«Research skills helped me a lot in my career»
In 2022, Luis Santaella from Mexico graduated from the BA Program in Political Science and World Politics. During his studies, he participated in the international mobility program in Rome and is currently working as a political consultant. In the interview, Luis shares his impressions of HSE University and gives advice to future students from Latin America.
How did you learn about HSE University?
I learned about HSE from a colleague, who was also a student there. We were at the same school and learned a lot about education in Russia from a Russian teacher in Mexico. She always advertised Russia as an excellent destination for university education.
I think that HSE has one of the best websites in terms of the interface. It is very user-friendly, and it was very simple for me to find the necessary information. So, I mostly learned about the university and the program there.
Why did you choose the BA program in Political Science and World Politics?
In general, I have always been in love with politics and social sciences. What I really like about the program is this international approach. So yes, it is political science, but in the context of global politics. That's what I was looking for. I was considering many programs, and most of them were quite theoretical or purely devoted to internal politics. At HSE we have about 50 percent of the curriculum devoted to international affairs. I really liked the fact that we were moving from topic to topic throughout the courses, considering the global context and how it was changing.
How important was it for you to study in St. Petersburg?
I think it was very important. I do think that St. Petersburg is the most attractive city to live in in Russia. St. Petersburg has the fame of being one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, and maybe in the world. Though Moscow is amazing as well, St. Petersburg is a city with a lot of students, and it creates a unique atmosphere of diversity. Also, the location of the campus is important. Our program is situated in the city center, and generally, the public transport is very well developed.
Was it difficult or easy for you to adapt to the country?
For me personally, it was quite easy, even though there were some challenges and health problems I had to tackle. However, I went through those challenges relatively easily, since the city and the university are open to international students and ready to help. Yes, of course, it's very difficult, for example, for us to adapt to this kind of weather and sunlight hours because. Here in Mexico, we have like twenty sunny hours a day.
But I think it's actually easy to adapt when you have all the facilities that you can find in a diverse university like HSE. My colleagues from Russia and my friends from the dormitory were all very welcoming. I had the opportunity to interact with students in other cities, but I didn't find such a closed and fraternal international students’ community as in St. Petersburg.
What was the most interesting part of your study?
Those were definitely the courses, but it is difficult for me to mention just one. Most importantly, I liked the approach that always challenged you to learn more. Every course encouraged us to do some research on our own. The research skills helped me a lot in my career. Mobility was amazing too. I was studying in Rome at the University Tor Vergata. The courses there were very compatible with our program in St. Petersburg, but I got acquainted with another approach, which was also helpful for your future studies and career.
Could you please tell us about your further career?
I am a political consultant. That's why research activities at the university actually helped me a lot. When I did mobility in Rome, I did an internship at the Mexican embassy in Rome. There, I got a little bit of experience, and afterwards I got an offer from a firm that does political consulting. There I am in charge of preparing communication and electoral strategies. I am a lucky person to work in accordance with what I have learned at university.
What advice could you give to applicants from Latin America wishing to study in Russia?
I do believe that the Latin American community is strong in Russia, so I would recommend approaching these groups on social media. They actually help you a lot in adapting to the country. Search for anyone that can give you a hand in St. Petersburg. It is completely safe to go there, but you need to think over in advance all aspects of your trip, including transport, financial issues, etc.
But yeah, I really encourage them to try it. It's very fun.