Oleg O. Zamkov

Alongside their core curriculum many ICEF students pursue a programme in which they deepen knowledge of their chosen field, engage in scientific debate, and prepare for careers in academia. This programme is known as ICEF Academia and in 2024 it opened its doors to a new group of students.

Earlier in October, the team of ICEF Academia met with its new students to present the teachers, the perspective lines of research, as well as the design and delivery mode of the courses and what rewards there are to celebrate the top-performing students.

Traditionally conducted by the ICEF Center for Learning Technologies, the orientation seminars are delivered to all newly hired teachers regardless of their previous experience whether as lecturers or seminar teachers.

Hosted in HSE Cultural Center, the ceremony welcomed in its crowded hall 200+ graduates who were joined by their parents, faculty, leaders of HSE and ICEF, and guests.

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.

For the graduates, faculty, staff and management of ICEF, the grand Pre-Christmas Meeting has become an indispensable part of New Year celebrations. A traditions established by ICEF over the years of its existence, it turns ICEF into an attractive place where the nation’s young leaders of finance, real economy and IT industry meet for a festive get-together.

Traditionally hosted by ICEF Teaching and Learning Center, the orientation seminars are designed to provide onboarding experience to all newly recruited academic staff whether with or without previous experience as lecturers or seminar hosts.

On 31 August, ICEF’s newly enrolled undergraduate students gathered at HSE campus on Pokrovsky Boulevard for the Freshmen Welcome Event. Following the presentation of the learning process, university policies and on-campus activities, the students have been issued their Student ID Cards. The briefing covered also the class schedule and other essential aspects about ICEF, but most importantly it encouraged everyone to meet one another.

The recent meeting of HSE Academic Council, held in-person on the 21^st June, witnessed the official ceremony of presenting badges of honour and, for the first time in HSE’s history, HSE Distinguished Service Medals. Among the recipients of the Badge of Honour (Second Class) was Oleg Zamkov, ICEF BSc Programme Academic Supervisor.

May 22-26, HSE delegation had been on a visit to Sabanсi University International Partnership Week. Based in Istanbul, Sabanсi University is one of Turkey’s leading research schools in the field of economics and social sciences. Attending the venue were also Sabanсi University’s partners in Asia and Latin America, particularly Israel, India, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, and Peru among other countries.

ICEF Academia offers its students advanced courses, research opportunities, access to scientific debate, and more in-depth training for academic careers. Its courses are taken alongside core curriculum. Presenting ICEF Academia to the new cohort of students were its leaders, teachers, and ICEF graduate Andrey Voronin, who shared his experience of gaining admission to PhD programme at UCLA (USA).

Led by the managers of ICEF and its bachelor’s degree programme, the event has introduced the newly admitted students to ICEF, its organization of teaching, alumni community and how and where to seek support and assistance. The day involved the tour of the campus where the students met with their tutors and got advice from seniors.

Traditionally organized by ICEF Center for Educational Technologies, Introduction to Teaching workshops are designed for teachers who are new to ICEF and are to be taken by all new teachers regardless of their previous experience as lecturers or seminar tutors.

Earlier in April 2022, Shahlo Islamova, one of ICEF’s brightest graduates of the class of 2021, received a letter confirming her acceptance to the University of Amsterdam’s master’s programme in Corporate Finance with full scholarship.

The results of exams organized by the University of London (UoL) and the London School of Economics (LSE, a constituent college of UoL) have been announced. Students of HSE ICEF, the HSE Faculty of World Economy and International Relations (WEIA) and the HSE Faculty of Computer Science (FCS) have achieved the highest grades in a variety of subjects and confirmed their reputation as the top representatives of international programmes. Fourteen HSE students received awards for their academic achievements.

Alongside with the core curriculum,ICEF Academia offers its students more advanced courses, research and scientific debate opportunities, and better preparation for academic careers. Presenting ICEF Academia to first-year students were its leaders, teachers, and ICEF graduate Arseny Stolyarov, who is currently doing a PhD at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

ICEF hosted its first in-person graduation ceremony since the pandemic led to restrictions. Diplomas were awarded to two classes. Hosted by HSE Cultures Centre, the day-long ceremony unfolded in sessions, one for Bachelor’s students and one for Master’s. Congratulating graduands were the faculty of ICEF HSE and professors of the University of London (LU) and the London School of Economics (LSE).

Yulia Chekunaeva graduated in one of ICEF’s first classes in 2003. She chose to do her master’s at the University of Warwick and then worked at Sberbank and Goldman Sachs. Yulia is currently Director for Capital Markets & Strategic Initiatives and a Board member at En+ Group, the world’s leading producer of low-carbon aluminum and renewable energy. In this interview, she tells about her student years in London and the USA, her passion for racing, and how new social values are re-shaping the business environment.

Svetlana Pavlova earned her bachelor's degree from ICEF in 2003 and won a scholarship to continue her studies at LBS (London Business School). Svetlana is currently a Vice President–Analyst at Moody's Investors. In this interview, she shares how to win an LBS scholarship through academic networking, how IB analytics differs from rating analytics, and how ICEF gives not only diplomas but also friends.

How has 2020 changed the agendas of the Internet companies? For which jobs the hiring is on the rise right now? What qualities do Internet companies seek in candidates? These and other questions have been raised by the round table New Trends in Internet Business During and After the Pandemic: What qualifications do Internet companies seek in new hires? Organized by HSE ICEF, the roundtable had among its speakers the alumni who are currently employed by Amazon, Stripe, SberMarket, Ozon, Yandex.

On March 29, HSE is fully transitioning to in-person instruction. However, since March 1 some departments, including ICEF, have been conducting seminars on campus while holding lecture courses online. Oleg Zamkov, Academic Supervisor of the ICEF Bachelor’s programme, spoke about how ICEF survived the rapid transition to online exams, what LSE professors have to say about the effectiveness of the online exams, and what digital innovations that were implemented during the remote period will be used moving forward.

On March 29, HSE is fully transitioning to in-person instruction. However, since March 1 some departments, including ICEF, have been conducting seminars on campus while holding lecture courses online. Oleg Zamkov, Academic Supervisor of the ICEF Bachelor’s programme, spoke about how ICEF survived the rapid transition to online exams, what LSE professors have to say about the effectiveness of the online exams, and what digital innovations that were implemented during the remote period will be used moving forward.

The past academic year was not easy, but in the end, it brought outstanding achievements, grades and degrees to students of the HSE and University of London ICEF double degree programme. This year's figures are almost double the previous records.

This year, alternatives to studying abroad are as relevant as never before. HSE University annually launches new joint programmes with world’s biggest universities. One of HSE’s oldest and most recognized double degree programmes is the ICEF bachelor’s programme, in which students can earn a degree not only from HSE University, but from the University of London as well. Below, we talk about the advantages of such a degree, career opportunities after graduation, and the programme prerequisites.

Martsella Davitaya is an ICEF 2017 BSc programme graduate who received first class degrees from both HSE and University of London. Right after her BSc she entered a PhD programme at Columbia University (USA), where she is currently studying, doing research and teaching. In the interview she spoke about her career choices, her impressions of studying at Columbia and her future plans.

On March 16, the rector decided to move all classes at HSE University online due to COVID-19. The largest universities in Russia and all over the world had to pull off the enormous feat of transitioning to online education immediately. As a result, the ongoing years-long discussions about the pros and cons of online education were put on pause. Academic supervisor of the ICEF bachelor’s programme, Oleg Zamkov, told us about how the ICEF has transitioned online, who can help when something goes wrong, and what resources will be necessary for online examinations.

ICEF held a round table on Global Economy Challenges in 2020. Mr Thanassis Gontikas, Senior Vice-President of Edmond de Rothschild Bank (EdR) in Switzerland, was invited as a speaker.

On October 22, some university staff members were awarded HSE medals and notes of acknowledgement from the Rector.

The HSE International College of Economics and Finance (ICEF) is turning 20. The college celebrated its anniversary with a gala at the Pushkin Museum and with its largest graduating class ever.

As described by one of the original ICEF team members, Oleg Zamkov, ICEF Deputy Director and Academic Head of HSE and University of London Double Degree Programme in Economics, the success of ICEF was in choosing the right moment for the start and finding the right people, both academics and administrators. It would also be unimaginable without the advice and support from London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), especially Richard Layard, who helped design several key elements of the curriculum for double degree programme, Richard Jackmanand Amos Witztum who made a significant contribution to ICEF idea implementation.

Academic Heads of the ICEF undegraduate and graduate programmes kindly share the unique features and advantages of ICEF study programmes for students.

How do ICEF graduates' careers work out? What do they learn at ICEF? What are the academic mobility opportunities? Oleg Zamkov, Deputy Director of the International College of Economics and Finance answers applicants' main questions.

The students’ exchange programme between ICEF HSE and Istanbul Bilgi University starts in September 2015. In the first semester of the next academic year several ICEF students will go to study at Bilgi University and Bilgi University students will spend a term at ICEF. The universities will also develop plans for cooperation between ICEF and Bilgi academics.