Programme

The Future of the Economy: Education as an Area of Investment

25 May , 12:00–13:15
Harnessing Russia’s Growth Potential
Panel Session
Congress Centre, Conference Hall D2
In partnership with Prosveshcheniye Group of Companies

While education policy in Russia so far has largely focused on internal issues affecting the system, today it can and must address global challenges in development. The role of education in accelerating economic growth and ensuring social stability is of key importance. New digital technologies are emerging and shaping the educational infrastructure, and Russia’s growth rate in this area is the second highest in Europe: digital libraries and online higher-education platforms have been developed, and leading research universities are successfully entering the global education market. This has prompted a breakthrough, with Russian universities bringing in two percent of the global audience for MOOCs. While the educational online services market is expected to grow from RUB 1.8 trillion in 2016 to RUB 2 trillion in 2021, these university initiatives have not received sufficient support. Currently, the Russian segment of the market is lagging 20% behind world growth rates; Russia has not entered the global examinations market, and its educational expertise has minimal reach abroad. In OECD countries, 27% of graduate students are foreign, which makes it possible to attract talent to scientific and innovation activities in their economies. In Russia, international students make up only around 5% of graduates. How can education make the transition from a system of social obligations to an area of investment? Towards which areas should investment be directed – talent or accessibility? What business models can be applied in digital transformation and where are the new growth hotspots of the education markets?

Moderator
Yaroslav Kuzminov, Rector, National Research University Higher School of Economics

Panellists
Mikhail Alashkevich, Vice-President, Head of the Project Office of Agency Function, Bank for Development and Foreign Economic Affairs (Vnesheconombank)
Dirk Ahlborn, Chief Executive Officer, Hyperloop Transportation Technologies
Boris Berenfeld, Founder, President, Chief Executive Officer, International Laboratory of Advanced Education Technologies (ILAET); Co-founder, Research Advisor, GlobalLab
Elena Bunina, General Director, Yandex Russia
Vladimir Vasiliev, Rector, St. Petersburg National Research University of Information Technologies, Mechanics and Optics
Mikhail Kozhevnikov, First Vice President, Prosveshcheniye Group of Companies
Marina Rakova, Chief Executive Officer, Russian Foundation for Educational Development
Victor Sadovnichy, Rector, Lomonosov Moscow State University
Akira Sei, Head, NTT Communications Russia
Peter Szijjarto, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary
Andrey Fursenko, Aide to the President of the Russian Federation
Elena Shmeleva, Head, Talent and Success Foundation; Member of the Presidential Council for Science and Education

Broadcast