Community news at HSE University

Pan Zhengwu has spent the last seven years at HSE University—first as a student of the Bachelor’s in Software Engineering and now in the Master’s in System and Software Engineering at the Faculty of Computer Science. In addition to his busy academic schedule, he works as a mobile software engineer at Yandex and is an avid urban photographer. In his interview with the HSE News Service, Zhengwu talks about the challenges he faced when he first moved to Russia, shares his thoughts on ‘collaborating’ with AI, and reveals one of his top spots for taking photos in Moscow.

Alina Pakhomova, a fourth-year student of the Bachelor’s Programme ‘Information Science and Computation Technology’ at the HSE Tikhonov Moscow Institute of Electronics and Mathematics (HSE MIEM), spent six months studying at the oldest university in Europe — the University of Bologna. She went to Italy as part of an academic mobility programme, and upon returning to Moscow, she shared her impressions of life and studying abroad, her leisure activities, new friends, and, of course, the famous Italian cuisine.

Anastasiya Baravikowa, from Mogilvev, Belarus, is a fourth-year student of the Bachelor’s in Foreign Languages and Intercultural Communication at the HSE School of Foreign Languages. Though initially overwhelmed by the fast pace of life in Moscow, she now believes the city is full of excitement and opportunities. In her interview with the HSE News Service, Anastasiya offers advice for new arrivals in Russia, explains why language learning and cultural immersion go hand in hand, and shares how the piano in her dormitory has become an essential part of her daily routine.

Kartik Joshi, from India, is pursuing a master's degree at HSE University, specialising in Data Science. In his interview, he talks about his life and studies in Moscow and invites HSE students and staff to participate in the Holi festival on March 21.

Evelina Bordiian, from Transnistria, is in her third year of the ‘Foreign Languages and Intercultural Communication’ bachelor’s programme at HSE University. In her interview with the HSE News Service, she talks about her path to the university, whether her expectations were met, and her life as an international student in Moscow, which includes walking in the park and playing football.

Rafael Guzmán Tirado, Doctor of Philology, Professor of the Department of Greek and Slavic Philology at the University of Granada, Spain; founder of the first department of Slavic studies in Spain, and expert in Russian and Spanish philology. Since 2024, Rafael G. Tirado has taught an advanced Spanish course in the bachelor's and master's programmes at the HSE School of Foreign Languages. In this interview, Rafael G. Tirado shares his insights on the essence of true vocation, the ways in which knowledge of foreign languages and cultures broadens one’s appreciation of human achievement, and the qualities that make Russian students unique.

How can one master kanji, even with the help of sports, and why is Japanese Studies considered the pinnacle of Asian Studies? In this interview dedicated to the Japanese language, Vasilii Shchepkin and Olga Klimova discuss specific features of the language, the reasons for and experiences of learning it, as well as translation practices.

Amal Saidov is a 2022 graduate of the Bachelor's programme 'Economics'. During his studies, Amal made the most of the opportunities available at HSE University: he participated in an academic mobility programme, spent a year in Spain, got transferred to a state-funded place, and participated in case championships and educational schools. This experience helped him to start a career in the Big Four, work in several countries, and continue his career path at B1 as a senior consultant in the Business Tax Advisory department.