About the School
The School of International Regional Studies is a structural subdivision of the HSE University Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs whose staff conduct scientific and educational activities in the field of international regional studies.
Pursuing the clear-cut, responsive, and timely formulation of goals and objectives, international regional studies will be an important tool in the implementation of Russia's plans to bring its goods and services to global markets.
International regional studies is a field designed to promote national interests abroad, strengthen Russia's position on international markets, provide political support in potential partner countries, and attract foreign investments and innovative technologies for the development of Russian industry.
International regional studies, particularly in higher education, should train professionals with special expertise in political, economic, and cultural marketing. Such specialists are necessary for Russia to participate in the fierce competition for countries’ markets, where professional regional studies experts from the USA and the European Union traditionally carry out the policy of their states.
In scientific and applied research, international regional studies should focus on studying the potential of world markets, countries, and regions of the world to develop analytical recommendations for the political leadership, government, and large-scale commercial enterprises about promising industry niches for Russian economic and political actors.
International regional studies studies the economic, political and cultural potential, prospects, and corresponding risks of specific foreign countries and regions to promote the state's national, political, and economic interests in them.
Along with this, the basics of international regional studies include knowledge of the language, culture, interethnic and interreligious dialogue, geography, and socio-economic and political structure of a particular country/region.
The main research task for Russian universities in the field of international regional studies should be the development of methodologies to promote the brand of Russia. In addition, educational activity should be focused the formation of methods to train specialists that correspond to modern market conditions.
The school's mission is to create a research institution that will train a new generation of highly distinguished regional specialists.
Research and teaching activities are carried out in close cooperation with other divisions of the university by influential regional studies specialists who play key roles in both international and state-sponsored projects in the following fields:
1. South Asian Studies
2. European Studies
3. Ibero-American Studies
4. Сhina and East Asia Studies
5. Middle Eastern and North African Studies
6. South East Asia Studies
Seeking to revive international regional studies as an academic discipline, the school works to increase the number of high-quality and authoritative publications in the field and engages young academics, PhDs, and master’s students in its research activities.
Faculty with real-world experience and many years of working abroad are involved in all areas of the school’s work. The combination of outstanding staff, strong research potential, and proven experience enables the school to carry out top-level academic, research, and educational projects, as well as government-funded research.
The school’s instructors create unique courses that explore the economic and political trends of selected countries and regions. A significant part of the undergraduate coursework is conducted in English.
The school is active in project activities, including ongoing international and regional projects implemented jointly with foreign and local partners: Akita University (Japan), Tehran University (Iran), University of Oslo (Norway), the Arctic Economic Council, the University of Akureyri (Iceland), the University of Finance and Administration (Czech Republic), Lithuania Business University of Applied Sciences (Lithuania), Orion Partners AS Company, and Technical and Mercantile Consulting Company (Norway).
School members are involved as experts in the development of educational standards for foreign regional studies, requirements for specialised academic disciplines in various undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate educational programmes, and actively participate in the work of international consortia on regional studies.
The tasks of the school include the activation and coordination of the work of specialists in regional studies of the Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs, HSE University, and colleagues from other universities, scientific institutions, and practitioners involved in the educational process and research into a wide range of problems in international regional studies and country studies.