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Lucas Akolzin, from Brazil, is a third-year student of the International Programme 'International Relations and Global Studies.' In his interview with the HSE News Service, he spoke about why he decided to pursue education in international relations, what political leaders inspire him, and how his Russian background encouraged him to study in Moscow.

In 2024, Ikenna Mbata, from Owerri, Nigeria, enrolled on the Master’s in Science, Technology and Innovation Management and Policy at ISSEK in Moscow. After two years of studies, on June 1, 2026 he successfully defended his master’s thesis ‘The Spatial Distribution of Pharma Start-ups in Africa: An Analysis of Innovation Clusters and Policy Drivers.’ In his interview with the HSE News Service, Ikenna speaks about his research topic, the role of HSE University in shaping his skills, the importance of volunteering, and the benefits of studying in an international environment.

Sachin Malhotra, from Agra, India, is a second-year student of the Master’s in Data Science at HSE University in Moscow. Having pivoted to data science from a career in PR, he plans to put his new knowledge into practice in the realm of e-commerce. In this interview with the HSE News Service, Sachin talks about what makes HSE appealing, the modern skills essential for any economist, and the impact of ‘atomic habits.’

Adeola Oluwatobi Oyewole, from Nigeria, obtained her bachelor’s degree in Sociology at the University of Ibadan in Nigeria, the country's first and oldest university. She went on to graduate from the HSE’s Master’s programme in Population and Development and is now pursuing her PhD at the Doctoral School of Sociology. In her interview with the HSE News Service, Adeola spoke on her career plans after completing her PhD and explains why it’s important to empower young girls to study in male-dominated STEM fields.

Madina Yessimova, from Kazakhstan, is a fourth-year bachelor’s student of Business Administration at the HSE Graduate School of Business. In her interview with the HSE News Service, Madina talks about her drive to study abroad and how it led her to HSE, her research on entrepreneurial activity in Kazakhstan and Russia, and her experiences representing the Kazakhstani community in Russia.

Rufino Haroldo Locon, from Guatemala, graduated from the Master's in System Programming at the Faculty of Computer Science in 2024, and now he is a first-year PhD student at MIEM. In his interview with the HSE News Service, he spoke on high-performance computing, the role literature plays in his life, and his plans after graduation.

Muhammad Abdullah Tariq, 25, from Pakistan, has a bachelor’s in Government and Public Policy from the National Defence University (Islamabad) and is now a student of the Master’s in Science, Technology and Innovation Management and Policy at HSE University–Moscow. In his interview with the HSE News Service, he spoke on the importance of science diplomacy, the challenges of the Russian language, and why research intensity is a good thing.

Victoria Ramos Gonzales, from Bolivia, fell in love with Moscow after visiting the city in 2022. Now, as a student of the ‘Master in International Management’ programme at the HSE Graduate School of Business, she researches management systems with a focus on Latin America. In this interview with the HSE News Service, Victoria talks about choosing to study at HSE University–Moscow, presenting her research to experts at a seminar, and finding the confidence to use Russian in daily life.

Kingsly Nji Nche enrolled in the Master's programme 'International Business in the Asia-Pacific Region' at HSE University–St Petersburg after studying journalism in Cameroon. Read on to find out how the media is related to economics and what the advantages of studying at a multicultural university are.

Wang Yali has been interested in Russian language and politics since her time as an undergraduate at Peking University. After graduating with a degree in Asian and African Languages and Literatures and a second degree in International Relations, she pursued a Master’s in International Relations at the Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs at HSE University–Moscow. She is now pursuing a PhD at the Doctoral School of Political Science, examining Russian narratives of ‘East,’ ‘West,’ and its own place among them.