HSE University at IRES 2026: Student Recruitment, Space Projects, and New Partnerships with India
The second Indo-Russian Education Summit (IRES 2026) took place in New Delhi on May 28–29. This year, the event brought together more than 70 leading Russian and Indian universities. Representatives from HSE University’s Moscow and St Petersburg campuses introduced prospective students to the university’s educational opportunities at the exhibition and shared their experience in developing Russian–Indian academic cooperation.
Denis Alipov, Ambassador of the Russian Federation to India, opened the Indo-Russian Education summit. In his welcoming speech he noted that thousands of Indian graduates of Russian universities have already become an important link between the two countries.
‘Today, around 300,000 international students are studying in Russia, including approximately 40,000 from India. By 2030, the total number is expected to increase to half a million. Key strategic priorities include double-degree programmes, mutual recognition of qualifications, and the possibility of opening branches of Russian universities in India,’ Denis Alipov emphasised.
Manoj Sharma
During the plenary session, Dr Manoj Sharma, Vice President of HSE University–St Petersburg, spoke about the university’s approaches to recruiting and supporting Indian students and presented the results of HSE’s long-standing cooperation with Indian universities.
Among the most notable examples of Russian–Indian academic partnership are joint educational and research projects with the University of Delhi, UPES, the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay), O.P. Jindal Global University, and several other higher education institutions.
One such initiative is the launch of a mirror laboratory established by HSE MIEM and the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay. In 2026, a Russian ground station for receiving SONIKS satellite data was installed at the Indian university’s campus. The project demonstrates the potential of Russian–Indian cooperation in high technology, engineering, and space research.
On May 29, the summit also featured the Indo-Russian Summit Exhibition, which attracted more than 1,000 Indian school children and prospective university students.
HSE University’s exhibition stand drew significant interest from visitors. The most popular fields of study among prospective applicants were economics, finance, international relations, and computer science.
Maria Mamonova
‘We are seeing that Indian applicants are increasingly interested in fields beyond medicine. Today, there is strong demand for programmes in IT, economics, finance, international relations, and the creative industries. This reflects a growing interest in Russia as a destination for modern, multidisciplinary higher education,’ said Maria Mamonova, Head of the International Marketing and Recruitment Unit at the HSE Department of Internationalisation.
Prospective students were particularly interested in questions related to adaptation and everyday life in Russia. University representatives spoke about the work of the Visa and Registration Centre and the Support and Career Centre for International Students and Alumni, both of which assist students at various stages of their academic journey, from handling documentation to planning their professional development.
For many visitors, it came as a pleasant surprise that HSE University celebrates the Indian festivals of Diwali and Holi and is home to a vibrant Indian student community.
In addition, HSE representatives took part in an event organised by the Russian Education Agency, where they introduced Indian school pupils to the university’s educational opportunities. Participants communicated in Russian, explored Russian culture and folk dances, and learned more about opportunities for pursuing higher education in Russia.
Now in its second year, the Indo-Russian Education Summit continues to demonstrate the strong commitment of both countries to expanding academic cooperation. Today, this collaboration extends beyond student exchanges to include joint research projects, engineering initiatives, and partnerships in artificial intelligence, digital technologies, economics, and the creative industries.
HSE University’s participation in the summit reflects the university’s strategic focus on developing partnerships across South Asia and strengthening educational and research ties between Russia and India. For Indian applicants, the event provided another opportunity to discover a modern Russian university offering a wide range of academic pathways, an international learning environment, and involvement in cutting-edge research with global relevance.
Maria Mamonova
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