Open Doors Day 2025: Master's Programme 'Science, Technology and Innovation Management and Policy'
On April 23, 2025, the Master's Programme 'Science, Technology and Innovation Management and Policy' at HSE University held its Open Doors Day in an engaging online format, bringing together prospective students, faculty members, and current students from around the world.
The event was moderated by Dzhamilya Sabirova, the Head of the Department of Educational Programmes at the Institute for Statistical Studies and Economics of Knowledge (ISSEK), and featured presentations from key members of the academic team. Dr. Dirk Meissner, the Academic Supervisor of the Master's programme and a Distinguished Professor, opened the session by highlighting the Programme's mission, interdisciplinary approach, and career opportunities.
Our courses are structured along two dimensions: business innovation management and science/technology policy. This dual perspective lets you understand both corporate needs and policymaking impacts – a distinctive combination that prepares you for leadership across sectors.
Lidia Gribanova, Programme Manager, provided essential insights into the structure and administrative aspects of the programme, while Prof. Ekaterina Streltsova, Course Director of the Seminar of the Mentor, introduced diverse research tracks available to students, encouraging prospective applicants to explore their scientific interests within a global context.
Applying to our program requires three core documents: your diploma, CV, and motivation letter. We want to understand your academic journey and how this master’s will help you achieve your goals. Additional materials—like research papers or recommendation letters—are welcome but optional. After submitting your portfolio, an English interview will determine your admission. Pro tip: Apply early (before May 15) for a chance to secure your spot without summer competition!
We truly believe all students must participate in research activities — through term papers and master's theses — because these skills are now extremely demanded, not only in academia but in IT and high-tech sectors. Many alumni tell us how this training helped them: one now organizes corporate monitoring at a large company, another at T-Bank uses research skills to design projects. We invest in these competencies because they equip you for any future path.
One of the highlights of the session was the opportunity to hear from current students and alumni.
Lucas Adrián García, a first-year student from Argentina, shared his personal experience in the programme, connecting it with his background in international youth diplomacy and extracurricular engagement. He emphasized how the programme supports his future goals through its interdisciplinary and international environment.
Current STI Management and Policy master's student, HSE University
What inspires me most is crafting my own academic path - selecting electives courses to align with my goals. This program doesn't impose a rigid structure; rather, it equips students to develop distinctive expertise where innovation meets public impact. Another important point is that my classmates come from completely different professional backgrounds – from tech entrepreneurs to policy analysts – the magic of this program is how it connects us. Together in this multicultural environment, we're not just learning about innovation management; we're gaining multidimensional perspectives that will make us more effective leaders.
Among the alumni (2019), Olga Dremova, now Strategy Manager at Yandex, reflected on how the programme served as a gateway to her professional success.
Ekaterina Antonova, alumni of the programme (2024) and a manager at Skolkovo Management School, also spoke about her academic journey in HSE, highlighting the diversity of paths her classmates have taken — from entrepreneurship and business to public administration and research.
Alumna of the STI Management and Policy Master’s Programme, HSE University
This program was my springboard: as a manager at SKOLKOVO, I now apply what I learned daily—from leading teams to designing digital education services—while pursuing my PhD. What sets it apart is how it erases boundaries. It gave me rigorous research methods for complex projects yet the freedom to innovate. Today, I collaborate professionally with my former professors, proving academia and practice aren’t separate worlds but interconnected forces.
The event offered a comprehensive overview of the academic content, international opportunities, and supportive community that define the Master's Programme. It concluded with a dynamic Q&A session, where participants had the chance to engage directly with the speakers, ask detailed questions about the curriculum, admissions process, and student life, and receive personalized insights — making the event not only informative but truly interactive. It was a vivid demonstration of how this educational path empowers students to become leaders and innovators in science and technology policy across different sectors.