‘At HSE University We Can See an Important Combination of Horizontal and Vertical Scientific Connections’

Nizhny Novgorod is considered not only the IT capital of Russia, but also a ‘city with big intellectual potential’. What interesting and breakthrough projects in the humanities and natural sciences are successfully implemented in the region today? What conditions have been created for young researchers to work in research centres and universities? These issues were discussed by the heads of Nizhny Novgorod universities at a press conference dedicated to Russian Science Day. Valery Zusman, Academic Supervisor of HSE University in Nizhny Novgorod, Professor, and Doctor of Sciences in Literature of Western Europe, America and Australia, took part in the discussion.

Participants of the discussion included Acting Minister of Education, Science and Youth Policy of the Nizhny Novgorod region Olga Petrova, Rector of Nizhny Novgorod Dobrolyubov State Linguistic University Zhanna Nikonova, Acting Rector of Minin University Viktor Sdobnyakov, Rector of the Nizhny Novgorod State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering Andrey Lapshin, and Vice Rector for Research of Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod Mikhail Ivanchenko.

In her opening speech, Olga Petrova highlighted the great intellectual potential of the Nizhny Novgorod region, which is developing into a sustainable interaction between universities and business with the support of research and education centres. ‘Leading IT companies came to Nizhny Novgorod exactly because universities prepare excellent specialists. Even during their studies, students cannot only gain knowledge and take internships in companies, but also get engaged in real science and participate in new interesting research projects.’

‘At HSE University we can see an important combination of horizontal and vertical scientific connections,’ says Valery Zusman. ‘On the one hand, HSE – Nizhny Novgorod is vertically integrated into the research activity of HSE University in Moscow, and by creating a unified scholarly environment, we increase our potential. Horizontally, HSE – Nizhny Novgorod partners with research and education centres, actively participates in strategic sessions dedicated to the creation of an innovation ecosystem, and implements innovative projects in the natural sciences, which include research in artificial intelligence and fundamental mathematics, as well as interdisciplinary research at the intersection of sciences — neurolinguistics, environmental economics, and more.’

One of the trends Valery Zusman noted was the high interest among students in research:

Our students have a great feature — a desire to learn the truth or at least to get closer to it. Thanks to the grant system, HSE – Nizhny Novgorod creates a comfortable environment for young researchers. When young researchers are included in the global science agenda, when they can enthusiastically do what they love, with a decent financial reward, it helps to develop an academic community in a very special way.

Valery Zusman 
Academic Supervisor of HSE University in Nizhny Novgorod