This is an Opportunity Which Any True Researcher Would Regret Missing

Svetlana Kolesnichenko (Bachelor program "Economics" junior) is talking to Foyiq Abdulvahhob (Master program Financial Markets and Financial Institutions, 2010 – 2014 BSc in Economics with Finance with First Class Honours, Westminster International University in Tashkent) to find out his motivation to study at the Faculty of Economic Sciences

 
It is the most obvious, but still important one: why economics? Why not physics or pure mathematics if you consider yourself as «math person» or why not international relations or international trade if you are a «humanist»?

Svetlana Kolesnichenko

FA: Look, that choice was really harsh, especially when I was deciding about my bachelor's degree major. At that moment I had to choose between Business Administration, Economics/ Finance, Commercial Law, and Business IT. Law was not of any interest for me, IT would not be suitable, as I had no basic knowledge of IT at all. Business Administration seemed too artistic to me: I thought it does not provide any practically useful knowledge. Therefore, I opted for the Finance major. Later I have found out what a harsh area of science it was. Only after graduation, when I worked in finance department in an international bank, I got serious interest in finance, especially in accounting. However, I should note that I still consider myself more of person who's into humanities, rather than exact sciences.

SK: Why have you decided to study in Russia? Why not in Germany or the Netherlands, with the top-European programs? Russia can’t be included into the top world economies club.

FA: As for location, the answer here lies at the surface. I was actually not looking for study opportunities at all. This was because I was totally happy with my job and enjoyed my time at the bank. A good friend of mine though shared information about study opportunities in Russia. That was when I got really excited.

SK: And now another «WHY»-one: Why HSE? And the HSE university is not as old as MSU or MGIMO, for example. What prospects does it open for you?

FA: As for university choice, I was not considering MSU at all. This is not due to anything, just didn't have enough interest in it. MGIMO was a school of my dream, as I remember watching "Umniki i umnici" and seeing the guys actually getting scholarships to MGIMO. As I told above (have already told/said), I am more into humanities, and politics and international relations excite me. But the limitation was that MGIMO was available only through official channels of Ministry of Foreign Relations, namely their subordinate university, which I didn't graduate from. But HSE was not like a 'choice of desperation'. I was eager to get the scholarship, because I knew this school since I was a schoolkid. I used to read several Russian periodicals, and noticed that crucial economic and social issues are often addressed to HSE faculty.

In terms of prospects, I really hope to get a job here. I mean, there are some problems, taking into account my country of origin, which is not quite favorable in terms of labor market perceptions. However, I still see opportunities here. It becomes especially visible when it comes to employer’s questions about the university I study in and then their following "AWWWWW".

SK: Have you ever had an educational experience abroad (excluding Russia)? If yes, was you HSE degree admired there? What differences are there between studying there and in Russia? And between your Tashkent experience and Russian?

FA: I have never studied anywhere abroad, though my bachelor's study was in a British university in Tashkent. The differences are obvious. I think that there are many positives which HSE could adapt for its own educational system. For example, the grading system. In Western educational institutions the unbiasedness of grading is very important. To do this, the students are usually given unique IDs and do not use own names and surnames in any submitted assignment.

[SK comment: now this is applied in ICEF and by several professors as I know]

Therefore, graders do not have a stimulus to draw biased conclusions upon familiar students' works. This is, I guess, something to try. There are many other cases, which might be arranged differently in HSE. 

 The striking difference for me was the concentration of HSE on scientific research. This concentration is seen in everything, at least in the faculty of economic sciences.

Foyiq Abdulvahhob

SK: Was it difficult to be admitted to HSE? Was it too competitive or not? What feelings do you have about this entire experience? As for me, I remember enrolling in the HSE as a very scaring month, checking and rechecking my place in the «rolling lists». And I feel an actual relief only on the 30th of August.

FA: Entering HSE was quite an experience, although not extremely competitive for me. I had to pass an interview, which was not a very tough task for me. I guess the interviewer saw and 'accepted' my achievements (Republican Olympiad winner, bank worker in a reputable bank, international university graduate, my good English etc.) In this terms, for Central Asian entrants it was even easier than for Russians at some point in time (for example, last year). This year things were a bit different, the competition was higher and many faculties required passing an extra examination for potential entrants.

Well, personally I liked HSE from the very first day here. I see their potential. It is the most independent educational institution in Russia. I mean, it is free of propaganda and censoring, the students are welcome to express their views and beliefs in open discussions. The lecturers usually present all information from different angles - that is unbiasedness. And thanks to deep financing (at least up to now)) ) the scientific research is going very well. I am applying this at least to the faculty of economic sciences, because I heard that there are some faculties, which are thought to be non-core, where the research orientation does not really exist. I also saw several exchange students, who were really excited with their experience here, and i think other international students would also find their time here INTERESTING and USEFUL)

SK: A plenty of my friends graduated this year with the bachelor degree completed with one or the other level of success. So, some of them asked university-mates about the necessity - practical necessity - of the Ms degree. One had even conduct a survey about this in VK. So, why did you decided to study for another 2 years?

FA: So, necessity of master's. Well, I personally do not consider it essential, but for the employment opportunities in Russia my HSE study is totally more beneficial than my Westminster one, though it was British.

SK: You have a work experience, in banking sphere if I am not mistaken. Do you feel that what you have received as a student as actually relevant and useful for you work? Will this academic background be practically helpful or it is just «for the general development», as some elderly in Russia likes to say.

FA: Relevance of my previous studies. Well, I suppose, my studies were actually helpful to some extent. I mean, when I was studying there, I would always complain about relevance of modules we take, that they would never ever be of use in real life. However, some of my modules were actually helpful. These include IAS, Financial Securities, etc. They were actually helpful, and I mean it! In terms of what I am studying currently, well, I don't really know. I hope it might be, but on the other hand, I have taken so many introductory general knowledge modules, like micro, macro, finance theory, which, I consider practically useless in terms of future employment.

SK: Why would you recommend HSE to the future students: both Russians and international? And what you would like to say to them?

FA: HSE in general is a very professional education institution. I do enjoy my time here, I really do. This is an absolutely ideal place for those who are keen on academic research. If you have interest in this, academic staff will give you the very best of their knowledge in theory and techniques of doing research. You have huge publication opportunities and numerous grants for academic achievements. And this is an opportunity which any true researcher would regret missing.