‘Research Skills Helped Me a Lot in My Career’
In 2022, Luis Santaella from Mexico graduated from the bachelor’s programme ‘Political Science and World Politics’. During his studies, he participated in the international mobility programme in Rome and is currently working as a political consultant. In the interview, Luis shares his impressions of HSE University-St Petersburg and gives advice to future students from Latin America.
— How did you learn about HSE University?
— I learned about HSE University 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 programme there.
— Why did you choose the bachelor’s programme ‘Political Science and World Politics’?
— In general, I have always been in love with politics and social sciences. What I really like about the programme is the 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 programmes, and most of them were quite theoretical or purely devoted to internal politics. At HSE University-St Petersburg, 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.
— What were studies in St Petersburg like for you?
— 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 even 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 programme is situated in the city centre, and generally, the public transport is very well developed.
— Was it difficult or easy for you to adapt to the new 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. 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 about twenty sunny hours a day.
But I think it's actually easy to adapt when you have all the facilities that you can find at 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 close and fraternal international students’ community as in St Petersburg.
— What was the most interesting part of your studies?
— Those were definitely the courses, but it is difficult for me to highlight 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. My research skills helped me a lot in my career. The mobility programme was amazing too. I was studying in Rome at the University Tor Vergata. The courses there were very compatible with our programme in St Petersburg, but I got acquainted with another approach, which was also helpful for my future studies and career.
— Could you 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 Italy, 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 lucky 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 who can give you a helping hand in St Petersburg. It is completely safe to go there, but you need to think over all aspects of your trip in advance, including transport, financial issues, etc. But I would definitely encourage you to try it. It's very fun.
Interview for the bachelor’s programme ‘Political Science and World Politics’