The master’s programme in Socioeconomic and Political Development of Modern Asia, which launched in 2012, is Russia’s first English-taught master's programme in Asian Studies. From the very beginning, the programme has focused on the study of modern Asia’s politics, economics, and international relations, which has allowed it to develop successful partnerships with major research centres in Asian studies, including the City University of Hong Kong, Shanghai University, Seoul National University of Science and Technology, AKITA University in Japan, Jordan University, as well as with leading research centres in Asian studies at Western universities.