HSE master’s students to study alongside students from the University of Maryland

Joint classes will begin in February 2015 for first-year master’s students in the State and Local Administration programme at HSE’s St. Petersburg campus and students in the Urban Studies and Planning master’s programme at the University of Maryland (U.S.). Classes will be held in the format of video conferences and take place once a week over the course of three semesters.

Joint classes will begin in February 2015 for first-year master’s students in the State and Local Administration programme at HSE’s St. Petersburg campus and students in the Urban Studies and Planning master’s programme at the University of Maryland (U.S.). Classes will be held in the format of video conferences and take place once a week over the course of three semesters.

The idea of starting such international courses was put forward by the Head of theState and Local Administration programme at HSE St. Petersburg, Leonid Limonov, who is also the Head of the Department of Urban and Regional Economics. Professor Mary Holland of the University of Maryland’s Urban Studies and Planning master’s programme supported the idea. Holland is also the Deputy Dean of the School of Architecture, Planning & Preservation at the university. The University of Maryland is one of the best schools in America and the world for this specialization.

‘Such courses are necessary in preparing professionals and highly qualified specialists for the international market. And it is specifically this task that stands before the HSE. Joint courses are a kind of platform for dialogue and a way for both students and instructors to exchange their experiences with one another,’ Leonid Limonovnoted.

‘Another important plus is language practice – the lectures and seminars are conducted exclusively in the English language. HSE students will also prepare abstracts, reports and research projects together with their American counterparts,’ Limonov added.

The implementation of these types of courses into theState and Local Administration master’s programme is just one component to the cooperation taking place between the HSE and the University of Maryland. The two universities signed a cooperation agreement in March 2014 that also envisions joint master classes, open lectures and seminars, joint academic research projects, and the organization of internships for students of the two universities.

Prepared by Elena Gruzinskaya