The Dunning–Kruger effect, which describes a sharp surge in self-confidence among beginners followed by an equally rapid decline as they gain experience, can be explained by the nature of the learning process and the acquisition of new knowledge. This conclusion was reached by Andrey Vorchik of the HSE Faculty of Economic Sciences together with independent researcher Murat Mamyshev. They developed a mathematical model of learning and demonstrated how subjective confidence is formed and changes as knowledge accumulates, as well as how teachers can reduce the ‘valley of despair’ experienced by learners.

Having a sweet tooth may be linked not only to eating habits but also to the way people make decisions. Researchers at HSE University have found that people with a preference for sweet foods tend to behave more impulsively—not because they want immediate rewards, but because they are less willing to tolerate uncertainty. These findings may help improve treatments for addiction. The study findings have been published in Frontiers in Psychology.

Polina Nesterenko, who completed Year 10 at the HSE Lyceum this year, took part in the 2026 High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), the United Nations’ main annual forum for monitoring progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Held at UN Headquarters in New York, the forum brings together representatives of states, UN agencies, international organisations, civil society, business, and academia each year to discuss the global sustainable development agenda.

Umarkhon Isaev, from Tashkent, Uzbekistan, graduated from the International Bachelor's Programme in Finance and Economics at ICEF HSE in 2026. In this interview, Umarkhon talks about what made ICEF the ideal place to pursue his interest in finance, how his programme challenged him in ways he had never experienced before, and why it’s important to find friends who have your back when times are tough.

Huh Yun is from South Korea, lived in Kyrgyzstan, and has now moved to Moscow to study on the HSE University and Kyung Hee University Double Degree Programme in Economics and Politics in Asia at the Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs. In this interview with the HSE News Service, Yun talks about what makes HSE a forward-thinking university, how students can help each other settle into university life, and why it’s important to keep challenging yourself.

Andrey Vorchik studies happiness, delivers popular science lectures, and believes that science should address social issues as well. In an interview for the Young Scientists of HSE University project, he spoke about how emotions influence decision-making, the Bermuda Triangle formed by the bathroom, refrigerator, and bed, and the ideal formula for education.

The HSE Centre for Studies of Civil Society and the Nonprofit Sector, together with the World Peoples Assembly, organised the roundtable ‘NGOs in African Countries. The Invisible Force of Change.’ The event took place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, as part of the World Public Summit: Africa. Experts discussed the role of the non-profit sector in the development of African countries, as well as contemporary approaches to assessing its contribution to social development.

From July 13 to 16, 2026, the Faculty of Computer Science hosted the Russian–Sino Research Seminar on Machine Learning Applications, organised by the HSE Laboratory for Cloud and Mobile Technologies in partnership with the Harbin Institute of Technology (China). A delegation comprising seven students and three university representatives travelled to Moscow to take part in an intensive four-day programme.

Bakhtier Mirzoev, who graduated from the HSE Lyceum this year, won a bronze medal at the 2026 International Economics Olympiad (IEO 2026) in China. The annual competition features five-person teams selected from the winners and prizewinners of national olympiads. In this interview, Bakhtier talks about his preparations for the olympiad, the highlights of his trip, and his future plans (spoilers: he’s applying to HSE University).