Paper Maria’s Negreponti-Delivanis for Kainar University 08.07.2021 for the Conference at Kainar University, at Almaty, Kazakhstan

Paper Maria’s Negreponti-Delivanis for Kainar University 08.07.2021 for the Conference at Kainar University, at Almaty, Kazakhstan ============================================================================= Dear Rector, Colleague and friend Omarov, Dear Dean Colleague and frien, Dear colleague et friend President of CEDIMES, Dear Omarova, Dear Coleagues, All of you, Ιt was with great emotion that I received the invitation for the triple celebration. Your birthday, the 30th anniversary of Kainar University and Kazakhstan independence.. But, at the same time, these three celebrations take place in the time frame of the upheavals that Covid-19 brought into our lives, and which in this case refer to teaching and in particular to university teaching. First of all, I would like to wish my dear friend Omarov good health for many more years, but also the opportunity to continue the wonderful work that began 30 years ago, with the founding of Kainar University in Almaty. As I was very fortunate to teach at Kainar University for 3 school years, I can share my relevant experiences, which are truly excellent. Rector Omarov is a colleague with wide-open intellectual horizons, and is constantly looking for the best for the University and its students. As far as I know, Kainar was the first University in Kazakhstan, which a decade ago conceived the idea of inviting foreign professors to teach its students about new worldviews, such as globalization. In this endeavor, the rector had the support of CEDIMES, this world association of French-speaking economists and not only, chaired by our friend, colleague and President Professor Claude Albagli, who of course is also invited tonight. The soul of these programs naturally was and still is our dear colleague and friend Gulnar. Rector Omarov is one of the oldest directors of CEDIMES, and has built very strong friendships, recognition and appreciation around the world. I feel very lucky to count Rector Omarov among my best friends and colleagues and I would like to take the occasion to mention the following: 1. The wonderful trip that the rector offered my colleagues and me, on the Silk Road. It was a dream trip, despite its difficult and endless roads, which already gives us the measure of a wider understanding, of the importance of today's Chinese Silk Road. 2. A very special and unforgettable trip to the new and spectacular capital of Kazakhstan, Astana, offered to me by Rector Omarov, as soon as the city was almost finished. I was, and still am, very proud to have had the chance to visit this very special city, which few of my compatriots have seen. 3. Countless and very accurate memories of celebrations of unique beauty in Kazakhstan, among others, a spree on Omarov's previous birthday, which happened to be in Almaty. During these festivities, different cultures, habits, systems and worldviews met and danced crazy dances together. I would now like to refer myself to the course of this University in the new era of Covid-19, which has brought many upheavals in our lives, focusing on the upheavals concerning education. Distance learning, online learning, has prevailed in all latitudes and longitudes, after 2019, obviously out of necessity. In other words, so that students of all levels will not be left without teaching, so much so that it is unfortunately unknown how long the pandemic will last with the constant variants of the virus. Therefore, distance learning is not considered a transitory stage, but rather a situation that is here to stay, even after the end of the pandemic. Indeed, distance learning reveals hidden advantages, which in many cases make it complementary to live teaching. Of course, this finding does not mean that it lacks disadvantages. Especially for Kainar University, which wants to keep up with the latest trends, and offer its students the latest achievements in all fields, distance learning is the best gift, under the circumstances. Indeed, the University will be able to harness the multitude of friends and colleagues of Rector Omarov around the world, who will be called upon to teach various scientific fields without moving. Students will thus have the opportunity to listen to the teachings of many scientists, from different parts and Universities of the world, to make evaluations and comparisons and to be guided in gaining breadth of thought and avoiding one-sidedness. Personally, I will be very happy to teach again Kainar University students next academic year, at a distance. It will be convenient for me to avoid the very long journey, but I also regret it. I would love to see this beautiful place again, my many and dear friends and colleagues. But alas, there are insurmountable obstacles to that. Good luck with the conference. Good luck in distance learning. And let me say again and again Happy Birthday and thank you very much for the invitation. ==========================================