Maria Eflova promoted to Acting Director of the Institute of Social and Philosophical Sciences and Mass Communications

She was introduced in the new capacity on 5 February.

First Vice-Rector Dmitry Tayursky and Vice-Rector for Youth Policy and Moral Education Arif Mezhvedilov contributed to the event.

Dr Eflova thanked Rector Lenar Safin and the leadership for this appointment, “This post is a big honor for me. The Institute comprises three major schools – philosophy, sociology, and political science, all widely known in Russia and abroad. There are also experts in media communications. Our employees are both researchers and practicing professionals. I think our society now has to find solutions in such areas as moral education and sharing of spiritual values. A demographics issue is also very pertinent. All the questions need to be studies and analyzed.”

She noted that the Institute is interdisciplinary in nature and expressed hope that interdisciplinarity and specialization both remain as defining features of the team.

Maria Eflova was born on 4 March 1974 in Nizhnekamsk, Tatarstan. She graduated from Kazan University with a degree in sociology in 1996, presented her PhD thesis in 1999 and DSc thesis in 2014. Dr Eflova has been leading a number research projects in demography, poverty studies, youth policy, and socialization. She chairs a dissertation board in sociology at KFU. The Acting Director has authored over 90 peer-reviewed papers and has been honored with provincial and federal awards.

Professor Mikhail Shchelkunov, who stepped down from the Director’s position, continues to be Chair of the Department of General Philosophy, the post he has been holding since 1999.