School of International Cooperation Launches at HSE University
The School of International Cooperation has been established within the HSE Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs (WEIA). The school initiates, promotes, and implements programmes for continuing education and professional retraining, corporate education programmes, and international intensive training courses for professionals and executives working with foreign government officials, businesspeople, entrepreneurs, students, and researchers.
During the opening presentation, WEIA Dean Anastasia Likhacheva emphasised that the school's primary mission is to implement projects in the national interest and promote Russian interests on the international stage. ‘There is no single formula for unlocking the hearts of our partners. We are glad that our faculty now has a platform that will bring together enthusiasts of international cooperation,’ said Anastasia Likhacheva.
Senior Director of HSE University Andrey Lavrov noted that during last year’s Academic Council elections, a formula was developed that reflects the essence of today's HSE as a university fostering development across Russia while remaining open to the world. He highlighted international cooperation as a priority for both HSE University and WEIA. Andrey Lavrov expressed confidence that the launch of the School of International Cooperation would help achieve the most ambitious goals in the development of continuing professional education at HSE. ‘Adult education is an area where we can achieve great success. I am very pleased that in this new wave of continuing education development at HSE, you are pioneers. Congratulations,’ said Andrey Lavrov, addressing the faculty administration.
‘It is a great pleasure to be pioneers,’ responded Anastasia Likhacheva. She recalled that HSE University had begun pivoting toward the East many years ago (currently, 700 students at HSE are studying Chinese) and expressed hope that the new school would contribute to the development of Russian–Chinese cooperation.
Minister Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in Russia, Zhao Wei, read a congratulatory message from China's Ambassador to Russia, Zhang Hanhui, in which he congratulated HSE University on the opening of the School of International Cooperation. HSE was described as a leader in innovation and a university making an invaluable contribution to shaping the international agenda. The ambassador's letter highlighted the role of Sergey Karaganov, Academic Supervisor of the Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs (WEIA), in strengthening HSE’s ties with leading Chinese universities and fostering bilateral cooperation.
In his message, Zhang Hanhui noted that China and Russia share common positions in addressing global challenges and shaping a fair world order. ‘I am convinced that the school will serve as a foundation for training a new generation of specialists with cross-cultural competencies and problem-solving skills in international affairs. I hope that the school’s establishment will contribute to deeper Sino–Russian cooperation in personnel training and strengthen ties with the Global South,’ he emphasised.
According to WEIA Research Professor Fyodor Lukyanov, both the university and faculty are not merely following global trends but actively shaping them. He noted that the world is currently in an extraordinary state—what seemed impossible yesterday is now obvious, and tomorrow will be entirely different from what we imagine today. Fyodor Lukyanov stressed that international cooperation is essential in any global situation and must be strengthened and maintained. ‘Building and supporting international cooperation projects and lifelong learning in this field is crucial—it is an environment we must exist in,’ he said.
He also emphasised the importance of high-quality expertise in today’s world, stating that no high-level leader operates in isolation. Decision-making takes place in a dynamic landscape of events and trends, where knowledge is critical, but intuition—developed through experience and education—is equally important.
Yulia Belous, Head of the School of International Cooperation and Deputy Dean of WEIA for Continuing Education, noted that the school offers a wide range of continuing education programmes, as well as winter and summer schools for various audiences.
The training programmes are structured into four levels. The first one is titled ‘Career Start—Key to Success’ and is designed for students and young professionals with one to three years of work experience. The next level ‘New Horizons’ is aimed at professionals with three to five years of experience. The ‘Time to Act’ level is tailored for foreign specialists and those seeking to enter international markets. Finally, the fourth level includes strategic sessions for executives, which are led by top experts in international relations, global economy, regional and Eastern studies. These sessions provide practical, strategy-oriented knowledge for effective operations and competition in different countries and regions. These sessions provide a comprehensive vision of working in Eastern markets. They serve as a foundation for effective operations and competition with established market players, offering practical, experience-based knowledge applicable across various countries and regions.
Natalya Guseva, head of the professional retraining programme ‘Eastern Perspective: Strategy and Tactics for Building Business,’ highlighted that the course is aimed at equipping participants with strategies for successful business operations in the East. The programme focuses on understanding business environments in India, China, Japan, and South Korea, along with practical business activities. It is a three-week course that includes the development of individual business projects.
Additionally, a nine-day intensive Russia Executive Business Programme has been designed for foreign entrepreneurs looking to work in Russia. Participants will learn about Russia’s financial and tax systems, business cooperation specifics, and gain insights into Russian cultural values and traditions. Leading speakers and experts will conduct the sessions.
Anastasia Pavlenko, Deputy Executive Director and Director for Strategic Partnerships at Innopratika, introduced a competency transfer programme in digital governance for African nations. This significant international initiative is being implemented by the HSE Centre for African Studies with the support of Innopratika. She emphasised that Russia is currently one of the global leaders in public sector digitalisation. Its experience in overcoming sanctions pressure and countering large-scale cyberattacks provides valuable insights for friendly nations. Russia is ready to share its expertise in this field, fostering stronger international cooperation in digital governance.
In her speech, Anastasia Pavlenko also mentioned Innopratika’s efforts to support the expansion of private high-tech companies—so-called ‘national champions’—into foreign markets and promote their solutions in friendly countries. She concluded by highlighting the significant potential of international cooperation in the development of education, science, and culture.
Polina Slusarchuk, Deputy Director of the HSE Centre for African Studies, added that the centre had conducted a series of workshops with experts and scholars from various African countries. One of the programmes focuses on food security in different countries and regions, encouraging participants not only to study the issue but also to propose solutions. Additionally, the centre has developed a continuing education programme dedicated to conducting practical business operations on the continent.
Ivan Timofeev, Director General of the Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC), emphasised the broad scope of international cooperation, which encompasses economic, scientific, military-technical, and cultural interactions, each with its own distinct characteristics. He stressed the importance of understanding how various aspects of cooperation—from chess to sensitive technologies—can serve as instruments of a country’s soft power and how these elements can be integrated into foreign policy.
‘Your project is not a gamble; it is an initiative built upon HSE University’s ecosystem and human capital. Your programmes will be in high demand,’ Ivan Timofeev stated confidently.
Alexander Belyashin, Head of the Centre for Educational Solutions and University Relations at the TMH Corporate University (part of the TMH Group), congratulated the faculty on the launch of the new school. He noted that educational partnerships have become an essential part of international cooperation, making the establishment of an institution like HSE’s School of International Cooperation both timely and beneficial. He also shared that TMH has been engaged in the development of engineering talent for several years. This year, in collaboration with Tashkent State Transport University, the company established a scientific and educational centre in Uzbekistan. The centre will train design and technology engineers through joint master’s programmes and continuing professional education courses. Alexander Belyashin highlighted the high potential of the School of International Cooperation, which will not only address general global issues but also analyse specific case studies of bilateral and multilateral partnerships.
Elena Eremenko, Vice President of the Vyzov Foundation, spoke about the foundation’s Vyzov Prize and its international track, SCIENCE. DIALOGUE. TRUST, which includes an international assembly, seminars, and scientific breakfasts dedicated to scientific diplomacy. She also emphasised the foundation’s commitment to continuing intellectual cooperation with the Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs (WEIA), particularly in scientific diplomacy and student engagement initiatives.
Dimitrios Velanis, a member of the Supervisory Board of the RK-Investment Fund, reminded attendees that even during the most challenging periods in international relations—such as the early 1980s, when sanctions were imposed on the Soviet Union after the invasion of Afghanistan—businesses, including those from Western countries, still found opportunities to operate in the USSR.
Natalia Konshina, Head of Corporate Programmes for Universities at SberUniversity, shared insights on training advanced engineering schools within Russian universities. Together with the head of the School of International Cooperation, she presented potential areas of international collaboration, focusing on the risks and barriers in international scientific and technical cooperation.
Anna Bessmertnaya, Chair of the Commission on Foreign Economic Cooperation with Partners in the People’s Republic of China at the Moscow Chamber of Commerce and Industry, outlined trends in workforce training for Russian–Chinese cooperation. She also introduced the initiative ‘Start Your Business with Moscow,’ a project aimed at supporting young professionals.
The presentation of the School of International Cooperation also featured Dmitry Novikov, Programme Director for ‘International Cooperation in the Era of Global Reshaping’ at HSE University and Deputy Head of the School of International Relations at WEIA. He elaborated on the relevance, unique aspects, and advantages of the programme in the current global context.
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