‘We Should Find Ways to Maintain Channels of Communication’
In February, HSE University welcomed Kypros Giorgallis, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Cyprus to the Russian Federation. The Ambassador met with HSE University Vice Rector Victoria Panova to discuss ways of establishing academic links between HSE University and universities in Cyprus.
The Ambassador of Cyprus is interested in expanding cooperation with Russian academic institutions. As HSE University is a leading university in Russia, he chose to visit it in order to explore opportunities for academic cooperation.
Victoria Panova told the ambassador about HSE University’s achievements and international recognition: ‘While we are quite a young university—in 2022, HSE University turned 30—we have managed to become one of the most recognised universities in Russia. As a comprehensive university with over 50,000 students, we employ over 300 international professors, not including visiting lecturers, which means that our students have an opportunity to learn from the best not only in Russia, but from across the whole world. We are interested in attracting the best talents. According to Forbes, 95% of our graduates find employment in their respective field within six months upon graduation.’
The ambassador was impressed with the HSE University campus infrastructure. He is eager to learn more about Russian universities, as the Embassy seeks to promote cooperation projects and academic exchange between Russian and Cypriot academic institutions. Ambassador Giorgallis was also interested in admissions for international students and programmes taught in English.
HSE University offers over 40 degree programmes taught entirely in English, which is the biggest number among Russian universities. With 47 positions in QS, THE, and ARWU subject and sectoral rankings, HSE University takes first place in the Forbes Ranking of Russian universities. HSE University has over 400 international partners from over 60 countries, and is home to 5,500 international students from over 130 countries.
According to Kypros Giorgallis, Cyprus has a long history of academic cooperation with Russia: thousands of students from Cyprus studied in the Soviet Union. Lots of people in Cyprus speak Russian, and the Russian community in Cyprus numbers more than 40,000 people. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, there was a decrease in interest in studying in Russia, but the situation can be changed by communicating more information about universities in Russia and HSE University in particular.
Victoria Panova
‘Despite the difficult current situation, we continue cooperating with our partners in Europe who are interested in this—and there are a lot of them, despite the pressure their governments are putting on them. We actively develop our links with partners in Asia, Africa and Latin America, uncovering previously underexplored potential.
Diplomats can facilitate academic and humanitarian cooperation, and we still believe that we share strong cultural ties and traditions with European countries. That’s why the Ambassador’s visit is so important and will promote the preservation, restoration and reinforcement of such contacts.’
As a result of the meeting, the participants agreed not only to maintain contacts, but to expand their cooperation. The Ambassador promised to inform Cypriot universities about opportunities to collaborate with HSE and to promote the organisation of meetings and negotiations, since he believes such cooperation is important and promising: ‘We should find ways to maintain channels of communication during this difficult period. That’s why I’m here today.’
THE WUR 2023 global ranking includes four Cypriot universities: the University of Cyprus (UCY), the University of Nicosia (UNIC), Cyprus University of Technology (CUT), and European University Cyprus (EUC).