‘Open Lectures Are a Space of Interest and Trust’: New HSE Lecture Cycle Starts in Nizhny Novgorod
A university’s contribution to the development of society is not limited to education and science. Universities participate in wider life through open popular science lectures, master classes and festivals, expanding their boundaries and qualitatively influencing the intellectual environment.
In every city with an HSE campus, the university develops its Open University project—open events that make science simple and interesting while providing a useful and enjoyable experience for attendees. As part of these educational meetings, HSE University in Nizhny Novgorod is launching the latest in its series of popular science lectures.
Gennady Ryabov, President of HSE University-Nizhny Novgorod
A university must develop various forms of productive communication with the surrounding environment: the city, the region, and society. As part of the Open University project, HSE University in Nizhny Novgorod regularly holds open events devoted to the popularisation of science and culture.
These projects include events held as part of the Cultural Environment project, which create a new form of academic space—turning a lecture hall into an exhibition space and a laboratory into an art studio.
HSE University-Nizhny Novgorod regularly hosts art exhibitions, musical evenings, meetings with notable cultural figures, and talks on music, theatre, art, and literature, as well as virtual tours of the city, book presentations, and new cultural projects.
Every summer, the Nizhny Novgorod campus holds a cycle of open lectures for local residents, thus breaking down the formal boundaries of the university. The lecture cycle features the participation of HSE University experts, and over time has earned a reputation as an open discussion club and venue for cultural and educational activities in Nizhny Novgorod.
Maria Gelfond, Academic Supervisor of the Bachelor’s in Philology
Demand in society for all kinds of educational formats has grown considerably in recent years. Lectures—both in person and online—attract large and engaged audiences. I am glad that all kinds of people come to us here at HSE University: applicants, their parents, teachers, students, graduates, colleagues. And it is always a very appreciative audience—we usually stay behind long after the lectures are over to continue our discussion of the topic.
Open lectures are a space of interest and trust: parents and teachers can listen to how and what their children will be taught, applicants can take a breather after monotonous exams, students and graduates can feel smart and knowledgeable (but not about everything!), and colleagues can look at each other and once again realise how lucky we are to work with each other.
In 2023, the summer cycle of educational lectures is being held in several new locations outside the university. In July, public lectures on digital law, linguistics, literary studies, topology, marketing and design were held in the courtyard of the HSE University building and at the Information Centre on Nuclear Energy. The next series of the lecture cycle will take place from August 9 to September 6 at the Zapovednie Kvartaly open-air museum.
Vera Sheyna, Deputy Director of Managing Company Zapovednie Kvartaly ANO ASIRIS
Popular science events at Zapovednie Kvartaly help to uncover the potential of the area and demonstrate additional possibilities for developing historical territories. We are thankful to HSE University-Nizhny Novgorod for their trust in us. Our successful experience of cooperation this year shows that lectures in estate gardens have become one of the most popular events among residents and visitors to Nizhny Novgorod alike. A lot of people were interested in the intellectual meeting format, which is convenient for people coming in the evening after work.