HSE University Gathers Experts from World-Leading Universities in St Petersburg
From May 18 to 22, HSE University–St Petersburg will become the centre for global academic dialogue as International Partners' Week brings together more than 100 delegates from 47 universities and 20 countries.
International Partners' Week (IPW) is a strategic event of HSE University that has been held in St Petersburg since 2024. HSE gathers university representatives from around the world to discuss global challenges, identify potential solutions, strengthen the academic community, and promote Russian education and cultural values.
Anna Tyshetskaya
'Over three years, we have shaped a platform for large-scale collaborations between universities from different countries,' emphasised Anna Tyshetskaya, First Vice Rector of HSE University. 'Taking into account the changes ongoing in the global space, the old forms of cooperation cannot exist in the same form any more. That is why we create new sustainable ties, in which the main value is the culture of openness, trust, and equal dialogue.'
The programme of International Partners' Week 2026 aligns with two large state initiatives—the Year of Educational Cooperation with China and the Year of Academic Partnership with Vietnam. St Petersburg will welcome researchers, rectors, and vice rectors of leading universities in Brazil, Indonesia, Qatar, China, Colombia, Malaysia, the UAE, Oman, Serbia, Japan, and other countries.
The grand opening of the forum and key plenary sessions will take place on May 20 at the Sergey Kuryokhin Centre for Modern Art. This year, the discussions will focus on the role of universities in an age of global changes. The experts will discuss the formats and challenges of education without borders, the transformation of the academic mission in response to the rapid development of artificial intelligence, as well as the role of universities in creating innovative products and their integration in the economy.
During the week, IPW-2026 participants and HSE students will be able to attend dozens of open lectures and expert sessions on various topics: from artificial intelligence and physics to industrial design and media communications. A special block will cover the international agenda. The participants will discuss the current state of Russian–Chinese relations, the development of BRICS, regional safety in the Middle East, and the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Russia and the Philippines. The programme includes dedicated tracks from faculties and research laboratories. During the forum, there will also be an educational fair showcasing partner universities. The main event of the official agenda will be the signing of strategic agreements between HSE University and the heads of international universities.
HSE University–St Petersburg International Partners’ Week is the university's key international event aimed at shaping a sustainable communication platform to strengthen the position of Russia in the global educational space. At IPW 2024 and 2025, HSE University signed cooperation agreements with the leading universities of Southeast Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, and other regions. An important outcome of the event was the launch of an international research network of satellite laboratories on social entrepreneurship that unites universities from Russia, Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Indonesia, and Malaysia.
