Community News at HSE University

Celestina Adu, from Ghana, is pursuing her Master’s in Economics and Economic Policy at the HSE Faculty of Economic Sciences. Recently, she won silver at a scientific student conference in Nizhny Novgorod. In her interview, she delves into her research on AI and its impact on education, offering advice for prospective international students based on her experiences in Russia.

Alexey Kovtun, master’s student of Business Analytics at HSE University, shared his experience of exchange studies at Shanghai University in China. In this interview, he talks about his favourite classes, the value of building trusting relationships, and the important lessons he learnt during his trip.

Bekzod Karimov, a student from Tashkent State University of Law, Uzbekistan, joined an exchange programme at HSE University in St Petersburg in 2024. In this interview, Bekzod shares his exciting experiences: from studying law to exploring the beautiful city. Read on to find out how the programme helped him grow, inspired his career goals, and changed his view of the world.

HSE University will showcase cutting-edge innovations and educational opportunities at the anniversary edition of VK Fest 2025, Russia’s largest youth festival. Visitors can look forward to interactive workshops, VR exhibitions, AI-powered tech games, and even a chance to send a message into space.

Every year, HSE University–St Petersburg welcomes international students from around the world not only for full-time programmes of all levels but also for academic mobility. This year, Michel Young Hernandez, a student from the Mexico Autonomous Institute of Technology, is among them. In this interview, Michel shares his experience of studying at HSE University–St Petersburg as an exchange student, why he decided to participate in the international mobility programme, and what his life in a new cultural landscape has been like.

HSE University–St Petersburg is proud of its graduates. Our alumni pursue careers in a wide variety of fields—from academia and public policy to creative industries and international development. Each story is unique, filled with ambition, perseverance, and meaningful change. Today, we are excited to share the story of Giovanny Simon Machado—a graduate of the Master’s programme 'Applied and Interdisciplinary History "Usable Pasts"'. Now, he is a professor at the Department of Social Work at the Federal University of Pernambuco, Brazil. This May, Prof. Machado came back to Russia as a participant of the HSE University–St Petersburg International Partners’ Week 2025. 

Yousra Demigha, from Algeria, is a student of the Master’s programme ‘Cognitive Sciences and Technologies: From Neuron to Cognition’ and a research assistant at the Institute for Cognitive Neuroscience (ICN HSE). In her interview with the HSE News Service, Yousra talks about her experience of the programme so far, what makes HSE one of the best universities in the country, and why she hasn’t found it difficult to integrate into Russian society.

Le Nhat Truong, from Vietnam, is a first-year student of the HSE Master’s Programme 'Science of Learning and Assessment.' He spoke to the HSE News Service about his motivation for studying in Moscow, how research projects enrich his academic journey, and the role education plays in social transformation.