New Coworking Space Opens at HSE Dormitory 8

On December 30th, 2021 a new coworking space in dormitory 8 was officially opened. This area, designed by HSE students, will feature space for meeting, playing music and board games and watching movies. During exams, it can be used for joint studies, project discussions and brainstorming.

The new coworking space includes two rooms: a larger room for watching movies and playing musical instruments and a smaller room for playing board games. The large room is equipped with a projector and a screen, bean bags, chairs and an electronic piano with a headphone port. There are tables, shelves with books and board games, as well as a whiteboard in the small room.

Before the coworking space, there were two dining halls and catering was provided in these rooms. When the cafeteria was closed, the administration invited the Student Council of the dormitory to use the premises however they wanted. At a meeting of the Student Council, the participants decided to arrange a new recreation room there.

The design was developed by Anastasia Kan and Dayana Emtyl, students of the Faculty of Communications, Media and Design, who received certificates of appreciation for their work signed by Viktor Emelyanov, Director for Dormitory, Guesthouse and Recreation Centre Management.

At each stage of the project, the dormitory administration worked closely with the Student Council. One of the most important tasks in this work was to implement the project exactly as the students had envisioned it

HSE University Vice Rectors Vladimir Samoylenko and Dmitry Zemtsov attended the opening ceremony.

After the ceremony, HSE Vice Rectors and representatives of the student councils of dormitories 6 and 8, as well as Andrey Mikhailovsky, head of the Student Council Dormitory Committee held a meeting in this new space. The participants discussed new joint projects between the Student Council and the administration which could improve the quality of student dormitories.

© Daniil Prokofyev / HSE University

Vladimir Samoylenko and Dmitry Zemtsov spoke about the creation of a project committee to improve the quality of life in dormitories, which will include representatives of the Student Council and the university administration. The Vice Rectors also noted that next year's budget includes 40 million roubles allocated for improving student living conditions. Thanks to this new committee, it will be easier to take into account the opinions and real needs of students when allocating these funds.

Dmitry Zemtsov
HSE University Vice Rector

The creation of a new coworking space in dormitory 8 is an excellent example of effective dialogue between the university administration and the student community. The dormitory student council took over all the project work, developing a plan and a 3D layout of the rooms and deciding how to use the large and small rooms. We, on our part, offered space for the implementation of students' ideas and assistance in solving bureaucratic issues.

The implementation of such a relatively small project still requires a lot of effort. The students showed that they not only have design talent, but also know how to negotiate and interact on different levels. I am sure that in the future they will implement larger and more ambitious projects.

Vladimir Samoylenko
HSE University Vice Rector

The idea of coworking areas has existed for a long time, but with the appointment of HSE Rector Nikita Anisimov, it received increased support and a serious boost. During meetings over the summer with the Student Council, he visited several dormitories, where students spoke about their wish to convert the existing cafeteria into places for meetings, collaboration and recreation.

We plan to further develop the coworking movement in HSE University dormitories. Today we are opening a coworking space here, in Dormitory 8, and another one is being opened in Dubki Dormitory by the Student Council. We are happy to give these spaces over to students — they will use them for their needs, can organize events there and will be responsible for keeping them clean and tidy.

Together with Dmitry Zemtsov, we have created a project committee where the Student Council and the university management will be represented on an equal basis. We hope that it will become a platform for exchanging opinions, openly discussing issues with the dormitories and contributing to the implementation of student initiatives.

December 30, 2021