Among the wonderful traditions of the Department of Ethnopsychology and Psychological Problems of Multicultural Education, the tradition of spring and winter ethno-schools has existed and strengthened for many years. From January 30 to February 1, the V Winter Ethnopsychological School of the Faculty of Social Psychology at MSUPE took place. It was the third time we gathered in Valuevo, located within the territory of the Novomoskovsky Administrative District of Moscow.
This time, the ethno-school was attended by over fifty students and graduates of the Department of Ethnopsychology and Psychological Problems of Multicultural Education. Why do adults from different cities of Russia come for weekends to spend time together in a friendly ethnopsychological community? Students who recently began their studies in the department come to "train the mind of an ethno-novice" and find inspiration, because "a person needs a person." This is especially important for students enrolled in the distance master's programs "Psychology of the East" and "Cross-Cultural Technologies in Psychological Counseling." Department graduates come to meet with faculty, colleagues, and students and continue the glorious tradition.
This year's ethno-school program was particularly rich and diverse; it was formed based on requests and suggestions from students and graduates, aligning with the department's development strategy themes. Participants of the ethno-school conducted 12 master classes, led by Professor V.V. Gritsenko, Department Head O.S. Pavlova, department associate professors – E.A. Alexandrova, N.V. Tkachenko, A.S. Krivtsova, V.A. Shorokhova; master's students of the "Practical Ethnopsychology" program – E.Yu. Sedyakova, D.M. Varlakhin, S.V. Zaplatnikova, and N.A. Korosteleva; master's students of the "Cross-Cultural Technologies in Psychological Counseling" program – A.A. Lalayan, N.G. Kazaryan; and graduates – N.V. Strakhov, I.A. Lyapneva. All leaders received many supportive and enthusiastic reviews from participants.
The main theme of this ethno-school was age: "Age in the Cultural Context: From Childhood to Old Age." Therefore, the opening and closing of the ethno-school, as well as all exercises and psychological practices conducted by participants and master class leaders, touched upon this theme and allowed for reflection on various aspects of understanding life stages in different cultures. The program featured many creative workshops: participants composed lullabies, crafted dolls, wove bracelets as a unique tapestry of their own lives, delving into the depths of the unconscious. Morning yoga and swimming pool sessions, as well as walks along the snowy paths of the historic Valuevo Estate, complemented the kaleidoscope of ethno-school activities.
Despite the cold temperatures, the atmosphere of the ethno-school was charged with warmth, resources, and energy, where learning and the joy of personal and professional communication help to better feel and understand the facets of the ethnopsychologist profession. Currently, participants and organizers are summarizing the outcomes and planning the program for the annual Spring Ethnopsychological School, scheduled for April 17–19 this year.
More photos from the ethno-school are available in our Telegram channel.