On April 19–24 April 2026, Tomsk Polytechnic University (TPU) hosted the VI International Scientific and Practical Conference ‘Scientific Initiative of International Students and Postgraduates.’ Seven students from the HSE International Preparatory Year took part in the event: four attended in person, and three joined online. The delegation was accompanied by two lecturers—Zoya Maslennikova and Maria Grabovskaya.

Researchers at the Cognitive Health and Intelligence Centre at the HSE Institute for Cognitive Neuroscience have discovered how bilingual individuals process emotional words in their native (first) and non-native (second) languages. It was found that the link between word meaning and bodily sensations is weaker in a second language than in a first language. However, the more a person is immersed in a language environment, the smaller this difference becomes. The article has been published in Language, Cognition and Neuroscience.

Beneath the surface of green energy—which most people associate with solar panels, electric vehicles, and reduced CO2 emissions—lies a complex web of geopolitical interests, international inequality, and resource constraints. Researchers from the Laboratory for Science and Technology Studies (LST) at the HSE ISSEK Foresight Centre have published a series of articles in leading international journals on hidden and overt conflicts surrounding critically important metals and minerals, as well as related processes in the energy sector.

The HSE Faculty of Urban and Regional Development has announced an update to its Bachelor’s programme in Urban Planning: as of 2026, it has been retitled Development and Urban Planning. Mariam Paskacheva, the programme’s Academic Supervisor, explained how the course is structured, why its development component is being strengthened, and what kind of applicants the programme is designed for.

From May 18 to 22, 2026, HSE University–St Petersburg will become a hub of global academic dialogue. International Partners’ Week will bring together more than 100 delegates from 47 universities across 20 countries. The university convenes representatives of higher education institutions from around the world to discuss global challenges, explore potential solutions, strengthen the scientific community, and promote Russian education and cultural values.

Students of the International Relations programme at the HSE Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs—Daniil Moskalev (third year) and Elizaveta Evseeva (fourth year)—completed a six-month internship with the African Energy Chamber in South Africa as part of the Africa track. They shared their experiences with the HSE News Service, speaking about their adventures abroad, the challenges they encountered, and the opportunities that opened up before them.

The HSE Centre for Financial Research and Data Analytics combines fundamental and applied work, including in areas unique to Russia such as the connection between sentiment in the media and social networks and financial markets. The HSE News Service spoke with the centre’s director, Professor Tamara Teplova, about its work.

Yandex has announced the results of its Yandex AI Startup Lab accelerator, whose final round featured 12 IT projects. Over the course of three months, their creators—students and young entrepreneurs—worked alongside the company’s experts to develop their products. Four startups in digital marketing, medicine, and robotics were named the best, with their teams receiving cash prizes and cloud resource grants. Among them was Gradius, a startup founded by students from HSE University.

In Moscow, HSE University’s leadership met with a delegation from Peking University headed by its President, Gong Qihuang. During the meeting, the parties agreed to strengthen partnership between the two universities within the framework of the Cross Years of Russian–Chinese Cooperation in Education (2026–2027).