Victoria Panova

In March 2025, HSE Days took place in the Ghanaian capital of Accra, the cultural hub of Kumasi, and the Bono East region. Representatives of the university awarded participants of the HSE International Olympiad (HSE INTO 2025) and spoke to local school pupils and university students about educational opportunities, scholarship programmes, and application pathways to HSE University.

The exclusive report "BRICS Cooperation Progress According to BTTC Indicator System" was prepared by the BRICS Expert Council – Russia with the support from the BRICS Think Tank Council (BTTC) following Russia's Chairship in BRICS in 2024. The rating employs a comprehensive system of indicators that showcases the strides made in collaboration among member nations across various domains, highlighting key achievements and pinpointing areas that call for deeper engagement.

An HSE delegation, led by Rector Nikita Anisimov, visited China for negotiations with the administration of the country’s top universities. The parties agreed to expand bilateral scientific and educational collaboration and signed several documents. In particular, a strategic partnership agreement was established with Peking University, one of the oldest and most prestigious educational institutions in China.

From February 24 to 26, 2025, HSE University held its first training seminar in Iran, titled ‘BRICS: Structure and Cooperation Platforms Workshop.’ The seminar focused on cooperation between BRICS countries and the key mechanisms of the organisation. It was organised at the request of the Iranian side by the BRICS Expert Council – Russia, based at HSE, and the Centre for Progress and Development of Iran Presidency (CPDI), in partnership with Iran's largest technology park, Pardis Technology Park, as well as Shahid Beheshti University, the Iran National Innovation Fund (INIF), and the Iranian International Innovation District (IIID).

On February 24, the Durasov House, a part of HSE University’s Pokrovka Campus, became the setting for a meeting of the Russian Chapter of the Women Twenty (W20) Working Group. Focused on education, the digital divide, and artificial intelligence (AI), the event brought together prominent experts, including Victoria Panova, Head of the BRICS Expert Council – Russia and Vice Rector at HSE University, alongside Evgeniy Terentev, Oksana Sinyavskaya, Maya Mlyakova, Fuad Aleskerov, Olga Savinskaya, and Sergey Kosaretsky. Together, the participants explored strategies to advance Russia’s scientific, educational, and technological initiatives on the global stage.

On 24 February, 2025, the HSE campus on Pokrovka hosted a meeting with a delegation from the Committee for Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia. HSE Vice Rector and Head of the BRICS Expert Council–Russia Victoria Panova took part in the event alongside representatives from the university’s academic departments and research centres. During the meeting, the parties discussed key areas for strengthening academic and expert cooperation, as well as joint initiatives in science and technology, including those within the BRICS framework.

HSE representatives met with Sasivat Wongsinsawat, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Thailand to Russia, at HSE University on Pokrovsky Bulvar. Victoria Panova, HSE University Vice Rector, Arseniy Meshcheryakov, Head of the HSE Art and Design School, and Natalia Logutova, Deputy Director of the Institute for Creative Industries Development, took part in the event. The parties discussed cooperation in the fields of education, culture, and creative industries, including HSE's participation in Chiang Mai Design Week.

An HSE University delegation led by Rector Nikita Anisimov met with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Singapore to Russia Néo Ek Beng Mark at the HSE campus on Pokrovsky Bulvar. The parties discussed opportunities for expanding cooperation and promising areas of partnership.

The number of applications has nearly doubled: as of today, more than 2,600 applications have been submitted for undergraduate programmes, and more than 2,400 for master's programmes. This increased interest from international applicants in studying at HSE confirms the university's status as one of the most sought-after Russian universities abroad.

On January 24, 2025, at the HSE University campus on Pokrovka, Rector Nikita Anisimov and representatives from key departments and internationalisation subdivisions met with delegations from South China Normal University and Kyrgyz National University named after Jusup Balasagyn. The discussions focused on opportunities for expanding cooperation in various fields.

The heads of the university's various divisions share the highlights and memorable moments from the past year

The steadily growing interest in studying at HSE University, particularly among applicants from CIS and Asian countries, reflects the high quality of Russian education. This year, as part of a separate admissions process for international applicants, 2,267 students were enrolled across all HSE University's campuses for the 2024/25 academic year, representing a 14% increase compared to last year.

On October 14, 2024, International Partnership Day Russia–Brazil took place at HSE University. The event was organised in collaboration with the Brazilian Embassy in Moscow and marked the first Brazilian academic and scientific mission to Russia, leading to the signing of cooperation agreements between HSE University and four Brazilian universities.

On September 26, 2024, the HSE Administration held a meeting with a delegation from Azerbaijan at the HSE historic building in Pokrovsky Boulevard—the Durasov House. Representatives from higher educational institutions discussed potential areas of cooperation. An agreement was also signed between HSE University and Baku State University.

HSE University Vice Rector Victoria Panova spoke at the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF 2024) that began in Vladivostok. The topic of her speech was the expansion of BRICS.

At the end of August, HSE University held orientation events for first-year international students. Nearly 800 students from 70 different countries attended sessions at the HSE Cultural Centre to learn about the visa and migration processes for staying in the Russian Federation, the opportunities at HSE and the student life there. They also took a tour of the Pokrovka campus.

HSE University and the Arrowad International Group from Saudi Arabia signed an agreement on cooperation in research and education. The agreement will strengthen HSE's position in the Persian Gulf countries.

At the recent International Physics Olympiad (IPhO 2024) in Iran, students from Saudi Arabia achieved the best results in their country's history, winning one silver and three bronze medals. The team from the Kingdom made their first visit to Russia to receive their final training at the HSE Faculty of Physics.

HSE University, together with its Chinese partners, will be implementing the scientific project ‘Geometry and Physics,’ which won the ‘Academic Cooperation’ competition at HSE. The International Laboratory for Mirror Symmetry and Automorphic Forms acts on behalf of HSE University. The Beijing Institute of Mathematical Sciences and Applications (BIMSA), represented by a team of renowned mathematicians including Fields medallists, will also be involved in the project.

HSE University has signed a memorandum of understanding with India's leading university, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi. All HSE campuses will participate in the collaboration. Under the memorandum, the two universities will share teaching experience, conduct joint research, and organise short-term academic and cultural exchange programmes.

In early July 2024, the HSE University delegation led by Rector Nikita Anisimov visited Iran to participate in ceremonies celebrating the 90th anniversary of the University of Tehran and the 1757th anniversary of higher education in Iran. During the visit, HSE representatives signed a cooperation agreement with the University of Tehran, and discussions were held with other organisations in the Islamic Republic.

On July 3–4, 2024, the IX BRICS Civil Forum was held in Moscow for the first time since the association was expanded by five new countries in January 2024. Participants emphasised the importance of personal interaction between public figures, civil activists, as well as the work they do to strengthen and enrich friendly relations between BRICS countries, based on mutual respect. The forum was organised by the BRICS Expert Council–Russia, which is established at the HSE University.

On June 20, 2024, the parties exchanged copies of the agreement as part of the state visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to Vietnam. The ceremony was held in the presence of the leaders of the two countries at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi. Head of the HSE delegation, Vice Rector Victoria Panova, and VNU Rector Le Quan also participated in the event. In addition, HSE University representatives signed a memorandum of understanding and an addendum with the Institute of Mathematics of the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology.

How are digital platforms contributing to sustainable development? How is international cooperation progressing in Eurasia? How should the Russia-India business dialogue proceed? HSE University's scientists presented their answers during expert discussions at the St Petersburg International Economic Forum.

HSE University and the Institute of Legislation and Legal Policy (ILLP) under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan have signed a memorandum of intent, which will form the basis for a future cooperation agreement. The institute is a state expert research facility created within the framework of the New Uzbekistan Development Strategy. It plays a significant role in the examination of draft laws: an expert opinion from the ILLP is mandatory when considering legislative acts.

The Forum brought together more than 200 representatives from the expert community across all BRICS countries to discuss the topic ‘BRICS: New Figures at the Global Chessboard.’ The forum was organised by the BRICS Expert Council–Russia, which operates on the basis of HSE University. The event’s opening ceremony featured the representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the State Duma, as well as HSE University Rector Nikita Anisimov and HSE Vice Rector, Russian W20 Sherpa Victoria Panova.

A delegation from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) visited HSE University. As part of the visit, a roundtable discussion on ‘Russia and China: Comprehensive Partnership and Strategic Interaction in a New Era’ was held. Participants discussed issues related to the Russian-Chinese strategic interaction in global and regional security, finance, trade, and investment. The meeting was moderated by Victoria Panova, Vice Rector of HSE University, Head of the BRICS Expert Council–Russia, and Russia's Sherpa in the ‘Women's Twenty.’

In mid-April 2024 representatives of several leading universities in China visited HSE University in Moscow. A delegation from Dalian University of Foreign Languages (DUFL), led by Rector Liu Hong, came to sign a cooperation and exchange agreement, while representatives of Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU), led by Board Member and Vice President Chao Qiuling, discussed expanding potential areas of interaction within the existing cooperation and exchange agreement.

In April 2024 Deputy Minister of Education and Training of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Hoang Minh Son and a delegation from top Vietnamese universities visited the HSE Pokrovka campus. The parties discussed prospects for the development of bilateral relations in higher education and identified priority areas for continued partnership.

At the end of April 2024, HSE University hosted an international conference ‘Export of Russian Education to Africa: Challenges and Opportunities.’ The event was attended by leaders of universities from Mali, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Niger, and Guinea. Together with their Russian counterparts from government bodies, scientific and higher educational institutions, they outlined paths for the development of humanitarian relations and agreed on possible cooperation in the face of a changing world order.

Following the visit of the HSE University delegation to New Delhi, cooperation agreements with leading Indian universities were finalised. Similarly, a number of expert events, consultations and negotiations on the development of comprehensive strategic cooperation with Bharat took place. The HSE University delegation also participated in the Raisina Dialogue, one of the largest international expert forums.

On April 15, 2024 HSE University hosted a roundtable discussion ‘Africa and BRICS: Reflections and Prospects.’ The event featured leading experts from the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) Steven Gruzd and Gustavo de Carvalho and was moderated by HSE Vice Rector and Head of the BRICS Expert Council–Russia Victoria Panova.

On April 10th, 2024, a strategic session on monetary and financial cooperation among the majority of world countries was held at HSE University. The event was organised by the BRICS Expert Council–Russia. The main expert at the session was Ali Benouari, formerly holding positions as Algeria's Minister of Treasury and an expert at the Committee on Public Debt, now an advisor to Algeria's Ministers of Finance and Economy.

Within the framework of the BRICS Expert Council—Russia, a roundtable discussion on intellectual property issues took place on April 8, at HSE University campus in Moscow. Mr. Alan Freeman, Co-Director of Geopolitical Economy Research Group in University of Manitoba; Secretary of Geopolitical Economy Research and Education Trust; Co-Editor of Geopolitical Economy Book series, Manchester University Press, and Dr. Victoria Panova, Head of the BRICS Expert Council and Vice Rector of HSE University, were present at the session.

On April 8, a roundtable discussion entitled ‘Intellectual Property on the Rise: How to Maximize Its Positive Impact and Avoid Hazards’ took place at HSE University in Moscow. The participants included Victoria Panova, HSE Vice Rector and Head of the BRICS Expert Council–Russia, andAlan Freeman, Co-Director of Geopolitical Economy Research Group at the University of Manitoba; Secretary of Geopolitical Economy Research and Education Trust; Co-Editor of Geopolitical Economy Book series, Manchester University Press.

HSE Vice Rector, Head of the BRICS Expert Council–Russia and Co-chair of the BRICS Civil Forum Victoria Panova, and Dean of the HSE Faculty of Humanities and Chair of the Contest Jury Felix Azhimov, announced the primary objectives of the contest, its format and potential participants during a press conference at TASS. Nationals from the BRICS countries, aged 18 to 45, are eligible to apply for participation in the contest. The jury will select ten winners, three of whom will be given the opportunity to attend the BRICS Civil Forum in Moscow in person.

Within the framework of Russia's BRICS presidency, the HSE University discussed various educational, scientific and technical initiatives of BRICS countries aimed at developing multilateral cooperation and strengthening the scientific and technological sovereignty of the countries of the association.

On April 2, at a press conference dedicated to the launch of the philosophical essay contest “Vision 2050 – BRICS People 2050 – How BRICS Would Change the World by 2050”, Viсtoria Panova, Vice Rector at HSE University, Head of the BRICS Expert Council – Russia, co–chairman of the BRICS Civil Society Forum, and Elena Topoleva-Soldunova, Co-Chair of the BRICS Civil Forum, spoke about the history of BRICS Civil Track, about the dialogue between NGOs of the countries participating in the association with the state and, in general, about the place and role of NGOs within the track.

On March 29, HSE University in Moscow hosted a meeting of the working group focused on Sovereign Economic and Financial Development within the BRICS Civil Forum. Nikolai Ostarkov, Co-Chair of the working group representing Russia, moderated the event.

HSE University has signed a cooperation agreement with the Centre of Information and Arabian-Russian Studies (CIARS) of Saudi Arabia. The agreements reached will contribute to strengthening and advancement of cooperation in the areas of education, research, and culture between HSE University and scientific and educational institutions in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

More than 50 representatives of non-profit organisations took part in the meeting, where they discussed the event plan for 2024 and thematic areas of activity of the working groups of the BRICS Civil Forum, scheduled to be held in Moscow in July 2024. The BRICS civil track’s operations are coordinated by the BRICS Expert Council–Russia.

The official presentation of the BRICS Expert Council – Russia has taken place at HSE University. The Council will be responsible for the information, analytical and expert support of the Russian BRICS Chairship 2024.

On February 16, the School of Regional Studies of the Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs, HSE University held a round table on the topic "Uruguay and Russia in a Changing World.”

On February 12, an official signing ceremony was held for an agreement on the free transfer of literature published by the Organisation for Researching and Composing University Textbooks in the Islamic Sciences and the Humanities under the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology of the Islamic Republic of Iran (SAMT) to HSE University. The event took place in the HSE University library on Pokrovsky Bulvar.

In early February, HSE University's campus on Pokrovsky Bulvar hosted a meeting between HSE Vice Rector Victoria Panova and Abay Serikkanov, Vice President of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The parties explored potential areas of cooperation and concluded the meeting by signing a memorandum of intent.

An HSE University delegation led by Vice Rector Victoria Panova went to Saudi Arabia for a working visit. During the meeting, representatives of major universities, government agencies, and the private sector confirmed their readiness to cooperate in a wide range of areas. Saudi Arabia is interested in developing cooperation with Russia, including interuniversity interaction.

During a visit to China, an HSE University delegation headed by Vice Rector Victoria Panova arranged to extend cooperation agreements with Fudan University and East China Normal University (ECNU). Particular attention was paid to expanding students’ and teachers’ academic mobility between universities.

Delegations from Nanjing University and Renmin (People's) University of China have recently made their first visits to HSE University to explore potential areas of cooperation. The Chinese universities have expressed interest in initiating collaborative research projects, educational and academic mobility programmes.

The delegation of the East China Normal University has visited HSE University’s Moscow campus. The representatives of both academic institutions confirmed their mutual interest in developing cooperation. The East China Normal University was the first Chinese institution to cooperate with HSE University. This partnership has been developing for quite a while, with the first memorandum signed on June 30, 2011, followed by two agreements on student mobility.

The signing of an academic exchange agreement between HSE University and the Federal University of Minas Gerais (Brazil) is another important step in the development of international partnerships and strengthening academic ties between Russia and Brazil. The agreement opens up new possibilities for students and researchers and lays a foundation for future cooperation and innovation in various scientific fields.

The water will be available at various university events

Cooperation with Chinese partners in all spheres of the economy is reaching a new qualitative level. At the same time, Russian entrepreneurs often lack knowledge about the specifics of doing business with China. Ways to solve this problem and strengthen the bilateral partnership were discussed at the ‘Russia—China: Business in a Multipolar World’ forum held at HSE University.

Strengthening and expanding partnerships between universities in different countries requires an increase in the number of specific joint projects in the educational, research, social and cultural spheres. In addition, it is necessary to expand academic exchange and student mobility programmes. The working session ‘University as a Global Citizen: Global Partnerships in Education and Science’ was heldas part of HSE International Partners’ Week.

The forum was held as part of HSE University’s International Partners' Week, which coincides with Russia’s chairship of the EAEU and is aimed at connecting the strategies and initiatives of its participants in the fields of education, science, and technology. The forum was attended by representatives from 23 countries and more than 40 scientific and educational organisations. Read on to learn more about the opening ceremony and the first two plenary sessions.

Representatives of 23 countries have gathered in Moscow for International Partners’ Week at HSE University. The participants will discuss pressing issues related to cooperation, sign agreements on research and student exchanges, and take part in the Educational Forum of the Greater Eurasian Partnership, which is being held as part of Russia’s chairship of the EAEU.

HSE University Rector Nikita Anisimov has held a meeting with a delegation from the United Arab Emirates headed by Undersecretary of Academic Affairs for Higher Education at the Ministry of Education Mohammed Ibrahim Al Mu’alla. Representatives of leading universities in the UAE took part in the meeting.

International academic and educational cooperation is a vital aspect of activities for Russian universities. At the beginning of the new academic year, Vice Rector Victoria Panova addresses HSE's initiatives in this area.

HSE University’s Support and Career Centre for International Students and Alumni has held orientation sessions for incoming international students. During the meetings, the centre’s experts explained the visa and migration support available, talked about extracurricular student life, and gave tours of the campus and the city.

The timeliness of Russia’s first cyber gaming platform, the importance of closing the gender gap in the IT industry, and the future of international cooperation in the Arctic were just some of the issues discussed at the St Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF). The HSE News Service reports on some of the topics of discussion at the forum.

A delegation from Mofid University has visited HSE University. Representatives of the Iranian university expressed interest in cooperation with HSE in the framework of research projects and educational programmes in the field of economics, legal aspects of the Islamic system of finance and other areas. The parties also discussed the opportunities for launching a joint academic mobility programme.

HSE University has hosted the signing of cooperation agreements with two Iranian universities—Allameh Tabataba’i University (ATU) and the University of Isfahan (UI). Delegations from the universities led by ATU President Abdollah Motamedi and UI President Hossein Harsij visited HSE University and met with Rector Nikita Anisimov and staff of the HSE International Office led by Vice Rector Victoria Panova.

An HSE University delegation took a working trip to the United Arab Emirates, where it participated in the Third Forum of the Federation of Rectors of Russian and Arab Universities and finalised cooperation agreements with UAE University.

Six men’s teams and two women’s teams made up of international students from 30 countries took part in the first ever HSE Inter Football Cup. The event was organised by the Support and Career Centre for International Students and Alumni, the Department of Internationalisation, and the Department of Physical Training.

HSE University plans to significantly expand its cooperation with Chinese universities and schools, creating new cooperation programmes and developing existing ones. This includes plans to attract potential candidates to take part in HSE University olympiads, increase the number of Chinese students at the university, and create joint educational programmes.

HSE University’s Development Programme until 2030 will be improved in order to increase the university’s contribution to achieving national goals and implementing the priorities of the country’s scientific and technological development. This decision was made by the university’s Academic Council on April 26. The meeting also addressed the principles for the development of HSE University’s external communications, one of which is the creation of a high-quality information field around the university.

Today, BRICS has become an influential factor in modern international relations and is perceived as one of the pillars of a more just world order. This association is not based on one party’s dominance, but instead, is built on a sound balance of interests. The role of the association was discussed by the participants of the plenary session ‘BRICS Development Strategy: Equal Opportunities in an Unequal World’at the XXIV Yasin (April) International Academic Conference.

In mid-March, 2023, an HSE University delegation led by Vice Rector Victoria Panova visited Vietnam. During the trip, bilateral meetings were held with the Vietnam Ministry of Education and Training. HSE University representatives visited the country's leading universities and schools, as well as the Vietnam-Russia Tropical Centre, a research and technology organisation that facilitates international Russian–Vietnamese cooperation.

In mid-March 2023, a delegation of HSE University attended APAIE, a major annual educational conference held in Bangkok. At the conference, the HSE representatives organised a session, conducted negotiations with several universities, and met with high-ranking officials from government agencies and international organisations. Furthermore, during the conference, HSE signed a cooperation and student exchange agreement with Mahidol University, one of Thailand's top national research universities.

An HSE University delegation led by Vice Rector Victoria Panova made a working visit to India in March 2023. HSE representatives took part in the eighth Raisina Dialogue multilateral conference, spoke at a meeting within the framework of the Women 20 (W20), and also held a number of bilateral meetings with leading Indian universities.

In February, HSE University welcomed Kypros Giorgallis, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Cyprus to the Russian Federation. The Ambassador met with HSE University Vice Rector Victoria Panova to discuss ways of establishing academic links between HSE University and universities in Cyprus.

On 13–14 February, former Austrian Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl will give a course on the history of the oil market for HSE University students. In mid-December, she talked at HSE University on 'Energy Is the Name of the Game: Geopolitics and Economics of the Energy Markets from 1911 to 2023' and spoke to the HSE News Service. In her interview, she discussed European energy policies, the problems of neutrality, the crisis of trust, and her personal experiences as a public figure in global politics. She also announced her book Requiem for Europe, which is planned to be published with HSE.

On December 1-2, the School of Regional Studies of the Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs, HSE University in partnership with the Institute of Oriental Studies, the Institute of China and Contemporary Asia, the Institute of Latin America, and the Institute of Scientific Information on Social Sciences of the Russian Academy of Sciences held the 4th International Conference “The world majority in the contemporary international realities: from fragmentation to new institutionalization”.

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Benin to the Russian Federation, His Excellency Okunlola Biau Akambi Andre officially visited Nizhny Novgorod at the invitation of the Nizhny Novgorod campus of the HSE University.

The agreement between HSE University and the Tashkent Institute of Irrigation and Agricultural Mechanization Engineers is aimed at developing academic and cultural cooperation, including student exchange. The agreement was signed on November 25, on the eve of HSE University’s 30^th anniversary. On the same day, representatives of universities and diplomatic missions of Kyrgyzstan, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Iran, Egypt, and Bolivia visited the university.

On November 25th, the HSE Pokrovka building hosted the ‘The Whole World in HSE’ festival, which brought together HSE students from Indonesia, Korea, China and Armenia, as well as Europe, Latin America, and various Russian regions, to celebrate the university’s 30^th anniversary.

A delegation from the embassy of Armenia has visited HSE University. Vice Rector Victoria Panova and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Armenia to the Russian Federation Vagharshak Harutyunyan discussed prospects for cooperation in education and science.

On November 10, HSE University welcomed Hans Dannenberg Castellanos, Ambassador of the Dominican Republic to Russia. The ambassador met with HSE University Vice Rector Victoria Panova to discuss ways of expanding educational cooperation between the two countries.

The Head of the Department of International Relations and Head of International Laboratory on World Order Studies and New Regionalism Professor A.V. Lukin and Associate Professor of the Department I.A. Safranchuk took part in the scientific conference “Russia and ASEAN in the Asia-Pacific Region: Interaction, Regional Processes and Global Context”, held at MGIMO during the XIV Congress of the Russian Association of International Studies (RAMI).

Russia and Nigeria have good prospects for cooperation in many economic sectors—from mining, petrochemicals, agriculture, and high-tech manufacturing to education and mutual investment. The Embassy of Nigeria in Russia, together with NUIA Consulting and HSE University, has held a business briefing on ‘Entering New Markets: Nigeria—Opportunities, Prospects and Practical Experience of Russian Companies’.

In September 22^nd, the School of Regional Studies of the Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs, in cooperation with the School of Foreign Languages of HSE University and the Institute of Latin America of the Russian Academy of Sciences promoted a Round Table on the issue “Chile and reasons behind its slow economic growth”.

HSE University will develop and strengthen its cooperation with leading Indonesian universities. HSE Vice Rector Victoria Panova visited the largest island state in the world and held talks with the administration of four leading institutions.