Ilya Kozylov and Maxim Kokovin – winners of the Vladimir Potanin Scholarship Competition

Master's students of the “Socioeconomic and Political Development of Modern Asia” program at HSE University, Ilya Kozylov and Maxim Kokovin, became the winners of the Vladimir Potanin Scholarship Competition.

On February 28, the results of the 2022/2023 Vladimir Potanin Scholarship Competition were announced. The competition aims to support master's students in their professional and personal development. 6410 applications were submitted, and only 750 applicants were able to earn the honor of being named winners based on the results of the online and in-person rounds. This year, the Higher School of Economics traditionally ranked among the leaders in terms of the number of winners, including Ilya Kozylov and Maxim Kokovin, second-year students of the “Socioeconomic and Political Development of Modern Asia” program at the Faculty of World Economy and World Politics of HSE University. Ilya and Maxim shared their impressions of participating in the competition and their desired victory.

Ilya:

This is my second attempt to participate in the Competition, which fortunately became successful. Last year's competition made a strong impression on me with its depth of conceptual and organizational development, as well as how clearly and soberly you begin to see your positive and negative sides. I believe that the valuable insights and experience gained last year were one of the factors that led me to victory.

It is important to emphasize that the concept of the Competition is very interesting and, importantly, objective. At the stage of online expertise, the potential scholarship holder's ability to creatively, substantively, and concisely present their personal, professional interests, as well as their point of view on a number of key topics for the Competition in written form, is tested. The final, offline stage, in turn, involves a comprehensive assessment of communicative and leadership qualities, the ability to interact in a team and make a feasible, constructive contribution to the cohesion and effectiveness of the team formed during the selection process.

At the same time, the finalist's ability to work individually, as well as to promote and defend their own interests within the team, is being tested here. Objectivity is determined by the multifaceted and universality of the proposed cases and tasks, which erases the boundary between representatives of different specialties. It should be noted that the Competition unites representatives of all kinds of fields, from medicine and food industry technology to Eastern studies and art history. In my opinion, it is the ability to adapt to any situation, find a common language, and strive to achieve a common goal that is the key criterion for evaluating a potential scholarship holder.

I am convinced that every student in our (and not only) program should try their hand at this Competition, if only for the sake of acquiring fresh and positive ideas, cool acquaintances, and invaluable experience. Please remember that leadership is not so much about how efficient, charismatic, and communicative you are. Leadership is primarily about how you create and maintain harmony in the team, directing it towards the goal.

Maxim:

I first heard about the Potanin Foundation Scholarship competition during my fourth year of undergraduate studies, and I thought then that I should definitely try my hand and participate. However, during my first year, I remembered about the competition quite late and didn't dare to fill out the application in the last few days. That's why I was only able to participate in it during my second year, and I have no regrets about that.

I believe that the Potanin Foundation Scholarship competition fulfills an important social mission, helping master's students concentrate on academic activities without being distracted by financial issues. The master's level is the first step towards the academic sphere, and it is especially important here that the student has the opportunity to fully realize their scientific potential by participating in research projects, acquiring fundamental knowledge in their subject area, and working on their master's thesis.

If we talk about the competition itself, it consists of two stages. In the first stage, it is important to show your motivation for participation and support it with your academic and social achievements. Perhaps you have experience in project activities, or you have participated in scientific conferences, or have been involved in research projects. It is important to show that your activity already or potentially has a positive impact on society as a whole. The second stage of the competition involves in-person participation. Here you will be faced with a variety of tasks and business games, from self-presentation to team cases. At this stage, foundation experts will evaluate your ability to communicate, show initiative, and teamwork skills. The main thing is not to be afraid to show yourself and do not neglect your teammates, as I believe that altruism and friendliness are also important factors for success.

I urge all students in our program to definitely try their hand. The competition will only give you positive emotions and won't take up too much time, and in case of success, a pleasant reward awaits you! Be brave and try, the experience of participation itself is valuable!