During the 21 to 28 February at Ludhiana town (India) vice dean, Associate Professor of Kazan Federal University Svetlana Karkina took part at International Conference «Co-Constructing Professional Knowledge: Learning Across Disciplines», that were supported by International Professional Development Association (Great Britain). This Conference took place at Partap College of Education (Ludhiana).

Svetlana Karkina made a speech at the Official Opening Ceremony of the Conference about the need to strengthen cooperation between educational institutions of Russia and India for future perspectives of their collaboration. A Memorandum of understanding was signed by both parties to confirm these intentions between Partap College of Education and Kazan Federal University.

There were keynote speakers at the Conference Dr Coleen R. Jackson, Co-Chair, IPDA England, Dr Juanjo Mena (Deptt. of Education, University of Salamanca, Spain), Dr Laura Sara Agrati (University of Giustino Fortunato, Benevento, Italy), ass. prof. Svetlana V. Karkina (KFU, Russia).

The main questions at the Conference were issues of meaning of pedagogical education for specialists from different subject areas, during their own pedagogical activity. At the center of attention were problems of improvement of educational methods and technologies, development of practical pedagogical skills, professional motivation and value orientations of modern teacher. Also has been reviewed in detail such issues as professional personal improvement of a teacher, creation of a mentoring system and significant conditions for the development of leadership.

The conference included a number of events where Svetlana Karkina, Associate Professor of Institute of Philology and Intercultural Communication KFU had taken active part, such as the meeting of the round table devoted to modern approaches in pedagogical education in different subject areas, the management of the section, where reports of teachers and students of the College were presented. At the results of section work have stated that main trend of research work in the area of pedagogical education in India is very similar to Russian and it includes the issues like development of the modern methods and approaches at educational process, necessity of self-learning and self-reflection of a teacher, creation of a comfort environment, using of distance learning technologies. 

During the visit at Partap College of Education Svetlana Karkina gave a scientific and educational lecture devoted to actual problems of Russian Education System, and have done a master-class with a theme “Russian Tradition of the instrumental music”. Also she had taken part at the meeting with students where they were discussed together about difference between East and West cultural. Students and teachers of Partap College showed national traditions of playing Indian musical instruments, and also features of vocal intonation.

All the events that had taken place during the Conference period were widely covered in the Indian press. Such Newspapers and electronic journals as Hindustan Times, Indian education portal had published several articles about the Conference.

The initiative of active cooperation in higher education was supported by Dr. B. Singh, Director of Partap College of Education. In the process of communication with him, prospects for cooperation were outlined, including the implementation of exchange programs for students and teachers, joint educational programs and international scientific projects.

Svetlana Karkina