Roundtable “The Future of Finance Today”: An Open Dialogue Between Academia and Business

Roundtable “The Future of Finance Today”: An Open Dialogue Between Academia and Business

On May 22, 2025, the St. Petersburg School of Economics and Management at HSE University hosted the first event in a new roundtable series titled “The Future of Finance Today.” The event aimed to strengthen collaboration between the academic community and business leaders in the financial sector.

The central focus of the discussion was to explore strategic and project-based partnership formats between the university and companies. Particular attention was paid to the training of a new generation of finance professionals — individuals equipped not only with strong theoretical knowledge but also with practical competencies aligned with the demands of today’s business environment.

The event opened with welcoming remarks from Tatiana Lezina, PhD in Physics and Mathematics, Associate Professor and Dean of the School of Economics and Management. She emphasized the importance of practice-oriented education that combines academic excellence, international standards, and real-world business challenges.

The roundtable brought together:

• Faculty members from the Department of Finance;
• Members of the Academic Council of the Master’s Programme in Finance;
• Administrators from the School of Economics and Management, HSE University – St. Petersburg;
• Representatives from leading corporate partners including Bank Saint Petersburg, Gazprom Neft, Alexandrovsky Bank, B1, Technologies of Trust,  Kept, LMS Investment Company, TKB IP, LSR Group, Axenix, Sumitec and others.

Participants discussed a wide range of potential formats for cooperation, including:

• Integration of real business cases into academic courses;
• Development of corporate and co-branded educational tracks;
• Joint research and consulting projects, as well as the establishment of collaborative research centers;
• Expansion of hands-on internships and mentoring programs for students;
• Involvement of employers in the design and improvement of academic curricula.

A separate segment of the roundtable was dedicated to discussing the strategic development of the Department of Finance and the School as a whole. In a dynamic and constructive discussion, business representatives proposed updates to academic programs, enhanced alumni feedback mechanisms, and the strengthening of competencies in digital technologies, investment analysis, and managerial accounting.

Organizers expressed deep appreciation for the feedback and proposals shared during the event. The university remains open to new formats of cooperation, agile development of joint initiatives, and building a strong, trust-based dialogue with industry partners.

The roundtable marked an important step toward creating a sustainable model of university-business engagement — one that combines academic rigor, practical relevance, and a shared commitment to the advancement of human capital in the financial sector.

We extend our sincere thanks to all roundtable participants for their active involvement, thoughtful contributions, and strong interest in building lasting partnerships.

It is through open dialogue, constructive critique, and a spirit of collaboration that this roundtable became a productive platform for generating innovative ideas and partnership opportunities.

We highly value your engagement and look forward to continuing our cooperation on a long-term basis.

Roundtable “The Future of Finance Today”: An Open Dialogue Between Academia and Business

On May 22, 2025, the St. Petersburg School of Economics and Management at HSE University hosted the first event in a new roundtable series titled “The Future of Finance Today.” The event aimed to strengthen collaboration between the academic community and business leaders in the financial sector.

The central focus of the discussion was to explore strategic and project-based partnership formats between the university and companies. Particular attention was paid to the training of a new generation of finance professionals — individuals equipped not only with strong theoretical knowledge but also with practical competencies aligned with the demands of today’s business environment.

The event opened with welcoming remarks from Tatiana Lezina, PhD in Physics and Mathematics, Associate Professor and Dean of the School of Economics and Management. She emphasized the importance of practice-oriented education that combines academic excellence, international standards, and real-world business challenges.

The roundtable brought together:

• Faculty members from the Department of Finance;
• Members of the Academic Council of the Master’s Programme in Finance;
• Administrators from the School of Economics and Management, HSE University – St. Petersburg;
• Representatives from leading corporate partners including Bank Saint Petersburg, Gazprom Neft, Alexandrovsky Bank, B1, Technologies of Trust,  Kept, LMS Investment Company, TKB IP, LSR Group, Axenix, Sumitec and others.

Participants discussed a wide range of potential formats for cooperation, including:

• Integration of real business cases into academic courses;
• Development of corporate and co-branded educational tracks;
• Joint research and consulting projects, as well as the establishment of collaborative research centers;
• Expansion of hands-on internships and mentoring programs for students;
• Involvement of employers in the design and improvement of academic curricula.

A separate segment of the roundtable was dedicated to discussing the strategic development of the Department of Finance and the School as a whole. In a dynamic and constructive discussion, business representatives proposed updates to academic programs, enhanced alumni feedback mechanisms, and the strengthening of competencies in digital technologies, investment analysis, and managerial accounting.

Organizers expressed deep appreciation for the feedback and proposals shared during the event. The university remains open to new formats of cooperation, agile development of joint initiatives, and building a strong, trust-based dialogue with industry partners.

The roundtable marked an important step toward creating a sustainable model of university-business engagement — one that combines academic rigor, practical relevance, and a shared commitment to the advancement of human capital in the financial sector.

We extend our sincere thanks to all roundtable participants for their active involvement, thoughtful contributions, and strong interest in building lasting partnerships.

It is through open dialogue, constructive critique, and a spirit of collaboration that this roundtable became a productive platform for generating innovative ideas and partnership opportunities.

We highly value your engagement and look forward to continuing our cooperation on a long-term basis.