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Bekzod Karimov, a student from Tashkent State University of Law, Uzbekistan, joined an exchange programme at HSE University in St Petersburg in 2024. In this interview, Bekzod shares his exciting experiences: from studying law to exploring the beautiful city. Read on to find out how the programme helped him grow, inspired his career goals, and changed his view of the world.

HSE University–St Petersburg is proud of its graduates. Our alumni pursue careers in a wide variety of fields—from academia and public policy to creative industries and international development. Each story is unique, filled with ambition, perseverance, and meaningful change. Today, we are excited to share the story of Giovanny Simon Machado—a graduate of the Master’s programme 'Applied and Interdisciplinary History "Usable Pasts"'. Now, he is a professor at the Department of Social Work at the Federal University of Pernambuco, Brazil. This May, Prof. Machado came back to Russia as a participant of the HSE University–St Petersburg International Partners’ Week 2025. Read on to learn more about his experience of studying and living in Russia and how it has changed his life.

The International Ambassadors project at HSE University-St Petersburg is a dynamic initiative, which empowers international students to represent the university in their home countries around the world. Established to build cultural bridges and strengthen the university’s global presence, the programme recruits highly motivated students who are passionate about international education and willing to share their HSE experience through events, outreach campaigns, and personal engagement. Ambassadors serve as cultural connectors offering firsthand insights into student life, academic opportunities, and the unique environment which define HSE University. The project also aims to foster long-term international cooperation and attract more diverse and talented applicants to one of Russia’s leading research universities.

Eurasia is not just a geographical term. It is a geopolitical space where history has shaped—and continues to shape—the fate of entire continents. From the dissolution of the Soviet Union to the shifting influence of great powers like China, the EU, and the United States, the region offers a rich laboratory for studying how politics works in practice.Today, understanding Eurasia is more relevant than ever. Global energy politics, post-imperial state-building, war and peace, authoritarian resilience, democratic backsliding—these are all phenomena that play out across the vast space from Eastern Europe to Central Asia. At HSE University-St Petersburg, the master’s programme ‘Comparative Politics of Eurasia’ equips students with theoretical tools and empirical knowledge to study these dynamics critically and comparatively. To explore why students choose this field—and how they envision using it—we spoke to several students of the programme, as well as a professor whose academic career is rooted in the region.

Dao Khanh Linh, exchange student on the track 'Economics', came from Vietnam for one semester. During her studies at HSE University-St Petersburg, she found new friends, fell in love with the Russian language and made a list of top places in St Petersburg. Read on to find out about her plans for the future, work at the International Partners' Week and other interesting moments.

The International Partners Week 2025 became one of the most important international events of the year for the Institute for Asian and African Studies at HSE University-St Petersburg. After five days of the forum, experts in Asian and African studies from HSE University-St Petersburg held negotiations with representatives of 18 global universities from Asia, Africa, Europe and Latin America, signed important agreements and shaped the directions for international cooperation in the future. Professor Evgeny Zelenev, Director of the Institute of Asian and African Studies, shares the results of IPW-2025.

The St Petersburg School of Arts and Humanities presented the Centre for Russian Language and Culture and held negotiations with universities in Japan, Egypt, Turkey, and Brazil. The School of Art and Design agreed to create joint installations with the Turkish university, international exchanges and fashion shows with international partners. Deans and staff of the schools summed up the results of the International Partners' Week.

As part of IPW-2025, representatives of the School of Economics and Management (SEM) and the School of Computer Science, Physics and Technology (SCPT) of HSE University–St Petersburg discussed joint educational projects and research initiatives with their partners. International colleagues showed great interest in the expertise of HSE University–St Petersburg and a willingness to develop long-term partnerships.