Regional Universities and Civil Society Development: Russian-American Experiences and Lessons Learned in Higher Education

The Regional Universities and Civil Society Program—a collaborative project initiated by the New Eurasia Foundation and facilitated by the IHEP—linked regional universities in Russia with counterparts in the United States. The goal was to create an increased understanding of civil society development for Russian regional universities while affording American participants an opportunity to learn more about how Russia approaches these issues. This report chronicles the motivations for the Regional Universities and Civil Society Symposium and Study Tour, its programmatic events, and areas identified for further investigation. A brief introduction to civil society is followed by a summary of the symposium and study tour sessions, an analysis of the project outcomes and lessons learned, and recommended next steps.