have thematic profiles that build on the strongest departments or academic traditions in the home university, but the intent of the program is to avoid thematic rigidity. “We think the thematic profile can give the centers national and even international name recognition that will attract scholars,” says Arsenian. “But we also want to allow for academic flexibility and cross-disciplinary fertilization.”
“For the past decade, we’ve been deeply involved in the Russian question,” says David Speedie who has chaired the Corporation’s international peace and security program since 1993. “Carnegie has been in the forefront of bringing leaders in the Russian military, political and scientific fields together with their counterparts in the United States. Together, they’ve grappled with the security and peace questions faced by these two pivotal world nations and created new and important relationships.” He adds, “We think this work in the humanities and social sciences is an important investment in the intellectual life of Russia.”
“The primary objective of these Centers for Advanced Study and Education is to develop a dynamic and sustainable network of Russian scholars, educators and researchers capable of conducting independent research and analyses of crucial social, political, philosophical and economic issues,”says Arsenian. “With Carnegie’s investment, the Russian intelligentsia will be offered the financial, professional and managerial support required for their efficient performance—not only during the duration of the program but for decades to come.”
“If we succeed,” says Gregorian, “Russian scholars will be integrated into the international intellectual community and that will be a major contribution, not only for Russia and the former states, but for the world.”