HSE University Hosts Delegates from 15 Countries at International Partners' Days in St Petersburg
On May 23 in the Presidential Library in St Petersburg, leaders and experts from 23 universities of 15 countries participated in the first day of the International Partners' Days. Apart from the lively discussion about global tendencies in the development of higher education, HSE University has signed partner agreements with the universities of India, Uzbekistan and Oman.
From 23 to 25 May 2024, HSE University-St Petersburg is holding the International Pertners' Days (IPD). The IPD participants exchange innovative ideas and the best practices in the educational sphere as well as develop mutually beneficial cooperations.
The opening ceremony featured a welcoming speech to the guests by Anna Tyshetskaya, Director of HSE University-St Petersburg. She highlighted the importance of developing international ties and added that the quality of education at HSE was proved by the improvement of its position in the Times Higher Education ranking.
Director of HSE University-St Petersburg
'Conferences can be different: research or expert. I would like this conference to become a meeting of friends and partners. You are here in a unique time for the city when you can see the famous white nights with your own eyes. It is not just an amazing natural phenomenon but a trademark of our city. I hope that the experience which you will get here will stay in your hearts for a long time. Share it with your students and colleagues, and they will come to visit us as well'.
Rector of HSE University
'I genuinely hope that our meeting will become traditional and gather even more participants from all over the world. Communication between universities plays a vital role in creating a joint future. Today's students—our future graduates—will rule this world in 20-25 years. By expanding international cooperation, we provide our students with the best educational opportunities'.
The honorary guests of IPD were Alexey Korabelnikov, Vice-Governor of St Petersburg, Sergey Markov, the First Deputy Chairman of the Committee for External Relations, Irina Ganus, the First Deputy Chairman of the Committee for Science and Higher Education, Hector Isidro Arenas Neira, Ambassador of Colombia to Russia, and Özgün Talu, Consul General of Turkey.
The discussion on the role of international cooperation between universities was held in the framework of the plenary session covering the best global educational practices and their development. The participants listened to the expert opinions of the representatives from Indian Institute of Management Indore (IIM Indore), UPES Dehradun (India), Bogazici University (Turkey), and Universidad Panamericana (Mexico). They discussed the challenges that modern universities have to face: improving the quality of education and creating conditions for successful intercultural communication.
Rafael Hernandez-Cazares
Director of Advancement, Universidad Panamericana (Mexico)
'I am happy to be in St Petersburg and learn more about HSE University, our academic partner. International Partners' Days is a very useful and important event as our university is successfully developing in a highly competitive environment with other universities in Latin America, Europe and Asia. For further growth, we need strong partners—such as HSE University. It will allow our alumni to reach the best results'.
Mehmet Naci Inci
Rector of Bogazici University (Turkey)
'Today, international communications are particularly important. If countries don't understand each other, it will be very hard to build a joint future. That is why Bogazici University strives to introduce its students to various cultures. If a student comes to Istanbul on an exchange, we immerse them not only in technical or social sciences but also in our mentality. Knowledge can be gained from various sources but it is a university that can provide students with a platform to exchange experience. This is what we should take care of—among other ways, with the help of international collaborations'.
International Partners' Days featured the signing of several agreements with foreign partner universities.
The agreement with IIM Indore has become the continuation of the joint research work with HSE University: in February 2024, the universities opened a mirror laboratory in the sphere of environmental behaviour, social well-being and responsible management at the School of Social Sciences. The new agreement expands the research opportunities of the universities: the plans include student and staff exchange as well as joint conferences and research.
In the framework of the agreement with Lovely Professional University (Phagwara, India), HSE University and LPU have negotiated to strengthen and develop cultural and academic cooperation and organise student exchange. The document provides for experience exchange, joint research, development and implementation of educational programmes.
Besides, HSE University has signed cooperation agreements with the University of World Economy and Diplomacy (Uzbekistan) and the University of Nizwa (Oman).
Rector of HSE University
'Today, we have made a very important step in developing our international cooperation. We have not only signed the agreements with new partners from India, Oman and Uzbekistan but also opened additional opportunities to expand scientific and educational cooperation, humanitarian exchanges and student mobility. Now, our task is to bring all these agreements to life with practical activities which will be beneficial for our universities, our countries and world science and education in general'.
During the panel discussions, the delegations from different countries discussed trending topics in the context of world educational cooperation: from the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in education to new countries—BRICS participants.
Delegates from HSE University have presented the project 'World Campuses'—an online resource based on the HSE website devoted to the international partners of the university. The project goal is to develop intercultural communication between students and professors from different countries.
St Petersburg School of Art and Design has announced the International Student Competition of short videos about cities. Students of HSE University and partner universities can apply until June 30, 2024.
Over the 2023/2024 academic year, HSE University-St Petersburg has become a leader at HSE University in international cooperation. Over the last year, HSE University-St Petersburg has visited Latin America, the countries of the Asia-Pacific region, India, Turkey, Uzbekistan and other countries. It has established new academic partnerships with foreign universities. These led to new mirror laboratories, joint cultural projects, educational expeditions and lecture courses on advanced training.