Vadim Vladimirovich Polonsky, Director of A.M. Gorky Institute of World Literature of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IWL RAS), Corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, was appointed Qiushi Guest Professor of Zhejiang University (ZJU) on March 25, 2026. Following his appointment, apart from giving lectures, he provided academic guidance to young faculty in the Russian discipline, and promoted academic exchanges and cooperation between the School of International Studies (SIS) and the School of Philological Studies at the National Research University Higher School of Economics in Russia. Moreover, he delivered a remark and a keynote speech as a co-chair at the 2026 International Academic Conference on Interdisciplinary Studies of Russian Literature.
On the afternoon of May 20, Professor Polonsky attended the opening ceremony of the “China-Russia Years of Education” held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing and he said he was deeply impressed. In his view, the current China-Russia Years of Education (2026-2027) succeeds the China-Russia Years of Culture officially held in 2024-2025, during which both countries achieved fruitful results through cultural cooperation. These achievements can now be drawn upon to elevate humanities education and related disciplines to a new level. He is convinced that China and Russia can propose models to overcome such crises based on their unique development experiences although the world today faces a crisis in humanities education. During the next two years, the two countries can, fully leveraging the potential of their synergy, explore paths for addressing the global crisis in humanities education. He also expressed that as a member of ZJU, he will play his due role in facilitating ZJU to achieve fruitful outcomes during the “China-Russia Years of Education”.
Institute of Russian Language and Culture
May 23, 2026
Translated by HONG Jiayao
Proofread by XU Xueying
