20/09/2026
🌐 PROUD MOMENT FOR ZUMS 🌐
On September 15, as part of the International Festival of Youth – 2026, ZNRF University of Management Sciences (ZUMS) Lecturer Mr. Abdullah Al Araf, along with Mr. Rahat Uddin, participated in a high-level panel discussion titled “Leadership in a Multipolar World: What Determines a Country’s Position in the New International Reality?”
The session was moderated by Stanislav Surovtsev, Vice-Rector for International Cooperation, Youth and Social Policy at MGIMO University, and brought together distinguished voices in international relations:
✅ Maria Zakharova, Director of the Information and Press Department, Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
✅ Arno Gujon, Director of the Office for Public and Cultural Diplomacy, Government of the Republic of Serbia
✅ Dauren Abayev, Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Russian Federation
✅ Toufik Djouama, Ambassador of the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria to the Russian Federation
Key highlights from the discussion:
⚪Maria Zakharova highlighted a number of leadership qualities that challenge conventional perceptions of what it means to be a leader.
“It is commonly believed that a leader is someone who is always ahead, someone who strives to take first place. This is a misconception. Leadership is not about competition or being formally first. Leadership is strength and confidence that become a source of support for others. Leadership is when you are targeted by a campaign against you, yet still find the strength to keep moving forward,” Maria Zakharova emphasized.
⚪ Dauren Abayev underlined that domestic stability is the foundation of effective foreign policy, and championed the idea that building bridges matters more than building fortresses.
⚪ Arno Gujon spoke on leadership defined by principled action rather than words alone.
⚪ Toufik Djouama described genuine partnership as a relationship built on sharing, not just taking — a principle that applies to both individuals and nations.
We are proud to see ZUMS represented on such a prestigious international platform, engaging directly with global leaders in diplomacy and international relations. Congratulations, Mr. Araf and Mr. Rahat, for this remarkable achievement! 🎓👏
