The 23rd Annual Meeting of the Valdai Discussion Club was held from September 28 to October 1, 2026 under the theme ‘Responsibility for the Future: Limits of the Possible, or Limitless Possibilities?’ The forum brought together 120 experts from 40 countries, including representatives of China, the United States, India, Brazil, the United Kingdom, Germany, Egypt, Iran, and Japan.

Elima Afzalshoeva, an 11th-grade student at the HSE Lyceum, won a bronze medal at the International Olympiad on Climate Change and Environmental Issues (IOCE) 2026, held in the Sirius Federal Territory, Russian Federation. She was one of five school students representing Russia at the competition. Elima told the HSE News Service about her preparation for the olympiad, teamwork, the practical round held at Sochi National Park, and her plans to pursue further studies in ecology at university.

The HSE Faculty of Computer Science has summarised the results of the first admissions campaign for its new bachelor’s degree programme in Design of Intelligent Robotic Systems (DIRS). A total of 53 students were admitted to the first year. We spoke to some of the first-year students to find out why they decided to build their future careers in this field, what their first few weeks of study have been like, and what projects they are already working on.

The HSE Faculty of Economic Sciences has launched its traditional contest to predict the 2026 laureates of the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences. Vote on the website by October 12 to see how well you know contemporary economics and how closely you follow the main trends in academic research.

HSE University has announced the results of its International Academic Cooperation (IAC) competition for joint fundamental research projects. Five projects have received full funding, while six more have been awarded partial funding. The research teams include scholars from Brazil, South Africa, China, India, and Oman. Alexander Balyshev, HSE University Vice President, shared details of the 2026 IAC competition winners.

The HSE International Centre of Decision Choice and Analysis studies a wide range of methods for analysing decision-making and possible scenarios for the development of natural, socio-economic, and political phenomena using various mathematical models. The application of advanced mathematical methods to forecasting helps to prevent negative outcomes and avoid erroneous decisions. The HSE News Service spoke to the centre’s director, Prof. Fuad Aleskerov, about its work.

The Faculty of Urban and Regional Development (FURD) at HSE University and the municipal government of Kunshan, China, have agreed to develop expert and educational cooperation between Russian and Chinese cities. The partnership will involve exchanging professional expertise, designing professional development programmes, and jointly studying urban development.

In September, HSE University hosted a discussion titled Civil Society in African Countries and Youth Participation in Public Diplomacy. Representatives of NGOs from Ghana, Ethiopia, and Russia, along with students from HSE University’s Bachelor’s Programme in Public Administration, discussed how young people without official diplomatic status can influence relations between countries and how the nonprofit sector can remain sustainable amid declining grant funding.

Linara Khadimullina works in the field of low-carbon development. In an interview with the Young Scientists of HSE project, she spoke about why nature is not just a beautiful backdrop, her research on the role of sustainable corporate governance in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and growing plants as a source of inspiration.