‘To Help Make the World More Sustainable, Fair, and Humane’
The BRICS International School: New Generation has concluded at HSE University, bringing together more than 100 participants from 38 BRICS and Global South countries. The attendees included early-career researchers, diplomats, entrepreneurs, journalists, and civil society representatives.
The BRICS International School: New Generation is one of the leading international educational initiatives for young leaders focused on global development and cooperation within the BRICS framework. Held annually with the support of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, its intellectual and organisational hub is the BRICS Expert Council–Russia, based at HSE University. This partnership ensures strong academic expertise and systematic support for training the next generation of BRICS specialists.
This year, the BRICS International School took place from October 28 to November 1 as part of the Priority 2030 programme, in partnership with the Alexander Gorchakov Public Diplomacy Fund and MGIMO University.
Following tradition, participants met on the first day with Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister and BRICS Sherpa, Sergey Ryabkov. He noted that the BRICS International School holds a special place among youth cooperation formats. In his view, the participation of young professionals, researchers, and journalists in such initiatives contributes to the development of the humanitarian dimension of cooperation and helps nurture ‘a new generation of thinkers and practitioners’ capable of working effectively in a multipolar world.
The official opening ceremony of the BRICS International School took place on October 29 at the HSE Cultural Centre. Victoria Panova, HSE Vice Rector, Head of the BRICS Expert Council–Russia, and Russia’s Sherpa to the Women’s Twenty (W20), delivered the welcome address.
‘The BRICS International School was created as a platform for training a new generation of leaders—those ready to build communication between countries and seek balanced solutions in times of global change. Your generation faces a challenging yet inspiring task: to help make the world more sustainable, fair, and humane. The correct solutions are not always obvious, which is why we need people who think creatively, who can listen, unite, and inspire others. Openness, creativity, mutual respect, and readiness for honest dialogue—these are the values we foster within the BRICS International School: New Generation,’ said Victoria Panova.
The honorary guest of the opening ceremony was Vyacheslav Nikonov, First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs. ‘BRICS is about the future. The principles of this association reflect what relations between countries and people should be like: without confrontation, without domination, and with respect for each other. The world extends much further than the West, and the very idea of BRICS is, essentially, a turning of the globe—a way of seeing the world through the eyes of the majority,’ he emphasised.
Another distinguished guest—Sérgio Rodrigues dos Santos, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federative Republic of Brazil—delivered a lecture titled ‘The Role of Latin America in the Modern System of International Relations: The Legacy of Brazil’s BRICS Chairship.’
From 29 to 31 October, participants of the BRICS International School took part in a diverse programme of lectures, seminars, workshops, TED Talk, expert interviews, brainstorming sessions, and a guided tour of HSE University’s Pokrovsky Bulvar campus.
HSE University faculty members were actively involved in the School’s work, including Fyodor Lukyanov, Research Professor at the Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs; Dmitri Trenin, Director of the Institute for Global Military Economics and Strategy; Dmitry Suslov, Deputy Director of the Centre for Comprehensive European and International Studies; Oleg Dmitriev, Deputy Director of the Institute of Media; and Anna Podpryatova, Director for Marketing Communications.
The final event of the BRICS International School was a tour of Moscow.
Participants shared their impressions with the HSE News Service.
Ali Mohamed, Egypt
— It was an honour to take part in the BRICS International School for the second time. Once again, I was deeply impressed; the organisation was flawless, and the team was incredibly kind and responsive. I am sure this experience will be a springboard for my career. Thanks to the programme, I not only made friends from different countries but also had the chance to discuss current international issues with them—something that will undoubtedly be useful in the future.
Mohammad Ramin Hakimy, Afghanistan
— Taking part in the BRICS International School was an invaluable experience for me. As a future diplomat studying international law, I am grateful for the opportunity to learn from leading experts and communicate with colleagues from more than 30 countries. Although Afghanistan is not yet a member of BRICS, we hope this will change. I am convinced that such programmes are extremely important for strengthening cooperation between our countries.
Indra Enkh-Amgalan, Mongolia
— Meeting future colleagues from different countries at the BRICS International School broadened my professional horizons. I especially cherish the memories of discovering Russian cuisine. Shared lunches became an informal space for sincere discussions with bright and original participants. I am genuinely grateful to the organisers for the carefully selected speakers—their unique methods, personal stories, and depth of expertise created a truly special educational environment.
Sung Panhapich, Cambodia
— No one from my country had ever taken part in the BRICS International School before, so it was a great honour for me to represent Cambodia here. The School left me with many wonderful impressions—the renowned speakers and professors from leading Russian universities were excellent. I learnt a lot from them and had the chance to observe their teaching methods. Moreover, I met many amazing students from different countries; we became friends and exchanged contacts. The School will undoubtedly have a lasting impact on my future.
See also:
Scientists Show That Peer Influence Can Be as Effective as Expert Advice
Eating habits can be shaped not only by the authority of medical experts but also through ordinary conversations among friends. Researchers at HSE University have shown that advice from peers to reduce sugar consumption is just as effective as advice from experts. The study's findings have been published in Frontiers in Nutrition.
‘BRICS Leaders Expect a Genuine Transformation of Grain Trade Mechanisms’
On February 4–5, 2026, the HSE BRICS Competition Law and Policy Centre (BRICS Competition Centre), together with the Egyptian Competition Authority (ECA), held a meeting of the BRICS Working Group for the Research of Competition Issues in Food Markets in Cairo. The antimonopoly authorities agreed to launch a joint analysis of the grain sector to be conducted with the support of the BRICS Competition Centre and based on the centre’s research report. On the sidelines of the event, a cooperation agreement was also signed between the St Petersburg International Mercantile Exchange (SPIMEX) and the Egyptian Mercantile Exchange.
HSE University to Host Second ‘Genetics and the Heart’ Congress
HSE University, the National Research League of Cardiac Genetics, and the Central State Medical Academy of the Administrative Directorate of the President will hold the Second ‘Genetics and the Heart’ Congress with international participation. The event will take place on February 7–8, 2026, at the HSE University Cultural Centre.
HSE University Develops Tool for Assessing Text Complexity in Low-Resource Languages
Researchers at the HSE Centre for Language and Brain have developed a tool for assessing text complexity in low-resource languages. The first version supports several of Russia’s minority languages, including Adyghe, Bashkir, Buryat, Tatar, Ossetian, and Udmurt. This is the first tool of its kind designed specifically for these languages, taking into account their unique morphological and lexical features.
Language Mapping in the Operating Room: HSE Neurolinguists Assist Surgeons in Complex Brain Surgery
Researchers from the HSE Center for Language and Brain took part in brain surgery on a patient who had been seriously wounded in the SMO. A shell fragment approximately five centimetres long entered through the eye socket, penetrated the cranial cavity, and became lodged in the brain, piercing the temporal lobe responsible for language. Surgeons at the Burdenko Main Military Clinical Hospital removed the foreign object while the patient remained conscious. During the operation, neurolinguists conducted language tests to ensure that language function was preserved.
HSE Scientists Use MEG for Precise Language Mapping in the Brain
Scientists at the HSE Centre for Language and Brain have demonstrated a more accurate way to identify the boundaries of language regions in the brain. They used magnetoencephalography (MEG) together with a sentence-completion task, which activates language areas and reveals their functioning in real time. This approach can help clinicians plan surgeries more effectively and improve diagnostic accuracy in cases where fMRI is not the optimal method. The study has been published in the European Journal of Neuroscience.
‘Growth Often Happens Quietly, When No One is Watching’
The end of the year is a natural time for reflection on the past and planning for the future. With the winter holidays almost here, the HSE News Service has been asking international students to share their experiences and take stock of the year gone by. In this instalment, master’s students Raihanulla Moghmand and Isaac Sarfo talk about traditional New Year celebrations in their home countries, explain what they’ve learned from life in Russia so far, and share some warm wishes for their fellow students.
Transition to Sustainable Development Requires Deep Structural Transformation of Business
A group of researchers has proposed assessing the ESG transformation of businesses through the partner turnover ratio in raw material and distribution supply chains. The researchers note that the path towards sustainability requires a deep and often costly restructuring of partner networks. This and other papers were presented at the Third International Annual Conference ‘ESG Corporate Dynamics: the Challenges for Emerging Capital Markets.’
HSE Researchers Offer Guidance to Prevent Undergraduate Burnout
Researchers at the HSE Institute of Education have identified how much time students should ideally devote to their studies, extracurricular activities, and personal life to maintain strong academic performance without compromising their mental health. An analysis of responses from 2,753 students, combined with their actual academic results, revealed several risk factors—such as excessive homework—as well as positive factors, including sufficient sleep, regular exercise, and moderate participation in projects. Based on these findings, the researchers developed practical recommendations for both students and universities. The paper has been published in the European Journal of Education.
HSE Scientists Contribute to Development of Postquantum Ring Signature for Sber
A new cryptographic data protection mechanism has been jointly proposed by experts from the HSE Tikhonov Moscow Institute of Electronics and Mathematics, Sber, and QApp. The researchers have developed a postquantum ring signature scheme that ensures anonymity (within a defined group of participants), as well as the integrity and authentication of the source of digital transactions, even in the presence of an adversary equipped with a quantum computer.