HSE University–St Petersburg and Vietnamese Universities to Launch Joint Research Projects and International Schools for Students
A delegation from HSE University–St Petersburg has visited partner universities in Vietnam. Read on to discover the opportunities international ties present for scientists and why there is a growing demand for specialists in the economy and culture of Southeast Asia in Russia.
The year 2026 has been declared the Cross Year of Research and Educational Cooperation between Russia and Vietnam. HSE University–St Petersburg's key partners include Vietnamese universities with whom it has been implementing joint projects for over five years. This academic mission was an opportunity to strengthen these partnerships and present new initiatives for students and researchers.
The delegation from HSE University–St Petersburg included Pavel Kuzmin, Deputy Director for the Study Process and Digital Transformation, Maria Kiseleva, Head of the International Office, and representatives from the Institute of Asian and African Studies and the School of Economics and Management.
Pavel Kuzmin
Deputy Director for the Study Process and Digital Transformation
'Vietnam is one of Russia's fastest-growing partners. Together with leading universities of this country, we are creating a platform for academic exchanges, double-degree programmes, and mirror laboratories,' highlighted Pavel Kuzmin. 'Our colleagues are interested in starting scientific groups for joint research in economics, artificial intelligence, and creative industries as soon as possible. This year, the Institute of Asian and African Studies is launching a new educational programme for studying the countries in the Asia-Pacific region. This will help to enhance HSE University–St Petersburg's ties with Vietnam and build a hub for interaction between companies from both countries.'
The National Economics University of Vietnam (NEU) is well acquainted with HSE University–St Petersburg. In October 2025, Prof. Nguyen Thi Hieu, Vice President of the university, and Anna Tyshetskaya, Director of HSE University–St Petersburg, outlined areas of cooperation. The return visit of the delegation allowed them to flesh out plans to develop student mobility programmes and research exchanges and to expand the Digital Professors programme. In the future, the universities are planning to launch a joint master's programme, which would allow students to spend a year in Vietnam and get a double degree.
The outcomes of the HSE University–St Petersburg visit to the VNU University of Economics and Business (VNU-UEB) will include articles and joint research in the spheres of entrepreneurship, artificial intelligence, and fintech. Researchers from the two countries will co-supervise term papers and theses. The students will have cross modules, which will introduce them to educational practices of the universities and immerse them in Russian and Vietnamese cultures. There will also be more opportunities for academic mobility.
Partners from the Foreign Trade University (FTU) and representatives of HSE University–St Petersburg agreed to create joint research groups and organise guest lectures. In September 2026, an FTU delegation is planning to pay a return visit to HSE University–St Petersburg.
Victor Krakovich
Victor Krakovich, academic supervisor of the Bachelor's programme 'International Programme in Business and Economics,' underscored how important joint projects are—they will help students from both countries immerse themselves in the educational process and improve their knowledge.
'We have established sustainable partnerships with the University of Economics and Business and the Foreign Trade University. Their head has visited our campus as part of International Partners' Week as well. We focus on specific cooperation formats: student mobility, summer and winter schools, guest lectures, and joint educational modules. The School of Economics and Management finds it very important to develop relations with Asia. Students discover new professional opportunities when they get to know fast-growing markets,' shared Victor Krakovich.
The University of Social Sciences and Humanities - VNU Hanoi is one of the most prestigious and interdisciplinary universities in the region. The cooperation roadmap includes joint projects with the Department of Media at HSE University–St Petersburg and the Laboratory for Management in Culture and Tourism. There will also be new opportunities for students of the Institute for Asian and African Studies.
Nina Grigoreva
Nina Grigoreva, Head of the Department for Chinese, South and Southeast Asian Studies, highlighted that countries in the region demonstrate fast and sustainable economic growth and are becoming important centres of research and technological development. Maintaining partnerships at the government level requires the involvement of specialists with deep knowledge of language and culture.
‘We already teach the Vietnamese language, support the activities of the Vietnamese club, participate in research projects related to studying the country, and hold scientific conferences. This trip is of special importance to our institute because this year, we are opening a new area of study focusing on the countries of Southeast Asia. This programme will include studies of the Vietnamese, Chinese, and Indonesian languages, the history of the region, and modern cultural and political processes there. Thanks to our partners, students will have new opportunities for studies and internships at leading Vietnamese universities. Such trips help to establish professional contacts and gain experience in international interaction. All these things significantly expand the career prospects of alumni both in practical and academic fields,' shared Nina Grigoreva.
The research and educational mission to Southeast Asia finished with a meeting with the leadership of the University of Economics and Finance (UEF). HSE University–St Petersburg and UEF agreed to develop cooperation in the spheres of law, economics, and information technologies, and expand academic exchange—HSE University–St Petersburg students will be able to apply for UEF scholarships. Plans are also underway to launch a double-degree programme and hold international summer schools and research projects. HSE University–St Petersburg presented the Master's programme 'Arts and Culture Management,' which sparked special interest among the partners.
Maria Kiseleva
Head of the International Office
Maria Kiseleva said that the trip strengthened ties with leading universities in Southeast Asia.
'HSE University highly assesses the potential of educational, research, and technical cooperation with universities in Southeast Asia. Our strategy aligns with global geopolitical and economic trends. We and our partners have outlined joint initiatives which have been discussed at the conceptual level. Our students will get unique experience of academic mobility in Vietnam, and our professors and researchers will exchange expertise with each other,' summed up Maria Kiseleva.
The platform for the next offline meeting with the Vietnamese partners will be International Partners’ Week at HSE University–St Petersburg. Numerous universities have already confirmed their interest in the event.
