Forbes University Ranking: HSE Has Top Reputation among Employers
On May 22, Forbes Education released its updated ranking of the 100 best universities in Russia for 2025. HSE University retained its second-place position, having established itself as the university with the highest employer reputation. Among the top 20 were 12 universities from Moscow, three from St Petersburg, two from Tatarstan, and one each from the Sverdlovsk, Novosibirsk, and Tomsk regions.
Forbes Education continues to monitor the dynamic changes in the field of higher education, identifying institutions that demonstrate high standards of quality and demand. In this new, seventh edition of the ranking of Russia’s best universities, institutions were assessed based on 17 criteria grouped into key metrics: networking quality, reputation among employers, international image, and academic environment. The Forbes factor was also taken into account, awarding additional points to universities whose alumni are featured in the Russian Forbes list or were among the winners of the 2024 30 Under 30 ranking.
This year, HSE maintained its second-place ranking, outperforming Lomonosov Moscow State University (MSU) by 0.7 points and reaffirming its status as the university with the strongest reputation among employers. Other institutions also stood out in specific metrics: Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (best university for admissions quality), MSU (leader in the ‘International Reputation’ category), and Innopolis University (top in academic environment quality).
A total of 564 higher education institutions were included in the long list. The analysis was based on data from the Monitoring of Educational Institutions conducted by the Russian Ministry of Education and Science, surveys of the country’s top employers, and information from open sources.
To assess employer reputation, a survey was conducted among major companies featured in the list of Russia’s best employers. The survey identified universities whose graduates are considered the most qualified and are the top choice for recruitment. Companies also named institutions they believe provide the highest quality training in fields such as economics, information technology, engineering, marketing and communications, natural sciences, the humanities, and the creative industries. The survey covered 43 industries across various Russian regions.
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HSE Researchers Determine Frequency of Genetic Mutations in People with Pulmonary Hypertension
For the first time in Russia, a team of scientists and clinicians has conducted a large-scale genetic study of patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension. The team, which included researchers from the International Laboratory of Bioinformatics at the HSE Faculty of Computer Science, analysed the genomes of over a hundred patients and found that approximately one in ten carried pathogenic mutations in the BMPR2 gene, which is responsible for vascular growth. Three of these mutations were described for the first time. The study has been published in Respiratory Research.
HSE Scientists Reveal How Disrupted Brain Connectivity Affects Cognitive and Social Behaviour in Children with Autism
An international team of scientists, including researchers from the HSE Centre for Language and Brain, has for the first time studied the connectivity between the brain's sensorimotor and cognitive control networks in children with autism. Using fMRI data, the researchers found that connections within the cognitive control network (responsible for attention and inhibitory control) are weakened, while connections between this network and the sensorimotor network (responsible for movement and sensory processing) are, by contrast, excessively strong. These features manifest as difficulties in social interaction and behavioural regulation in children. The study has been published in Brain Imaging and Behavior.
HSE University–St Petersburg Holds Summer Intensive Course on Finance for Students from Five Countries
The International Summer School at HSE University–St Petersburg included the intensive course 'New Economic Drivers for Company.' International students explored the realm of applied finance through case studies of Russian companies.
Updated Facts and Figures and Dashboards Now Available on HSE Website
The HSE Office of Analytics and Data Management, together with the Visual Communications Unit, has developed a new Facts and Figures about HSE University page on the HSE website. In addition, all university staff now have access to a dashboard with the updated indicators of the Priority 2030 programme.
HSE to Entrust Routine CPD Programme Development to AI
HSE University, together with the EdTech company CDO Global, is launching AI-based constructors to streamline the design of continuing professional development (CPD) courses. The new service will automate the preparation of teaching materials and assessment tools, significantly reducing the time and resources required of lecturers and instructional designers.
‘Territory of the Future. Moscow 2030’ Forum-Festival to Feature Innovative Projects from HSE Graduates
Until September 14, 2025, the Russian capital is hosting a large-scale forum-festival called ‘Territory of the Future: Moscow 2030’ —a space for technology, science, and innovation. This event showcases cutting-edge developments in medicine, astronautics, and the digital economy. HSE Art and Design School is participating in the festival with two graduate projects in Product and Industrial Design.
‘The Goal of Modern Geography Is To Digitise Expert Knowledge and Integrate It with Big Data’
The importance of geographical science is increasing, as is the demand for education in this field. Since 2020, application numbers for Bachelor’s programmes at HSE University’s Faculty of Geography and Geoinformation Technology have climbed by 30%, while interest in Master’s programmes has also expanded, with applications up 10–15%. Nikolay Kurichev, Dean of the Faculty, spoke about this at a press conference hosted by MIA Rossiya Segodnya.
HSE Shares Its Experience of Urban Strategies at International Summer School in China
In the context of intensifying global geopolitical and technological competition, leading Chinese educational institutions—Zhejiang International Studies University and Peking University—organised an International Summer School. Their joint programme focused on studying global, regional, and urban development strategies. The HSE Faculty of Urban and Regional Development took part in this event.
Scientists Develop Effective Microlasers as Small as a Speck of Dust
Researchers at HSE University–St Petersburg have discovered a way to create effective microlasers with diameters as small as 5 to 8 micrometres. They operate at room temperature, require no cooling, and can be integrated into microchips. The scientists relied on the whispering gallery effect to trap light and used buffer layers to reduce energy leakage and stress. This approach holds promise for integrating lasers into microchips, sensors, and quantum technologies. The study has been published in Technical Physics Letters.
‘Our Result Was Recognised Not Only Within the Project Defence but Also on International Scale’
This year, the European AI Conference (ECAI 2025) accepted an article titled ‘Multi-Agent Path Finding for Large Agents is Intractable’ by Artem Agafonov, a second-year student of the Applied Mathematics and Information Science Bachelor’s programme at HSE University’s Faculty of Computer Science. The work was co-authored by Konstantin Yakovlev, Head of the Joint Department with Intelligent Technologies of System Analysis and Management at the Federal Research Centre ‘Informatics and Management’ of the RAS and Associate Professor at the Faculty of Applied Sciences. In the interview, Artem Agafonov explained how he came up with the idea for the article and how he was able to present it at an A-level conference.