‘It’s Almost Impossible Not to Meet People and Make Friends as an HSE Student’

Victoria Ramos Gonzales

Photo courtesy of Victoria Ramos Gonzales

Victoria Ramos Gonzales, from Bolivia, fell in love with Moscow after visiting the city in 2022. Now, as a student of the ‘Master in International Management’ programme at the HSE Graduate School of Business, she researches management systems with a focus on Latin America. In this interview with the HSE News Service, Victoria talks about choosing to study at HSE University–Moscow, presenting her research to experts at a seminar, and finding the confidence to use Russian in daily life.

— How did you end up at HSE University?

— I had the idea of studying abroad since school. I always wanted to have this experience, and in some way it became more of a goal than just a dream. I was not sure which country I wanted to choose, but during the last year of my bachelor’s degree in Bolivia, my aunt, who has been living and working in Russia for many years, invited me to visit in January 2022. That’s when I fell in love with Moscow (even though it was winter and -22 degrees).

Since I liked it very much, I decided that I wanted to pursue my master’s degree here. After finishing my bachelor’s, I accepted her invitation again and enrolled in the Preparatory Year at HSE Moscow.

When I came to study in October 2023, I was really surprised by how beautiful and large HSE is

The different styles between campuses are amazing, and the quality of the teachers I had during the Preparatory Year made me feel very comfortable and confident about my decision to study here.

— Which courses do you enjoy the most? What aspects have you found challenging?

— My favourite courses were Human Resources Management, Project Management of SMEs, and my major subject, Bridging Worlds: An Introduction of Science Diplomacy. The quality of the professors and the valuable content helped me a lot to understand where I want to develop professionally.

The course Bridging Worlds: An Introduction of Science Diplomacy helped me understand the area where I want to write articles and grow academically. That is why I chose a related topic for my master’s thesis

Financial Management and Financial Markets were challenging because my bachelor’s degree was not focused on that area. It was new information for me, and sometimes it was difficult to retain it. As for other aspects, I have not faced major difficulties. Communication with professors, colleagues, and the study office was very well managed, and they always helped find solutions to any questions I had.

— What are your main academic or research interests?

— My research interests focus on identifying fields where management systems in the Latin American region are not yet well defined. I want to focus on this region not only because I come from there, but also because I believe Latin America is a very interesting and complex region to study.

Many researchers make the mistake of treating Latin America as a homogeneous region where all policies and recommendations work the same way—this is not the case

My main academic interest is to study, understand, and improve management systems and approaches in fields such as science diplomacy and the gig economy.

At a recent seminar, I gave a presentation about my master’s thesis: ‘Strategic Management of Science Diplomacy in Latin America: From Context Analysis to Governance Mechanisms, Actors, and Strategic Objectives.’ My supervisor, Dr Suleymanov, recommended and invited me to present this topic because there were professionals in the field attending the seminar. It was a great opportunity for me to receive valuable insights and feedback on my research.

— How does your current research relate to your future career goals?

— I believe international management can be applied to many different fields. Currently, there is no direct connection between my research and my job. However, I decided to work on this topic to start my academic journey and develop a parallel path where I write about diplomacy and strategic management, regardless of whether it is fully aligned with my current job.

In the future, I would like to apply for a PhD at HSE, continue my education, and become an academic and a professor in this field. That is why I want to start writing papers, building literature, and gaining experience

However, for now, I want to focus on gaining professional experience. I would like to continue working in Moscow. Currently, I work as a partnership manager and app ecosystem manager at AmoCRM. I want to gain more experience in the field I studied and understand how to apply my knowledge in practice.

Photo courtesy of Victoria Ramos Gonzales

— What do you like to do in your free time?

— I enjoy spending time with my friends, going for walks, watching movies, and discovering new places in the city with my boyfriend. If I have more time, I like to travel within Russia, especially along the Golden Ring and to cities outside St Petersburg, such as Peterhof and Vyborg.

Moscow has many beautiful green spaces where you can relax and escape from routine, such as Tsaritsyno Park, Sokolniki Park, and, if you want to explore deeper into nature, Bitsa Forest

I also enjoy cooking different dishes from around the world—Russian, Latin American, and others. It is one of my favourite hobbies and I would like to have more professional experience of it.

— Has it been challenging to learn Russian?

— Actually, it was not that difficult. I really enjoyed it and I am very grateful to have been part of the Preparatory Year not only because I learned another language and can communicate with everyone, but also because I understood Russian culture, which I believe is impossible to fully understand without knowing the language.

Photo courtesy of Victoria Ramos Gonzales

Having a Russian boyfriend also helped a lot because I never felt resentment toward the language for being difficult; on the contrary, I was more motivated to understand his culture and the environment where I now live.

The first time I used Russian outside my Prep Year classes was with my boyfriend, his friends, and his family. Even though we sometimes communicate in English, most conversations, movies, and series are in Russian

I have also used Russian in my jobs. During my paid internship as a Project Manager at Yandex Go, I communicated with the team mostly in Russian, which helped me improve my accent, comprehension, and writing. In my current job, I use more English and Spanish because most of our clients are from Latin America and the US, but I still communicate with my colleagues in Russian.

Finally, I have Russian friends whom I love very much, and all our communication is in Russian. I also watch movies in Russian and recently started reading books in Russian to keep improving, because every day is a new lesson when learning a language.

— What would you say to international students who are considering applying to HSE?

— I would say that it is one of the best decisions, not only because of the experience and the people you will meet, but also because of the quality of education. HSE is ranked as one of the top universities in Russia, and the quality of professors, support, and academic content is invaluable.

HSE is a university that truly cares about its students and is always willing to help them and make them feel at home, even in a completely different country

What I like most about studying at HSE is that there are always people willing to help students, solve problems, and make them feel comfortable. I also really like the infrastructure and the wide range of activities available. It is almost impossible not to meet people and make friends as an HSE student.

Of course, the quality of education is the most important aspect that stands out. The university’s reputation opens many opportunities for students and provides unforgettable experiences.