Institute of Education, HSE University Russia

Unlocking Global Classrooms: How MOOCs Are Shaping International Student Recruitment

In a world where education increasingly transcends borders, Ekaterina Minaeva, Ulyana Zakharova, and Svetlana Zhuchkova set off on a research journey to explore the untapped potential of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) as a tool for attracting international students. Their study, published in EMOOCs 2025, asks a timely question: Can online learning platforms like Coursera and edX become the next frontier in global student recruitment: https://ioe.hse.ru/en/news/1110758544.html

From Beijing to Moscow: Stepping Up the Joint Agenda in Education R&D

Earlier this December, IOE welcomed a delegation from the Institute of Education Theory at the China National Academy of Educational Sciences (CNAES), marking a new milestone in a long-standing and productive partnership. Building on years of collaboration—and a recent IOE visit to Beijing—the two sides reaffirmed shared research priorities and explored new opportunities for joint projects: https://ioe.hse.ru/en/news/1109492294.html

During the visit, discussions ranged from comparative analyses of education development strategies in Russia and China to emerging research on artificial intelligence in education—its promise, risks, and policy implications. The program also included a visit to the HSE Lyceum, where the delegation observed an open Chinese-language lesson and engaged with colleagues across institutions.
Looking ahead, IOE and CNAES plan to co-organize a Russian–Chinese Forum on Education next year, further deepening academic cooperation ahead of the Cross Years of Education 2026. As IOE leaders noted, this exchange signals a new stage in collaboration—one focused on shared agendas, global challenges, and the future of education research.

Indian TVET: Between Informality and Ambitions—Join the CERE Expert Seminar

How can India strengthen its technical and vocational education system in a labor market transformed by AI, global shifts, and demographic change?

Join the CERE Observatory on November 20 @ 12:00 GMT for the next session in the Expert Seminar Series “TVET Systems in BRICS Countries: Landscape and Contexts.”

This talk dives into the realities of India’s TVET system—from persistent inequalities and low demand for vocational pathways to weak industry linkages and a growing mismatch between training and labor market needs. A key question on the table: Can industry-driven approaches outperform traditional government-led models in forging a future-proof workforce?

Speakers:
• Santosh Mehrotra, Visiting Professor, Centre for Development Studies (University of Bath, UK); Lead Research Fellow, HSE IOE
• Pradeep Kumar Choudhury, Assistant Professor of Economics, Zakir Husain Centre for Educational Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University

More information & registration: https://cereobservatory.com/indiantvet_seminar

Don’t miss this chance to join a global conversation on the future of skills, inclusion, and development in one of the world’s most dynamic labor markets.

IOE at WERA 2025: From TVET Insights to BRICS Education Trends

In October, the HSE Institute of Education took center stage at the World Education Research Association (WERA) Conference in João Pessoa, Brazil—presenting a rich lineup of studies on vocational education, comparative research, and education policy in the BRICS countries: https://ioe.hse.ru/en/news/1103328014.html

A highlight was the CERE Observatory-led panel “Rethinking TVET in Comparative Perspective”, featuring Vera Maltseva and Maksim Nikitin, where scholars from Russia, Germany, Japan, the US, and Brazil explored how social and economic contexts shape vocational education worldwide. As Maltseva noted, “Comparing isn’t about competing, but about learning from one another.”

IOE experts also drew strong interest at the roundtable “Trends in General Education Development in BRICS Countries,” led by Ivan Ivanov, and in a special session dedicated to the latest BRICS-focused issue of ‘Educational Studies Moscow.’

IOE’s active presence at WERA 2025 marks another step forward in strengthening international collaboration and contributing Russian research to the global education dialogue.

From Control to Collaboration: What the COVID-19 Pandemic Taught Us About Parenting and Children’s Agency

How did lockdowns reshape the way children grow, learn, and express themselves? A new study from IOE researchers Mikhail Goshin, Dmitry Grigoryev, Pavel Sorokin, and Polina Bochkareva, published in Frontiers in Psychology, uncovers how parenting styles and extracurricular activities helped young people stay creative, resilient, and self-directed during COVID-19.

Analyzing data from 16,000+ schoolchildren, the team found that kids thrived when parents shifted from control to trust and collaboration—and that even online extracurriculars became powerful lifelines for motivation and connection. The big lesson? Whether through independence or teamwork, children often grew stronger when adults gave them room to lead.

Read the full study and explore how the pandemic rewired family life in surprising, hopeful ways: https://ioe.hse.ru/en/news/1103127242.html

Prof. Rui Yang at ICHE 2025: “It Took China Thirty Years to Realize Universities Aren’t Factories”

At the ICHE International Conference on Higher Education 2025, Professor Rui Yang, one of China’s leading higher education scholars, delivered a powerful keynote that sparked reflection far beyond academia: https://ioe.hse.ru/en/news/1097944857.html

Three decades of rapid growth turned China into a global scientific powerhouse—but, Rui Yang argued, the same “mobilization model” that built world-class universities is now holding them back. Universities, he said, can’t thrive as production lines driven by targets and rankings; they need trust, autonomy, and creative freedom to breathe and evolve.

Real scholarship, he noted, takes time, diversity, and the courage to fail. His observation resonated deeply with the ICHE audience, offering a profound reminder that the art of knowledge lies not in control, but in curiosity.

A New Mural at IOE: Where Education Meets Art and Evidence

The courtyard of the HSE Institute of Education has a bold new look! Just the other day, IOE unveiled a stunning mural by Daria Tyutikova, winner of the “Education Through Time” open competition. Her artwork vividly captures IOE’s spirit—a mosaic of ideas, creativity, and inquiry that reflects the institute’s evolving identity: https://ioe.hse.ru/en/news/1097710284.html

Featuring open doors to the world, interlinked hands symbolizing global partnership, and a magnifying glass representing the pursuit of evidence and truth, the mural celebrates education as both culture and exploration.

At the opening, IOE Director Evgeniy Terentev highlighted how the mural unites creativity, knowledge, and social impact—a perfect reflection of IOE’s mission to reimagine education for the future.

Special Issue of ‘Educational Studies’ Journal Features Tapestry of Perspectives on BRICS Education

The hottest special edition of ‘Educational Studies,’ titled “Educational Mosaic: Understanding BRICS States,” takes a deep dive into the challenges and opportunities confronting education systems in Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. With contributions from leading IOE researchers and international scholars, the issue spans the full spectrum of education—from primary schooling to doctoral training.

As Editor-in-Chief Yaroslav Kuzminov notes, the issue aims to foster an active exchange of ideas and best practices among BRICS education experts, emphasizing that global cooperation is key to meeting the demands of the modern world. Articles explore topics such as educational inequality, teacher motivation, gifted education, and preparing professionals for innovation-driven economies—revealing the diversity and dynamism of the alliance’s education landscape.

Discover how the BRICS nations are reimagining education for a changing world: https://vo.hse.ru/issue/view/1833

CERE Inaugural Session Foregrounds Russian TVET

In late August, the CERE Observatory on Education launched its International Expert Seminar Series with a powerful start—a presentation by Prof. Vera Maltseva, Director of the IOE Center for Skills Development and Vocational Education and CERE co-founder. Her talk, “Russian TVET: Contexts, Reforms, and Labour Market Linkages,” gathered 50+ leading international researchers to explore the evolving world of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in Russia.

Prof. Maltseva shed light on key shifts shaping Russian TVET—from demographic changes and labor market mismatches to the challenge of aligning education aspirations with mid-skill demand. She also stressed the need for stronger employer engagement and more flexible governance to ensure effective skills development.

This seminar set the tone for CERE’s mission to connect experts, share evidence-based insights, and deepen understanding of education systems in emerging economies. Watch the full recording and explore the analytical note to dive deeper: https://ioe.hse.ru/en/news/1095013880.html

Exploring China’s Education System: IOE Fellows at Tongji University

This September, Elizaveta Korotkikh and Natalia Rosenfeld, fellows at the Centre for Vocational Education and Skills Development, embarked on an inspiring research visit to Tongji University in Shanghai—with stops at ECNU, Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Nanjing University, and Cao Yang Vocational School: https://ioe.hse.ru/en/news/1091243928.html

Their journey offered a deep dive into China’s evolving Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) landscape—from practice-oriented learning and employer partnerships to comparative insights on transitions between vocational and higher education.

The visit strengthened IOE’s long-standing ties with Tongji University and contributed to joint initiatives like the CERE Observatory on Education. Huge thanks to our partners, especially Professor Li Jun, for making this exchange a success and opening new avenues for international collaboration!

Spotlight on Global Education: IOE Co-Founds the CERE Observatory

Big news from the HSE Institute of Education! This summer, IOE joined forces with global partners to launch the CERE Observatory on Education—the first-ever international platform spotlighting education systems in emerging economies. In 2025, the focus is on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) across BRICS countries.

With IOE experts like Evgeniy Terentev, Vera Maltseva, and Maksim Nikitin on board, the Observatory is set to amplify the global visibility and impact of education initiatives worldwide. Dive into comparative insights, policy briefs, and research snapshots—and don’t miss the next seminar on Indian TVET, November 27: http://cereobservatory.com/mainpage

Building Bridges of Trust: How Teachers Shape Learning Through Epistemic Trust

In a study published in PLOS One, researchers Alex Desatnik, Maxim Yakubovskiy, Sergei Tarasov, and Peter Fonagy dive into the role of trust in the classroom. They introduce the Epistemic Trust Towards Teacher (ETT) questionnaire, a new tool for measuring how much students trust their teachers—and how that trust shapes learning. Drawing on psychology, pedagogy, and even evolutionary theory, the study makes a strong case: trust isn’t just a nice extra in education, it’s a foundation for meaningful relationships and better outcomes: https://ioe.hse.ru/en/news/1088863897.html