On the 2-3 November, 2016, Penza State University hosted International Science Conference “Current state, problems and perspectives of developing and maintaining welfare state in Russia in the world crisis context”. Its main themes were social, historical and theoretical roots, ideas and practices of welfare state. Leading scholars from Germany, Finland, Moscow Institute of Globalization Studies and Social Movements, Rosa Luxemburg Foundation in the Russian Federation were invited to take part in the conference. The organizer of the conference is the Department of Methodology of Science, Social Theories and Technologies, Institute of Teacher Education.

I.I.Artyomov, Vice Rector for Research and Innovation, welcomed the participants and emphasized the importance of the forum theme.

On the first day of the forum there were two plenary meetings. They were dedicated to two topics: “Welfare state in theory and history: the origin of the idea of welfare state, factors and resources for its development” and “Welfare state in theory and history: theory and practice evolution in the 20th century, challenge of the 21st century (Welfare state theory and practice evolution from the birth to present days)”.

They were followed by sectional work. The section theme “Welfare state practice in modern Russia in the context of the world social and political processes” was of great interest and caused a lively discussion.

The conference continued its work on the 3d of November at the Institute of Teacher Education. The conference here had two sections: “Models and practices of welfare state: experience of different countries, comparative effectiveness and implementation problems” and “Welfare state in the first and third worlds: problems, perspectives, subjects of development”. O.P.Surina, Director of the Institute, took part in the work of the sections. In her welcoming speech to the participants Olga Surina spoke about the importance of the Institute of Teacher Education in implementing one of the most important social citizen rights – the right to education. The Director spoke about the history of the Institute: she paid special attention to the fact that in the course of all its reorganizations it had been retained as an independent structural department which provides highly qualified training of teachers for educational system and the whole social sphere of the Penza Region. Olga Surina thanked the organizers and co-organizers of the conference, emphasized its high level and wished everyone productive work, interesting reports and good impressions of Penza and Penza State University.

The work of the conference was ended with the presentation made the team of the Department of Methodology of Science, Social Theories and Technologies on the survey “Role of social rights and guarantees in the process of implementing life strategies of Russian families”.