2026 Graduation Ceremony of the Master’s Programme in Science, Technology and Innovation Management and Policy: Celebrating the Landmark 10th Cohort
On June 26, the Institute for Statistical Studies and Economics of Knowledge (ISSEK) at HSE University marked a significant milestone: the graduation of the 10th cohort of the Master's programme in Science, Technology and Innovation Management and Policy. The ceremony was a celebration of a decade of excellence, bringing together graduates, faculty, researchers, families, and friends to honour the achievements of the Class of 2026.
The ceremony opened with congratulatory remarks from Dr. Leonid M. Gokhberg, Professor, First Vice Rector of HSE University, and Director of ISSEK. He addressed the graduates, reflecting on the growing importance of professionals in the field of science, technology, and innovation policy. Dr. Gokhberg emphasized the programme's key role in preparing experts to tackle tomorrow's challenges and to keep building bridges between knowledge and society.
Первый проректор, директор Института статистических исследований и экономики знаний НИУ ВШЭ
We hope you cherished every challenge we gave you — because that's what growth is about. Stay in touch, and know that we are always here to support your next steps
Dr. Dirk Meissner, Distinguished Professor, Head of the ISSEK Laboratory for Economics of Innovation and Academic Supervisor of the Master's Programme, delivered a special speech of congratulations. Highlighting the unique philosophy of the programme, he told the graduates:
Академический руководитель магистерской программы «Управление в сфере науки, технологий и инноваций»
You developed a massive asset having survived the stress, the ups and downs, the challenges we gave you on purpose. Never forget us, stay as you are, keep your personality, and always follow your heart
The ceremony also featured inspiring addresses from two faculty members. Professor Ekaterina Streltsova, Director and Senior Research Fellow at the ISSEK Center for Statistics and Monitoring of Science and Innovation and Course Director of the Seminar of the Mentor, shared her congratulations in the cohort's journey and their remarkable research achievements.
It wasn't easy: you balanced studies, work, and family, but you made it. Remember - this is not the end, but a new beginning. You are well prepared.
Dr. Irek Suleymanov, who joined the ISSEK Department of Educational Programs in 2024 and is known for his innovative course on science diplomacy, also delivered a moving speech, encouraging graduates to apply their interdisciplinary skills to foster international cooperation.
Your program was not easy, but you mastered it with discipline and curiosity. You learned that science connects the world, even in complex times. And education never truly ends — as HSE's motto says: learn not for school, but for life.
The ceremony was led and directed by Dzhamilya Sabirova, Head of the ISSEK Educational Programmes Department. Student voices were powerfully represented by two graduates who shared their reflections on the programme. Marta Bykova from Russia and Danial Hussain from Pakistan delivered heartfelt speeches about their transformative experiences at ISSEK, the diversity of their cohort, and the passion of their professors that turned challenges into opportunities.
The celebration was further enriched by the participation of alumni, highlighting the programme's lasting community.
Amal Abotk, a graduate from the Class of 2023 - who is now in the final stages of her PhD at HSE University - encouraged the new graduates to stay connected.
I know this hasn't been easy — sleepless nights, overdue work, and for many of you, communicating in a different language or moving to a new country. This is a beginning of a path full of great things - not necessarily big, but impactful
Additionally, a special video message was received from Evgeniya Evpak, PhD - the graduate of the very first cohort of the programme, who sent her warm congratulations from afar.
An emotional moment of the ceremony was the presentation of Appreciation Letters by the Programme Office, led by Programme Manager Lidia L. Gribanova. The letters were awarded to graduates who had made outstanding contributions to the programme, enriched the cultural life of ISSEK, and proudly represented the institute in the HSE International Football Cup in both 2025 and 2026.
This year's graduating class comprised 46 students from countries including Afghanistan, Argentina, Bangladesh, China, Ghana, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Nigeria, Pakistan and Russia. Many have already begun their careers in research institutions, the public policy sector, international organisations, and the private sector.
The ceremony highlighted the programme's growing international reach and its established role in preparing a new generation of experts to navigate the complex intersection of knowledge, policy, and innovation. Graduates were warmly invited to join the ISSEK Alumni Community, a space for collaboration, exchange, and lifelong engagement with the institute.
The 10th graduation ceremony was not just an end, but a celebration of a decade of impact and the beginning of a new chapter for the programme's legacy, both in Russia and beyond.
