About

Creating the Laboratory for Reputation Management in Education at St Petersburg School of Social Sciences and Area Studies, HSE University-St Petersburg (hereinafter—Laboratory) is aimed at implementing one of the key directions provided for in the roadmap of HSE Strategic Development Programme. This direction is 'Research and Inventions: Interdisciplinary, Partnership, Integration'.

This initiative event is aimed to unite research and academic activities in the area of reputation management in the educational sphere. RepLab is a platform where we will conduct research, develop new methodologies and approaches, and run practical projects in the sphere of reputation management of educational institutions.

Key elements of this initiative include:

Comparative analysis of universities’ reputation and reputation management practices:
This research direction focuses on studying how universities build their reputation and which strategies they use to manage them. Comparison of various universities and their approaches allows us to identify common tendencies and best practices.

Description and explanation of the best practices to manage sustainability at world-class universities:
This research direction is aimed at studying successful strategies and methods of sustainability management at universities used in different countries. We analyse effective management and methods, educational innovations and organisational models which are considered to be effective.

Applied research in the area of university campuses development, including non-academic spaces:
This research direction concentrates on studying the physical infrastructure of university campuses, their design and use of the spaces for various purposes. The research includes the analysis of ergonomics, stimulating creativity, social integration of students and development of academic and recreational zones.

Research in the areas of implementation of the 'social university mission' and their contribution to the social and economic development of regions:
This research direction focuses on the role of a university in the social and economic development of regions which is often referred to as 'social mission'. The research can cover issues of interaction between universities and business, the influence on innovative activities, the development of educational programmes, ways to involve students in social initiatives and many others.

The well-being of students and postgraduates becomes an increasingly important area of research and concern in the academic community. These researches are aimed at understanding and improving the physical, psychological and emotional health of students and those who strive to get a higher doctorate degree. Both research areas concentrate on identifying the best practices and actions which universities and academic institutions can take to create a healthier and more supportive environment for students and postgraduates. By ensuring the well-being of these people, universities can contribute to their academic success, personal growth and long-term success in the chosen areas. Here is a detailed description of both aspects:

Students' well-being: The research in the area of students' well-being includes studying various factors influencing the quality of students' life during their studies. It can include research on psychological health, level of stress, work-life balance, social integration, financial pressure and access to support services. By understanding those factors, universities can apply strategies to create a more supportive environment which would provoke the general well-being of students.

Postgraduates' well-being: Postgraduates often face unique challenges due to the demanding nature of their research paper and pressure to produce original scientific inputs in their area. The researches in this area analyse factors influencing the postgraduates' well-being such as the amount of research load, relations with their thesis supervisors, self-esteem syndrome, isolation and prospects of career growth. Finding ways to relieve stress, getting a mentor and an opportunity for professional development can contribute to improving the postgraduates' development.