Russia and Malaysia Continue Their Successful Collaboration within the Mirror Laboratory for Social Entrepreneurship
On the island of Langkawi, the Fourth Meeting of the Russia–Malaysia Intergovernmental Commission was held, within the framework of which HSE University Saint Petersburg and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) extended their cooperation within the Mirror Laboratory for Social Entrepreneurship through 2028. The Laboratory operates as an international initiative of the Project-Based Learning Laboratory for Reputation Management in Education at HSE University Saint Petersburg, under the leadership of Magdalena Gaete.
A major international event—the Fourth Meeting of the Russia–Malaysia Intergovernmental Commission on Economic, Scientific, Technical, and Cultural Cooperation—was held on the island of Langkawi. As part of the meeting, a Scientific Roundtable brought together more than 50 senior representatives from leading universities, research centers, and government agencies of both countries. The event served as a key platform for discussing strategic priorities in academic and research cooperation.
One of the central outcomes of the meeting was the signing of an agreement to extend cooperation between HSE University Saint Petersburg and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) within the framework of the Mirror Laboratory for Social Entrepreneurship (Satellite Lab on Social Entrepreneurship) through 2028. The Laboratory operates as an international initiative of the Project-Based Learning Laboratory for Reputation Management in Education at HSE University Saint Petersburg, led by Magdalena Gaete.
Established in 2023 in partnership with the ACT Lab of the Azman Hashim International Business School (UTM), the Mirror Laboratory has proven to be a unique research mechanism facilitating the exchange of academic methodologies, the development of interdisciplinary projects, and the advancement of the social entrepreneurship agenda across BRICS countries and Southeast Asia.
Special attention during the roundtable was given to the development of the Consortium on Social Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Development, established in 2025 and bringing together six universities from six countries. Universiti Teknologi Malaysia—one of the Consortium’s key members—consistently ranks among the top five universities in Malaysia, underscoring the strategic importance of cooperation with UTM.
Roundtable participants emphasized that expanding joint research initiatives, academic mobility, research schools, and international educational programs will underpin a long-term partnership. The parties expressed a shared commitment to deepening the Laboratory’s activities, strengthening research data integration, and developing international projects to support social entrepreneurship and advance the Sustainable Development Goals.
The meeting concluded with keynote addresses by Valery Nikolayevich Falkov, Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, and Zambry Abdul Kadir, Minister of Higher Education of Malaysia. Both ministers highlighted the importance of Russia–Malaysia cooperation, highly praised the contribution of the Mirror Laboratory for Social Entrepreneurship to scientific diplomacy, and noted that the partnership between HSE University and UTM represents an effective model of international collaboration—one that paves the way for new large-scale initiatives and achievements at the global level.
