HSE University-St Petersburg to Launch an Online Course on History and Culture of Russia for Japanese Universities
The delegation from HSE University-St Petersburg headed by director Anna Tyshetskaya visited more than ten universities in Japan to strengthen research and academic cooperation. HSE representatives met the heads of the country's leading universities, among which were Soka University, Tokai University, Sophia University, Hitotsubashi University, Hosei University, Osaka University, Kwansei Gakuin University, Tokyo University Of Foreign Studies and others. Among the priority areas of cooperation are humanitarian and Asian and African research, online training and programmes of academic exchange.
The visit of the delegation from St Petersburg has become the next step in establishing academic and research cooperation between the two countries. In December 2024, Nikita Anisimov, Rector of HSE University, visited four Japanese universities: the trip was made at the invitation of the Japanese Ambassador to Russia and was the first official visit of a Russian university delegation to this country since 2022. During the visit, the parties reached the agreement to prepare an online course 'History and Culture of Russia'. The lectures for students of partner universities are being developed by researchers from HSE University-St Petersburg.
Anna Tyshetskaya
Director of HSE University-St Petersburg
Russian culture traditionally causes great interest in Japan. It shows up in various spheres—from literature and music to fine art, theatre and ballet. The works of Russian classics are translated into Japanese, they are adapted for the stage, universities teach Russian: several universities offer special courses on Russian grammar, literature, and history. For instance, Soka University has the Russia Centre, and Tokyo University of Foreign Studies has been teaching the Russian language since its foundation—since the 19th century. That's why we are launching a project where our experts in Asian and African studies and humanities scholars will not only talk about Russian history but also develop the interest of Japanese students in our culture and country in general.
During the trip, there was a presentation of a pilot lecture of the online course. The first material covers the history of St Petersburg from its foundation till modern times, the lecture was prepared and recorded by Adrian Selin, Dean of the School of Arts and Humanities.
'In Japan, the steady interest in Russia forms the demand for knowledge about the country, its history and culture presented in a modern way. There have been successful presentations of our lecture about the history of St Petersburg at ten Japanese universities. We studied the feedback and arrived at the conclusion that a significant part of the online should have been devoted to the Russian culture and literature',—shares Adrian Selin. The lectures on the history and culture of Russia will be recorded in two languages, and the duration of the online course will be from two weeks to one month.
Japanese universities are also interested in joint projects related to online training. In November 2024, the Department of Japanese Studies of the Institute of Asian and African Studies at HSE University-St Petersburg launched an online seminar on the Japanese language together with the Sophia University and Nagoya University of Foreign Studies. This initiative was an important step in enhancing the language training of students and professors and created a platform for professional exchange between specialists from both countries.
Besides, the delegation from HSE University-St Petersburg and universities' representatives discussed the development of joint educational courses, including ones on Russian history. The parties expressed their readiness for efficient cooperation in these areas.
'The expected online courses, which will be delivered by the professors of the Institute of Asian and African Studies at Japanese universities, will cover a wide range of educational areas such as methods of translation from Japanese to Russian and from Russian to Japanese, mutual influence of Russian and Japanese literature on each other, history of Russian-Japanese political and cultural ties as well as various aspects of Russian history until modern times',—explains Olga Klimova, Head of the Department of Japanese Studies of the Institute of Asian and African Studies at HSE University-St Petersburg.
Russia and Japan have a rich history of research, academic and cultural cooperation: at HSE University, more than 700 students study the Japanese language, and there are students and professors from Japan. HSE University supports academic mobility programmes: now, 25 experts in Asian and African studies and economists are undertaking internships at Tokai University. Among the key partners of HSE University is the Tokyo University Of Foreign Studies, the oldest centre of Russian studies in Japan. Now, around 300 people at this university are mastering the Russian language, and many of them strive to undertake an internship in Russia.