The Laboratory for Science and Technology Studies at the HSE Institute for Statistical Studies and Economics of Knowledge (ISSEK) examines the current state of R&D and analyses emerging trends and their dynamics. This work helps assess the scale of challenges associated with the adoption of new technologies, identify priorities for future research, and inform science and industrial policy. The HSE News Service spoke with Liliana Proskuryakova, Head of the Laboratory, and Alexander Sokolov, Director of the Foresight Centre at ISSEK.

From October 28 to 30, the 17^th International Conference on Higher Education, ‘The (Non)Homogeneous Landscape of Higher Education: Institutions, Trajectories, Effects,’ took place at HSE University. Among the key topics discussed at the plenary sessions on the second and third days were the development of master's programmes and the application of AI in the learning process.

On October 28, 2026, HSE University in Moscow hosted the Second Indonesian Language Congress, entitled ‘The Indonesian Language on the Global Stage: Challenges, Opportunities, and Prospects’. The event brought together representatives of the diplomatic community, educational and research organisations from Russia and Indonesia, as well as teachers, researchers, and students.

HSE University–St Petersburg students, led by the dean of the School of Art and Design, joined an international laboratory and visited Morocco. In the land of golden sunsets, the team met representatives of cultural institutions from four cities. Using the materials they collected, the young designers will develop a brand identity for local projects, museums, and design studios.

This year’s conference was entitled ‘The (Non)Homogeneous Landscape of Higher Education: Institutions, Trajectories, and Effects.’ It brought together more than 600 participants. Over the three days, around 100 papers were presented on topics including the economics and stratification of higher education, student wellbeing, the diversity of academic career paths, big data and analytics for measuring heterogeneity, and other related areas.

Syed Amir Ali Shah, from Pakistan, enrolled in the Master’s in Information Security and Artificial Intelligence Technologies to study in a modern, international environment with ample opportunities to develop outside the classroom. In his time at HSE University, Syed Amir Ali has gained deeper insight into the relationship between information security and AI, presented his research to the university community, and volunteered at a wide range of university events. Read on to find out more in this interview.

On October 12, 2026, a delegation from the China National Academy of Educational Sciences (CNAES), led by its President, Li Yongzhi, visited HSE University. At a meeting with HSE President Nikita Anisimov, the two sides reviewed the results of their long-standing partnership and discussed prospects for joint research.

On October 23–24, HSE University hosted the landmark fifth Fall into ML 2026 Conference. During the foresight session titled ‘A Humanoid in Your Kitchen: When Will It Happen and What Can Prevent It?’ researchers explored why humanoid robot assistants have not yet become part of our everyday lives, what needs to change for this to happen, and who will be held responsible when such assistants make mistakes.

The HSE Faculty of Computer Science will complete the development of the third phase of the SmartMLOps system by the end of the year. This enterprise platform simplifies and accelerates the deployment of AI models in production environments. Hadi Saleh, Head of the Unit for Applied Technological Solutions at the AI and Digital Science Institute of the HSE Faculty of Computer Science, explains what makes the new system unique and what challenges it will be able to address.