In 2014, HSE Institute for Statistical Studies and Economics of Knowledge (ISSEK) successfully launched the English-language Master’s Programme "Governance of Science, Technology and Innovation". On the basis of the first enrolment rate the Programme was listed among Top-7 HSE Master’s programmes with the highest competitive selection.

About the Programme

Within two years, Master’s students are supposed to acquire professional skills to work as policymakers, specialists in foresight, managers in the area of science and technology, political counsellors, innovation leaders, consultants, risk and global challenges appraisers.

Graduates will become highly demanded experts (and drivers of changes) in the innovation and consulting companies, development centres, government agencies, research institutions and international organisations.

They will be able to:

• set priorities of the development of large groups, organisations and regions in a global evolutionary process;
• set goals for short- and long-term planning horizons and provide a reasonable distribution of material and non-material resources for their achievement;
• develop feasible strategies of innovative development and give clear and precise directions for advancing long-term priorities of the development;
• form the agenda and develop science, technology and innovation policy tools;
• create innovative communities and moderate interaction between its participants.

They will learn how to:

• analyse and understand deeply, anticipate and think ahead;
• be motivated and motivate others to enter into a competition as well as reach an understanding;
• speak the language of international communication fluently and command the vocabulary of long-term priorities and global challenges;
• work in a multicultural and interdisciplinary team;
• express an interest in the future of their homeland and the whole world and find similarities in different cultures and areas of knowledge (for example, non-science and technical fields);
• switch from present to future and vise versa.

Courses are taught by Russian and foreign experts from the academic environment and business community. So far the students have had a chance to attend the lectures, seminars, master classes conducted by Esko Aho, the former Prime Minister of Finland, professor Giorgio Sirilli, one of the world's experts in the field of statistical measurement of science, technology and innovation activity and research director at the Institute for Economic Research on Firms and Growth (CERIS) of the National Research Council (CNR), Laudeline Auriol, the OECD representative, and many others.

The teaching language is English; it can help non-native speakers increase their level and build a career in international organisations.

Classes take place in the evening (from 6 till 9 p.m.) which gives students a possibility to combine their studies with work.

In the framework of the Master’s programme, five international agreements for new double diplomas and student exchanges have been signed with leading universities of Europe and Asia. It will definitely encourage students to get internationally oriented education.

Also, Master’s Programme students have an opportunity to take an internship at leading Russian companies and development centres (e.g. Russian Venture Company), government agencies (the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation, Moscow Innovation Development Centre, etc.) and international institutions and organisations (for example, OECD and Joanneum Research).

How to apply?

In 2015 the Programme offers 27 state-funded places and 10 self-funded places.

The admission selection proceeds in two steps: portfolio assessment and an interview in English.

The Programme is interdisciplinary and open to students with absolutely different educational backgrounds. Among its students, there are chemists, physicists, composers, employees of a number of hi-tech companies and a representative of a European embassy in Russia.

Starting from the second year, there is a flexible discount system for self-funded students based on the student’s academic performance results of the first year (including 100% discount).

For further details, please, visit the website. Also see more about insights and insides about the ISSEK Master's programme.