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Regular version of the site

‘Our Original Intention Was To Create a Small College, but Now We Have a Large University’

RIA NOVOSTI. 27 ноября 2012

This year, the Higher School of Economics (HSE) will celebrate its twentieth anniversary. During this time, HSE has managed to become one of the leading Russian universities, and is finding its place among the world's universities. “Vishka”s academic supervisor Evgeny Yasin told us in his interview with RIA about the most daring ideas that have already been realized, as well as plans for the future.

— Evgeny Grigorievich, please, identify the main achievements of the Higher School of Economics over these past twenty years.

In my opinion, we have solved that one particular problem which we put to ourselves then. I can’t say we have solved it 100%, butwe created a State University that is providing a modern education in the humanities and economics.

According to my observations, the level of our graduate training is quite high, and they are in demand by employers.

I think in some areas we have even better results than were expected. Our original intention was to create a small college, but now we have a large university with tens of thousands of scientists, professors, teachers, students, and three branches in different cities. Now we are an evolving island of the new democratic Russia, and we expect many of the other islands that have also come into being  will still appear to form a new  continent, that people will not leave for  foreign countries because of the lack of a high level of education in their own country. These days if they do leave, it is only for a while, to see what items are taught better in other countries or to work with the interesting scholars; and foreigners from the Americas and Europe are coming to us – not only to teach but also to learn. That was our dream. We wanted it to be realized, and we worked hard, increasing the demands on ourselves, creating the new forms. So far we are doing quite well.

In your opinion, what factors helped the Higher School of Economics to be successful? After all, in only 20 years your institution has become a leading university; some institutions with a richer history cannot boast of such an achievement.

It worked out this way because our initiative was supported first by the Government and the Ministry of Economy, and later by the Ministry of Economic Development. When there was an acute need for additional resources, premises and so on, we were given help. So it was in the first and most difficult years. So we had these close ties on the one hand, and with an academic background on the other, with the practice of Russian economic reform. We continued to work with the government and other authorities, but we tried to be independent and avoid participating directly in government initiatives which were momentary in nature.

Such serious things, like education or health care reform, or the relationship between business and government, deserve to be dealt with firmly. We work hands on in these issues, in the hope that our research is useful. For example, the reform of education is largely based on our suggestions.

In your opinion, what place does the Higher School of Economics have now in Russian tertiary education?

I believe that we still have not done all that we can. We have not yet reached the level of

Harvard, so our students are still eager to go there to learn. And if some institution is at a lower level than ours, they know about it. I consider it improper to praise ourselves, as any success is determined by the dynamics of development and the level of graduates.

What are HSE’s plans for the coming years?

To continue to be demanding of themselves, of our students – so that they will retain good memories of the HSE, and appreciate our demanding curricula.  We attempt to accustom young people to the scientific approach while they are still students.

We have many problems, as often we lack the necessary resources and knowledge, but we are working hard to move forward. We still have the same cherished dream – to create the appropriate conditions for our university. In foreign universities, each professor has his or her own office, s/he can be present to work and meet students. This is very important, and we need a way to solve this space problem somehow, as it is necessary to establish a closer relationship between students and teachers. In other countries they have a wealth of experience. We want to adopt it, to adapt it to our terms, as we ourselves have also accumulated real experience.