From 21 to 26 November, PEN-International Director DeCaro and Professor Maria Shustorovich conducted PEN-International business in Moscow. A series of business meetings and visit were held as well. Further, they also participated in the celebration of the 175th anniversary of Bauman Moscow State Technical University.
PEN-Russia Business Meeting/Conference: On 22 November, a business meeting/conference was held at Bauman in the PEN Multimedia Lab. Approximately 40 people were in attendance. Each PEN-Russia Partner presented its plans for the upcoming year. In addition, Dr. DeCaro provided an overview of the plans for PEN-International's Year Six of its operation. Further, representatives of colleges and schools for the deaf from across Moscow presented information about their programs and services for students who are deaf. Further, representatives of businesses that have worked with PEN-Russia (or who have the potential of working with PEN-Russia) presented regarding the services they offer. Finally, Chelyabinsk State University discussed its programs for deaf students. Chelyabinsk is a candidate to become a partner in PEN-Russia.
Visit to Mathematics College: On 23 November, the Moscow Mathematics College was visited. The programs and services that the college offers for students who are deaf were reviewed by DeCaro and Shustorovich. Discussions were held as regards the possibility of the college participating in PEN-Russia. It was determined that Dr. Stanevsky would work with the college to determine if and how the college could participate in PEN-Russia.
World Bank Visit: On 23 November, DeCaro, Shustorovich and members of PEN-Russia visited World Bank Russia Headquarters. Discussions were held with Isak Froumin, senior education specialist at the Bank. At the meeting it was agreed that:
- PEN-Russia will be invited to participate in a round table at the Bank in January to discuss disability issues in the Russian Federation,
- DeCaro willprovide Mr. Froumin with useful papers, publications and data that can be used as benchmark information by the Bank as it prepares a report on disability in Russia, and,
- DeCaro will provide the Bank with a white paper that details systems that have worked in educating people who are deaf in the USA and the critical components of those systems.
Celebration of Bauman's 175th Anniversary: On 25 November, DeCaro and Shustorovich participated in the celebration of Bauman's 175th Anniversary. As part of the celebration, they presented Rector I. Fedorov with a proclamation from RIT President A. Simone congratulating Bauman on the 175th year of its founding.
