On Campus

In the last few days, a very dangerous virus that encrypts all data on computers and demands money for decryption has been appearing on the Internet. Over 300,000 computers have been infected around the world. Computers running Microsoft Windows operating systems are at particular risk. As a result, Microsoft has released an update that eliminates vulnerability.

The April issue of The HSE Look is focused on HSE’s projects which reach out beyond the campus.  We’ll explore both the local focus, through open events held by Graduate School of Urbanism and public lectures in English within HSE Talks project, as well as a wider outreach through Summer University programme.  Of course, we could not go without touching upon the April Conference, and, traditionally, we announce the upcoming visits of international scholars, supported by institutional funding, as well as the open call for Teaching Excellence workshops.

In 2014 HSE launched its first Summer University aimed at international students – since then the number of participants and courses as well as their diversity grew greatly. The Summer University opens its doors to the world on June 20, 2017, and Oksana Chernenko, Director of the Summer University programme, and Anna Mezentseva, manager of the Summer University programme, talked to The HSE Look about the programme and how it helps to promote HSE and Russia as study destinations globally.

Vysokovsky Graduate School of Urbanism at HSE is regularly holding events and activities open to the general public. Deputy Dean Vera Leonova told The HSE Look about the goals of such open projects, benefits of collaborations and future plans of the school.

The HSE Look is happy to promote HSE Teaching Excellence programme which gives an opportunity to organize workshops for HSE teachers with colleagues with extensive teaching experience from universities abroad. Such visits aresupported by institutional funding through applications made by academic programmes.The call for applications from HSE degree programmes for HSE Teaching Excellence visits is open until June 1, 2017.

The following visits are scheduled for February, March and early April 2017. If you are interested in this programme and would like to know details on how to submit a proposal, please, consult your department or visitingscholar@hse.ru.

Christopher Brav, Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Mathematics, joined the Higher School of Economics in 2014 after holding several teaching and research positions abroad. The HSE news service recently had the opportunity to speak with him about his research interests, teaching philosophy and how he has settled into life in Moscow.

A great number of student associations and clubs at HSE involve students in a variety of activities from historical re-enactment to yachting. Fly HSE, a paragliding club, recently joined the list. The HSE News Service learned how you can get in, the time required to prepare, and whether you can fly in winter.

In December 2016, an orchestra was formed at HSE whose musicians include both lecturers and students – and not only from HSE. The artists, who are mastering a broad repertoire from classical operas to film soundtracks, are preparing to play at non-university venues and are inviting new participants to join them.

Adapting to a new university environment can be a difficult process, especially with such a thing as teaching classes, where not only teacher’s own abilities but also formal requirements and the academic culture of the institution come into play. In previous issues of The HSE Look (October 2015, May 2014, September 2013) we covered different aspects of teaching at HSE, such as the module system, assessment regulations, syllabus design, finding teaching assistants and using electronic Learning Management System.