‘I Left Feeling Really Inspired’: HSE International Students Shine at VI International Conference in Tomsk

© HSE International Prep Year

On April 19–24 April 2026, Tomsk Polytechnic University (TPU) hosted the VI International Scientific and Practical Conference ‘Scientific Initiative of International Students and Postgraduates.’ Seven students from the HSE International Preparatory Year took part in the event: four attended in person, and three joined online. The delegation was accompanied by two lecturers—Zoya Maslennikova and Maria Grabovskaya.

The conference provided a platform for international students, doctoral students, and preparatory year students from across Russia to present their research in Russian. Participants came from countries including Singapore, Bosnia and Herzegovina, India, and Russia. HSE Preparatory Year students Russell Phun and Ninoslava Cosic were awarded first-class certificates, and Maharghya Saha and Elie Noujaim received nominations for Best Presentation Style and Excellent Command of Russian, respectively.

Zoya Maslennikova, who was born in Tomsk and accompanied the HSE group, shared her reflections on the value of the event.

Zoya Maslennikova, Senior Lecturer of the International Preparatory Year

The TPU conference is a space where international students and preparatory year students can try their hand at academic research while speaking Russian.

The conference gives students confidence, motivates them to improve their language skills, and introduces them to Russian academic culture. You can see their anticipation and how hard they prepare to do their best

We informed the students about the sections, and they proposed topics they felt comfortable and excited about. Then we worked on the titles and structure together. The students prepared high-quality texts and presentations very quickly. Our task was to edit their work, shorten it to fit the time limit.

The most difficult thing for the students was to accept the fact that they would have to speak in public in Russian. That realisation hit them in Tomsk, prior to the event. Therefore, on the evening before the conference, at dinner, we arranged speech rehearsals: each participant read out their report in turn, the teachers corrected the stress and pronunciation, and at the end all the listeners asked a variety of questions: difficult, clarifying, and silly. It helped reduce stress and shifted their focus from monotonous reading to an engaging presentation of their topic.

We take part in such conferences a lot to show our students other universities and cities, and to gain experience ourselves. This was our third time at TPU. Compared to the previous visit, the conference has matured significantly.

It is a full‑fledged academic event—even if the participants are not yet fluent in Russian

There were also sections for doctoral students, master’s students, and pre‑master’s students presenting technical developments and research. I was deeply impressed by the sophistication of the conference. I was born in Tomsk, so I can confirm the stereotype about Siberians: they keep clear personal boundaries, are reserved, and can be somewhat stern. But everyone—from the dormitory administrator to the head of the School of Social Sciences—welcomed us like close relatives. I was especially impressed by the engagement: almost no one was glued to their phones. Everyone was listening to each other, which is rare these days.

© HSE International Prep Year

Maria Grabovskaya, who also helped the students to prepare for the event, spoke on the preparation process and challenges the participants faced.

Maria Grabovskaya, Visiting Lecturer of the International Preparatory Year

Conferences for international students give participants an opportunity to present their research in Russian, which is a foreign language for them.

Such events are wonderful language practice, an opportunity to prove yourself and become more confident in order to continue participating in scientific conferences

The participants chose very interesting topics. Some students decided to talk about their existing research papers. I only helped to adjust the topics. The students prepared the presentations themselves, and we gave them tips on how to improve them. I helped them to determine what to focus on, what to explain. We also practiced presenting the research. They had some difficulty with Russian terms and timing, but all the students did their best by giving wonderful presentations and answering all the questions from the audience. They coped with their excitement and showed an excellent level of proficiency both in the Russian language and in their chosen topics.

The conference participants also shared their impressions.

Russell Phun (Singapore), student of the HSE Preparatory Year, recipient of a first‑class certificate

© HSE International Prep Year

My overall experience was fruitful and memorable. I learned a lot about artificial intelligence from other presenters—about how AI is transforming almost every aspect of our lives. My own presentation was based on my bachelor’s thesis at Nanyang Technological University, titled ‘AI‑Powered Chatbot with Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG).’ I was pleasantly surprised and honoured to receive a first‑class certificate.

The conference was very well organised, and both professors and students at TPU were exceptionally welcoming

Tomsk is a lovely city with many beautiful wooden buildings. I would gladly revisit it. I am sincerely grateful to the International Preparatory Year faculty, and especially to Maria Andreevna and Zoya Sergeevna for their support.

Maharghya Saha (India), student of the HSE Preparatory Year, nominee for Best Presentation Style

© HSE International Prep Year

I presented on the history of scientific discoveries and inventions. I chose this topic to show participants from other countries the inventions of ancient India that the world still depends on.

The overall experience was quite good because of the professors who guided us professionally, and the organisation at TPU was very good for visiting participants

What impressed me most was the presentation about how AI works when a person starts using an AI app. I really liked Tomsk—it is a small city with a small population and a beautiful river.

Elie Noujaim (Russia/Lebanon), student of the Master’s in International Relations, nominee for Excellent Command of Russian

© HSE International Prep Year

It was amazing—a bit intense at first (my first big international conference), but in the best way. Everyone was very welcoming, and I left feeling really inspired. I presented my research ‘AI’s Impact on Traditions and Culture.’ I believe that those who control AI will be the winners in the future. Western AI systems are often used against Russia to push fake narratives and falsify our history. We know our history and heroes better than anyone else. The presentation that impressed me most was Russell’s; he made his own AI chatbot. That is impressive. Everything was very well organised, from registration to the closing ceremony.

The participants were friendly and curious, not competitive at all

And Tomsk… wow! I loved the old wooden houses, the cosy vibe—even the snow in April surprised me in a good way. It felt very authentic.

The HSE Preparatory Year team looks forward to continuing its participation in inter‑university and international conferences, helping international students gain academic experience, build confidence, and discover Russia beyond Moscow.