Business programme

University admissions are a key stage in human capital development in all countries. Further movement of talents, social mobility, and how well social lifts work depend on how fair and effective it is. This year, the Unified State Exam on which the Russian education system is based is celebrating its 20th year. Does the current system of university and college admissions meet the requirements of our times and global competition? What are the mechanisms that developed and developing countries use to place their graduates? Does the current system of Academic Olympics help to ensure social mix and access to high-quality education for young talents? How competitive is the Russian higher education admissions system?

Moderator
Alexander Milkus, Education and Science Columnist, Komsomolskaya Pravda Publishing House

Alexander Milkus

Education and Science Columnist, Komsomolskaya Pravda Publishing House

Panellists
Alexey Golubitsky, Director, School of the Future Secondary School (online)
Yaroslav Kuzminov, Rector, National Research University Higher School of Economics
Anzor Muzaev, Head of the Federal Service for Supervision in Education and Science
Irina Potekhina, Vice Governor of St. Petersburg
Valery Falkov, Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation
Tao Zhan, Director, UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education (online)
Andreas Schleicher, Director for Education and Skills, and Special Advisor on Education Policy to the Secretary-General, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) (online)

Yaroslav Kuzminov

Rector, National Research University Higher School of Economics

Rector of National Research University Higher School of Economics (HSE)

Professor, Head of the Department of Institutional Economics, and Academic Supervisor of the HSE Center for Institutional Studies (CInSt).

In 1979, graduated with a degree in Economics from Lomonosov Moscow State University.

From 1979 until 1989, Yaroslav Kuzminov lectured in the Department of Economic Theory and History of Economic Thought at Moscow State University.

Later, from 1989 until 1993, he worked as a researcher at the Institute of Economics, Russian Academy of Sciences.

In 1992, Prof. Kuzminov, in cooperation with Prof. Evgeny Yasin, proposed the establishment of a new type of institution of higher education — the Higher School of Economics — to the Russian Government. And thus, he became the youngest rector of a state university in the Russian Federation.

Yaroslav Kuzminov took part in the development of proposals for Russia’s socio-economic policy for the period up until 2020 (‘Strategy 2020’). Through this project, Dr. Kuzminov headed the expert group ‘Labor Market, Professional Education and Migration Policy’ (2012).


In 2002, Dr. Kuzminov was awarded with the Order of Honour by the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation. In 2003, the French Government made Dr. Kuzminov an Officer of the Ordre des Palmes Académiques (Order of Academic Palms). In 2009, he was awarded the International Leiontief Award ‘for achievements in the organization and radical modernization of economic education in Russia’. He has also received the following awards: ‘Order For Merit for the Fatherland’, 4th Class, by Russian President Vladimir Putin (2012); Acknowledgement from the Russian President (2013); Stolypin Medal, 2nd Class (2017); ‘Order For Merit for the Fatherland’, 3rd Class (2017); Badge ‘For Contribution to the Development of State Statistics’ (2017); Acknowledgement from the Russian President (2018); and Honorary Badge ‘Moscow State Duma. 25th Anniversary’ (2019).

Anzor Muzaev

Head of the Federal Service for Supervision in Education and Science

Irina Potekhina

Vice Governor of St. Petersburg

Valery Falkov

Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation

Born 18 October 1978 in Tyumen, Russia.
1995–2003 – Studied Law at the University of Tyumen, PhD in Law.
2003–2012 – Occupied various positions (Department Head, Deputy Director of the Institute of State and Law, Vice-Rector for Additional Education, Director of the Institute of Law, Economics, and Management) at the University of Tyumen.
2012–2020 – Rector of the University of Tyumen.
2006–2013 – Member of the Tyumen Region Election Commission with a casting vote.
2009–2011 – Chairman of the Tyumen Region Council of Young Scholars and Specialists.
2013–2016 – Deputy of the Tyumen City Duma, Chairman of the Standing Commission for Urban Development and Land Use.
2016–2020 – Deputy of the Tyumen Regional Duma, Chairman of the Committee on Social Policy.
2015–2020 – Council of University Rectors of Tyumen Region.
21 January 2020 – Appointed Minister of Science and Higher Education by the President of the Russian Federation.
Awards and Honours:
Certificate of Honour from the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation (2003); Tyumen Regional Duma Honorary Badge (2009); Certificate of Honour from the Governor of Tyumen Region (2013); Diploma from the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of Russian Federation (2014); Certificate of Appreciation from the Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Ural Federal District (2015); Certificate of Appreciation from the Chairman of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation (2017).