BRICS Expert Council–Russia Launched at HSE University
The official presentation of the BRICS Expert Council–Russia has taken place at HSE University. The Council will be responsible for the information, analytical and expert support of the Russian BRICS Chairship 2024.
The BRICS Expert Council–Russia was established according to the decision of the Government of the Russian Federation at HSE University at the initiative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation. The Council will be engaged in expert, analytical and scientific activities on current issues of political, socio-economic, and humanitarian cooperation within BRICS.
Victoria Panova, Head of the BRICS Expert Council and Vice-Rector of HSE University, notes that this shows the high level of trust in HSE by Russia’s leadership. ‘Today HSE University is one of the leading Russian centres in the field of international educational, scientific and expert cooperation,’ she says. ‘HSE University has an exceptional set of competencies in these areas, and our employees enjoy well-deserved renown and have the highest reputation and authority in their fields.’
Victoria Panova highlighted the primary role of the expert track in building effective cooperation among the association’s member countries in terms of track II diplomacy.
‘2024 marked the start of a new chapter in the history of BRICS. Russia, as the inaugural chair of the expanded BRICS group, needs to ensure the smooth integration of new member countries into the association’s work. BRICS is effectively developing track II diplomacy, i.e. informal initiatives of academic, expert and civil society communities that interact with government institutions. Our Expert Council is vested with responsibility to act as a national coordinator for BRICS expert track since 2024,’ she added.
This year, the council will hold a number of expert events to collect recommendations on the development of comprehensive cooperation between the member countries for the leaders of BRICS. The main results of this expert track work will be presented at the BRICS Academic and Civil Forums, which will be held in Moscow on May 22nd-24th and July 3rd-4th, respectively.
BRICS Expert Councill–Russia was presented in February at HSE University as part of the strategic session entitled ‘Russian BRICS Chairship 2024: Role of the Expert Track’. Leading Russian experts and scientists from HSE University, IMEMO RAS, RANEPA, MGIMO, the Russian International Affairs Council, etc. all took part in its work. Lilia Rizvanova, BRICS Office, Russian Foreign Ministry, and Evgenia Drozhshchikh, Deputy Director of the Department for Multilateral Economic Cooperation and Special Projects of the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation, spoke about the main priorities of the Russian BRICS chairship.
Since January 1st, 2024, BRICS officially expanded to include ten countries: Russia, Brazil, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Ethiopia. In 2024, Russia is chair of the BRICS group. The theme of the Russian chairship is ‘Strengthening multilateralism for equitable global development and security.’ A summit between leaders of the BRICS countries will be held in Kazan.
See also:
The Future Through the Eyes of Young Scientists
A delegation of teachers and students from the HSE Campus in Nizhny Novgorod participated in the IV Young Scientists Congress and the IX BRICS Young Scientists Forum held in Sochi. These two key events of the Russian Decade of Science and Technology brought together representatives of the academic and university community, state corporations, private businesses, and public organisations to envision the future of Russian science through the lens of the younger generation.
‘We Need Our Own AI Models Trained on Local Data’
The digitalisation of the economy and the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies pose new challenges for antitrust authorities worldwide. Major players in the AI market, equipped with significant resources, can block new entrants and set anti-competitive prices. Additionally, the use of AI raises increasingly complex ethical questions for which the global community has yet to develop answers. These and other issues were discussed at the Third BRICS+ Digital Competition Forum.
‘It Is Hard to Imagine High-Level Interpretation Being Entrusted to a Machine’
In 2024, Russia chairs BRICS, an international organisation comprising nine countries. Throughout the year, dozens of forums, working group meetings, and BRICS sessions took place across various Russian cities. As an interpreter, Ksenia Prosyukova, Associate Professor at the HSE School of Foreign Languages and Candidate of Science (PhD) in Pedagogy, participated in several BRICS events. In an interview, she discussed the personal responsibility of working at high-level events, the challenges and prospects of her profession, and how HSE University trains in-demand translators.
BRICS Representatives Discuss the Development of Statistics in Member Countries
The significance of statistics in today’s digital age has reached a new level. Many decisions at government and business levels are based on data analysis. However, there is a mixed perception of official statistics, which negatively affects trust in public policies. The heads of BRICS statistical agencies discussed this issue and ways to address it at a forum in Kazan, where a representative from HSE University also participated in the event.
‘Geographical Distance No Longer a Problem’: ISSEK Fosters Cooperation with Think Tanks in BRICS Countries
In September, the HSE Institute for Statistical Studies and Economics of Knowledge hosted an international working meeting with representatives from Brazilian, Egyptian, and Indian think tanks. The participants discussed opportunities for cooperation, including joint surveys, comparative studies, databases, and publications on foresight, technology, and innovation. It was also decided to draft a multilateral agreement to establish the BRICS Foresight Association.
HSE Experts Take Part in the First International Workshop on Technological Sustainability of BRICS
On September 19–20, Skoltech hosted the First International Workshop on Technological Sustainability of BRICS: University-Industry Partnerships, organised jointly with HSE University Human Capital Multidisciplinary Research Center. The meeting was held as part of the BRICS working group on technology foresight and science and technology studies.
HSE Researchers to Develop BRICS Exchange System Together with Chinese Experts
HSE University International BRICS Competition Law and Policy Centre and the Competition Policy and Assessment Centre founded by the State Administration for Market Regulation of China signed a cooperation agreement. The parties agreed to come up with proposals for the development of exchange trade in goods and raw materials between Russia, China, and the BRICS countries.
‘What Makes BRICS Effective Is Its Diversity’: HSE University Representatives Begin Work at EEF
HSE University Vice Rector Victoria Panova spoke at the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF 2024) that began in Vladivostok. The topic of her speech was the expansion of BRICS.
'Staying Open to New Challenges and Opportunities Is Crucial'
The Tenth BRICS Youth Summit was held in Ulyanovsk from July 22 to 26. The event was attended by more than 200 early-career professionals from Brazil, India, China, Egypt, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Ethiopia, South Africa, and Russian regions. Participants gathered to discuss current global issues and explore opportunities for youth collaboration. Students of HSE University who attended the Youth Summit shared their impressions with HSE University Life.
HSE University Launches Consortium of BRICS Law Schools
The HSE Faculty of Law hosted an online meeting with law schools and expert centres from BRICS countries. The purpose of the event was to join efforts to advance legal science and practice for the benefit of the organization. To this end, at the initiative of the Dean of the Faculty of Law Vadim Vinogradov, a Consortium of BRICS Law Schools was established, comprising representatives of leading higher education institutions from a number of countries.