Panel Sessions

The session idea is to present and reflect on social research practices and expertise in studying the target model (mission, strategic development), business processes (research, education, expert consulting), and common challenges facing universities in a changing world. A dialogue on general issues in university studies is proposed, involving international experts and experts from the faculty  of Social Sciences and HSE University in St. Petersburg. Topics addressed include student motivation, burnout, and dropout rates, the ethical aspects of using AI in education, intergenerational differences in research work and teams, and social impacts and the social mission of universities. Research experiences and expert solutions will be explored at various universities. The session will allow for the exchange of knowledge and institutional research practices, expansion of expertise, and the replication of research.

This session aims to share research, expertise, and consulting practices between faculty of School of Social Sciences and HSE University staff and international speakers in the field of sustainable development.

Legal norms establish mandatory rules of behaviour, their formulation lies within the powers of legislators and other rule-makers. These powers are conferred pursuant to the constitutive rules of each country (each legal order); their utilization (which norms exactly will be enacted) cannot be precisely regulated in advance. There always remains certain discretion for policy- and rulemakers who, within their competence, may choose any formulation that does not contravene the imperative legal rules and principles of their country. However, the actual level of the problems of sustainable development (ecological crises, global warming, poverty and economic disparities, trade disruptions and sanctions, geopolitical tensions) make it clear that one needs reasonable frameworks to face these problems and to check discretionary powers of policymakers and legislators in order to minimize risks of wrong political and legislative decisions, that potentially can have serious impact for the entire mankind.

The panel discussion is devoted to so-called matching systems - the centralized testing and appointment systems in various contexts. The first such system was developed in China centuries ago -- for selecting the best public servants and distributing them to the most fitting posts. In the last decades these systems were introduced in public education all over the world. In Russia, for instance, it started after the introduction of the Unified State Exam and the system keeps developing until now. What are the objectives of these systems? How can they be achieved? Where should we expect new installments of centralized matching? The panel members will share the results of their related research and their expertise on the topic.

Contemporary changing World shapes a unique, new attitude toward antiquities. Firstly, the authenticity of antiquities and monuments is no longer an absolute value (and we are thus abandoning the Winckelmann paradigm). Then, sustainable development practices conflict with the ideology of monument protection and the Venice Charter. Moreover, the substitution of the virtual for the authentic leads to irreparable losses and the loss of essence.

This session explores the outcomes that students gain from international mobility experiences. Returning students often bring academic and research inspiration, having discovered new methods and approaches at the host university, which they share with professors and peers at both institutions. This exchange sparks fresh academic interests, destinations, and discoveries. We aim to discuss examples of how mobility shapes academic paths for both students and universities.

This panel will explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping the creative industries not only as a new set of tools, but also as a social and ethical challenge. Bringing together international academic and industry perspectives, it will focus on questions of authorship, ownership, access to resources, and the broader social impact of AI on creative work and cultural production. At the same time, the session will examine the opportunities AI creates for experimentation, collaboration, and new professional practices, as well as the conditions for using these possibilities responsibly.

Universities are increasingly expected to contribute to societal development beyond traditional teaching and research roles. The concept of the fifth Generation University (5GU) proposes a human-centered model of higher education that integrates academic excellence with social responsibility and stakeholder collaboration. This session explores how service learning functions as a key mechanism for operationalizing this model by connecting academic curricula with real societal challenges. Drawing on international experiences, including initiatives developed at HSE University’s Satellite Laboratory on Social Entrepreneurship, the session discusses how universities can strengthen their social impact through human-centered governance and international partnerships.

HSE University Faculty of Humanities is one of the leading centers for Oriental studies at HSE University and Russia. This opens up extensive opportunities for HSE University to implement and collaborate on projects with partners from the Middle East, the Gulf region, the Maghreb, and Russia. The section is dedicated to various directions within the humanities, ranging from archaeology and ethnology to linguistics and folklore studies.

Global academic communication today requires more than disciplinary expertise: it involves strategic navigation of publishing systems, multilingual environments, and evolving academic practices. The session examines key strategies and challenges shaping contemporary scholarly communication across fields.
Key topics include communicating and positioning research across cultures, building international visibility, and navigating academic systems and publication practices. It will also include discussion of how academics and professionals choose and use different languages in academic and professional communication, including English as a lingua franca and multilingual practices, as well as intercultural miscommunication in research teams. Further topics include authorship and ethics, new academic literacies, the role of AI in academic writing, and the balance between human and machine-generated voice.

In our section we discuss the reality of executive education in Russia, its opportunities and threats. We share our own experience of resistance to “negative” influence of external economic environment, present positive benchmarks and the strategy of HSE Executive education, upgraded due to the current situation.Nowadays we all live in the period of uncertainty and global transformation. Business processes are optimized constantly. Information flows are aggressive as they were never before. Deficit enters new and new industries.Is it a proper time for learning? Does every employee need to be reeducated in business field? What are the subjects of business educational programs in demand? How international collaboration can decrease the recession in education demand? What does Russian business think about business education nowadays and whom they delegate for studying?

This session presents a framework for deep, multilateral academic collaboration that moves beyond traditional bilateral exchange models. Using HSE University-St. Petersburg’s forthcoming Latin American Track as a concrete case study, participants will explore the 'track' model—a structured, interdisciplinary program embedded within existing degrees that integrates curriculum, research, and practical experience across multiple universities. The session introduces the three pillars of the model: academic co-supervision, joint research projects, and applied internships with industry partners. It then demonstrates how this framework can be scaled to create a multilateral network of reciprocal offerings, enabling student mobility and academic cooperation across a consortium of partner institutions. Through this case study, attendees will gain insights into building sustainable, co-created international partnerships that deliver meaningful academic and professional outcomes for students across a diverse range of universities and regions.

As the post-unipolar international order consolidates, states across the Global South are developing distinct frameworks for managing their international image that diverge significantly from the Western-centric models dominant since the late twentieth century. This panel examines the emerging landscape of nation branding and public diplomacy as practiced by non-Western actors, exploring how historical legacies, civilizational narratives, and South-South solidarities shape strategies of international self-presentation.
Drawing on a range of non-Western contexts, the panelists investigate the tools and platforms through which states project soft power in a multipolar environment: state-affiliated media ecosystems, cultural diplomacy initiatives, multilateral institutional engagement, and digital communication strategies. Particular attention is paid to the tension between sovereign identity construction and the structural constraints of a global information environment still shaped by Western media gatekeepers.

The session is being transformed from a narrowly focused scientific approach to a strategic one, demonstrating a successful business model for integrating academia and industry.

During the panel discussion 'Alumni Capital: Investment in the University Development' speakers will discuss the role of alumni as long-term partners in shaping strategies, strengthening the university's reputation, and creating sustainable collaboration models that benefit both the institution and its alumni. At the meeting, colleagues from international universities will discuss alumni engagement formats, managing alumni capital, and engaging alumni in various roles at the university.