Public Policy Programme – Ten Years and Growing

On June 24, as the entire world was reeling from the Brexit vote, the centre of Moscow saw another farewell taking place at HSE, albeit one considerably more festive in nature. This was the 10th anniversary of the Public Policy programme at HSE where 35 graduates received their diploma after two years of hard work to earn their coveted Master’s degree in Public Policy.

The illustrious journey of HSE’s Public Policy programme has been spearheaded by Professor Nina Belyaeva for a decade now. What is interesting to note is that during this period the positioning of public policy as a cross-disciplinary programme has risen significantly around the world. Professor Belyaeva has worked to develop a rigorous and challenging programme.

During the ceremony, the big conference hall at HSE’s premises at 9/11 Myasnitskaya was crowded with graduating students and their well-wishers, old friends of the Public Policy programme, and numerous HSE scholars and thinkers. The students’ flowing gowns and caps with golden string very much symbolized the precious thread of wisdom imbibed during these past two years.

Professor Evgeny Yasin, one of HSE’s founding fathers, came to congratulate the students on their success and wish them a great professional journey. Professor Yasin introduced the newly appointed Vice Rector for International Cooperation, Professor Prostakov, who was generous enough to officiate the graduation ceremony alongside Professor Belyaeva. Upon receiving their diplomas, students all shared memories and impressions following their two life-transforming years at HSE. Their messages were diverse and they varied in colour, but the one thing that united them all was that their memories ‘were all permanently etched and engraved with the feeling of Public Policy family deep in their soul’.

Following the graduation ceremony the students gathered for a student-organized party where professors were invited to share in joyful and musical toasts of success. It was a feeling of a perfect ten coupled with many hugs and flashing cameras aiming to safely document this unique day for posterity.