Economics Without Borders: ICEF HSE First International Summer School Brings Partner Universities to Moscow
From July 6 to 16, 2025, ICEF HSE hosted its inaugural International Summer School in Economics and Finance for students from partner universities. Thirty undergraduate students from China, Vietnam, Turkey, and the UAE joined their peers at ICEF for a programme that combined rigorous academic sessions with cultural immersion. The academic component was delivered by ICEF and HSE faculty, along with industry experts in economics and financial markets.
The participating students represented a diverse geographic range and came from ICEF’s partner universities: China — Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, Guangdong University of Finance and Economics, and Fudan University; Vietnam — Vietnam National University, University of Economics and Business; Turkey — Istanbul Bilgi University; UAE — United Arab Emirates University; and Russia — ICEF HSE.
The Summer School offered a programme that combined academic rigor, practical learning, and cultural immersion. In addition to exploring contemporary topics in economics and finance, students had the opportunity to gain valuable knowledge, build international friendships, and experience Moscow as a vibrant and culturally rich metropolis.
Academic modules
The lectures and seminars addressed key topics in the modern economy, including International Trade and Finance, ESG and Sustainable Development, Artificial Intelligence and Its Applications in Economics, Financial Markets and Macroeconomic Policy, Global Business and Management, and more.
Seminar activities engaged students in a wide range of discussions and practical tasks: exploring the relationship between countries’ resource endowment and welfare, evaluating Russia’s macroeconomic performance over the past five years, comparing economic growth and labor productivity growth, debating the impact of artificial intelligence on the economy and society, and weighing the pros and cons of globalization versus protectionism in the context of international trade.
Participants also practiced building financial models, calculated ESG factors as components of company valuation, and presented case studies on Russian companies entering global markets. The programme concluded with a graded test to assess the students’ learning outcomes.
Company visits
Company visits to key players in the Russian finance and business sectors — Sber, Ozon, Avito, and Kept — were an integral part of the programme.
Students had the opportunity to learn about the corporate culture of these organizations, the real-world challenges they tackle, and the career paths they offer. Conversations with company representatives provided valuable insights into the Russian business environment and highlighted the professional opportunities available to ICEF graduates.
Alumni meet: Career tracks
Artem Arkhipov, a graduate of ICEF’s class of 2002 and currently First Vice-President and Head of the Macroeconomic Research and Strategic Analysis Department at UniCredit Bank, led a mentoring workshop as part of the programme.
He spoke about career opportunities in economics and finance, highlighting the skills and competencies that make candidates competitive in today’s banking industry. Drawing on his own professional journey — from his first role as an analyst straight after graduation to a senior position in banking — Artem emphasized the importance of gaining experience early. When asked for career advice, he shared his strong belief that students should begin building their careers while still at university.
Tours of Moscow
Tours of Moscow’s major landmarks served as a perfect complement to the academic sessions and company visits. The itinerary included Red Square and the Kremlin, the Tretyakov Gallery, VDNH, and the Kolomenskoye Museum-Reserve.
The Summer School participant testimonials:
Tang Keyi, Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, China
“I discovered the different fields in finance and economics. Apart from that we also discovered the geography, history and culture of Russia. The most memorable company visit was the visit to Ozon: we not only saw the company environment but also had a deep understanding of how the company really operated. This all really broadened my horizons.
Everyone was so nice, and overall the atmosphere here is very good, because everyone was glad to help you. I really liked the Red Square excursion. It was a sunny day, and the Moscow City looked really nice under the sunshine.”
Tran Sinh Hung, Vietnam National University, Hanoi
“The experience that impressed me most and I can gain from is the way I interact with students from many universities in the world. When I interact with them I can learn more about their culture and history.
The lecture about international trade and finance impressed me the most. I gained more knowledge about how countries trade with each other and how to calculate the finance within the country and also outside of the border. Sber was my most favorite company visit. They are very modern, with good environment, young people who work really devotingly for their company and country. I’m especially impressed with their payment technologies – the facial technology payment.
For me, the most impressive thing about Moscow is its infrastructure and public transportation, because I can go anywhere by metro or tram. It really impressed me, and I hope that in my country one day we will have the same system as you, guys.”
Helli Muhammed Yusuf, Istanbul Bilgi University, Turkey
“Corporate Finance lecture and seminar were really good, useful, and practical to understand how businesses really decide and how they calculate their ESG values or other stuff. It was the best.
The Kremlin was really impressive. I think it was the best part of the excursion, with incredible cathedrals and buildings in there. I really loved the architecture of the city. There’s great city planning in there.”
Wang Jingyang, Fudan University, China
“I now have the knowledge and basic understanding of what’s going on in Russia and how its history and geography and culture affects its nowadays behaviors. Second, I gained tools – like intercultural interactions and also cooperation between people from different backgrounds and cultures.
I’m very impressed with the visit to Sberbank, because that’s kind of what is expected of a bank. It’s very innovative, it’s very modern, and it invests heavily in human capital, and also ESG and future generations, which is very impressive for me.
I’m very surprised that Moscow is a very quiet and peaceful city, which was a little contrary to what I expected. People here are very nice. There are wonderful parks and buildings, with a touch of history and cultural diversity.”
The ICEF International Summer School unfolded not only as an academic venue but also as a cultural event, promoting academic exchange, international partnerships and the community of young economists. It inspired a great interest in ICEF’s academic programmes—those that lead to two degrees and those offering exchange opportunities.
The sessions of the ICEF 2025 International Summer School completed, their participants went home full of memorable experience, new knowledge and with useful contacts and desire to return to Moscow.
