New Programmes—New Impressions: What the First-Years Say about Studying at HSE University
In 2022, HSE University-St Petersburg opened three new Bachelor's programmes: 'Media Communications', 'International Bachelor in Business and Economics', 'Digital Platforms and Logistics'. There is one new Master's programme as well: 'Design'. It has been a month since the studies started, so we decided to share the students' impressions of the programmes and tell about the peculiarities of the education at HSE University one more time.
'International Bachelor in Business and Economics' combined the subjects in Economics and Management. Until the third year, the students master general subjects. Then they choose one of the eight educational tracks, depending on their interests and career plans. The programme would be perfect for those who want to work in the business sphere. Its strategic partner is VK. Thanks to it, the students will have a chance to take part in the internships, seminars, business projects and career events from a separate educational module.
'Digital Platforms and Logistics', the second new programme of the School of Economics and Management, also cooperates closely with the business. It is the first online Bachelor's programme at HSE University-St Petersburg. This programme is based on the combination of Applied Mathematics, Management and Information Science. As a result, the graduates can prepare better for new professions in the spheres of logistics and digital business. The strategic partner of the programme is Ozon. During the studies, the students will have an opportunity to undertake a six-month internship at this company.
The Bachelor's programme 'Media Communications' helps to study Management and work on your own media projects. The students learn in practice how to run accounts on social networks and think through their strategies, launch podcasts and manage projects. Starting with the first module, they study the subjects that will help them in the future profession: Psychology of Media, Design of Media Projects and the Theory of the Russian Literary Language. The graduates of this programme are able to work as editors, SMM managers or producers.
The Master's programme 'Design' will suit both newcomers and people with the specialised education. The newcomers will study on the track of communication design, and those who continue their education—on the track of art direction. The classes are taught by lecturers-practitioners who are well versed in the basics and trends. The additional advantage is the close programme's cooperation with cultural institutions: The State Hermitage Museum, the State Russian Museum and the Manege Central Exhibition Hall.
It has been more than a month since the studies on all the programmes started. The students have already got acquainted with the first homework, projects and, of course, knowledge. They give positive feedback on their studies: they like the lecturers and courses—hard, but interesting at the same time.
Yana Gomza, 1st-year student, the Bachelor's programme 'Media Communications'
I like that instead of endless lectures, we have a lot of practical tasks during seminars. We learn how to apply our knowledge in practice right away. It is also great that we have almost no general courses, only specialised ones. I understand why I study them and how it can help me in the profession. I have general courses only in the Russian and English languages, but here it is much more interesting to study them than at school. My favourite subject is the Project Seminar, where we learn how to write journalistic texts.
One of the major advantages of the programme is the lecturers. I grew fond of them right away. In addition, almost all the lecturers are practitioners in their fields. Besides, I like that all the academic staff treat us like their colleagues. It is amazing when you feel comfortable with a lecturer, not bored or scared as it was at school.
I expect to get new useful skills for my future profession, people and contacts from the programme. In my ideal world, I hope that it will be here, on the programme 'Media Communications', where I will find my true purpose and dream profession.
Vladislav Fedorenko, 1st-year student, the programme 'International Bachelor's in Business and Economics'
The programme impressed me: I did not find any boring subjects in the curriculum. I can say with confidence that right now, every day at HSE University-St Petersburg is as productive as possible.
Our educational programme is a unique symbiosis of different qualifications. It helps me and my friends engage in the things we like. Some people solve microeconomic issues, other spend their free time on improving the projects in Management. This diversity appeals to me most of all. I personally prefer to work on the projects in Management as they combine logic, strategic understanding of the situations, creativity and communication. During the studies, I plan to improve myself non-stop, participate in the competitions and hackathons, meet a great number of interesting and smart people.
Veronika Zozulya, 1st-year student, the Bachelor's programme 'Digital Platforms and Logistics'
So far, I have positive impressions of the programme: the group is very united; the study office swiftly helps with the organisational issues; the subjects are interesting, though hard. The online format helps a lot: you can wake up five minutes before a double class, make some tea—and you are there. Many students on our programme live in different time zones, but I also have many group-mates from St Petersburg. We have already managed to book a study room in the building on Kantemirovskaya Street and go to the dining hall together.
Most of all, I like that I can attend classes from home—having a cup of tea and wearing my pyjamas—but I still can use all the campus benefits without any limit. The atmosphere of HSE University makes me feel a special thrill: it is amazing to realise that you are studying two topical subjects—Information Science and Management—at one of the best universities in the country.
Most of the subjects are new to me, and all of them are interesting. I wait in excitement for the classes in Discrete Mathematics and Logistics within the digital economy. They are the hardest and the most fascinating for me: we discuss every unclear thing in detail during the double classes. Mathematics, Economics and Logistics turned out to be harder than I expected. It is some kind of challenge because the whole educational programme is based on these subjects. Moreover, our programme is full time: we have as many lectures and seminars with the lecturers as programmes on the campus. That is why the workload is significant, so it is hard to combine it with a full-time job. I will try to implement all the management skills and master whatever is required!
Ivan Vorontsov, 1st-year student, the Master's programme 'Design', track 'Art Direction of Cultural Institutions'
Though we revise some information that I covered during the Bachelor's programme 'Communication Design' at HSE University, I manage to learn something new. I try to look at everything with a fresh perspective.
The best thing about the studies for me is that we go on many various excursions. This month we have already been on four excursions, all of them were very unusual. They are conducted by people who create these exhibitions themselves, we learn a lot about the backstage and peculiarities of preparation. We also have a great course in Typography with Artem Rulev. We have to create a series of posters for various cultural institutions. I will do it for Bolshoi Drama Theatre (BDT). I will reshape their corporate style for the posters and adjust to different carriers: from flyers to large banners.
I haven't got any specific expectations from the programme. I constantly learn something new, meet new people and enjoy the process. I am still figuring out the nuances of an art director's profession. But at the moment we engage in the related subjects, Management itself will start a little later. I am interested in what will happen further and what tasks we will have to cope with in the next module.