Joint Master's Programme of HSE University and Bank of Russia Honours First Graduates
The first graduation of the Master's in Information Security in the Financial Sector, implemented jointly by the Bank of Russia and HSE University with the organisational involvement of the Bank of Russia University, took place at the HSE Tikhonov Moscow Institute of Electronics and Mathematics. Anton Sergeev, Programme Academic Supervisor, and Andrey Afonin, Director of the Bank of Russia University, awarded diplomas to the graduates.
The joint master's programme was launched in response to the growing need for specialists who can work in information security, utilise modern technologies, and understand the specifics of regulating the credit and financial sector in the financial market. The programme combines advanced technologies and techniques with the academic framework of HSE University and the expertise of the Bank of Russia, and brings together leading representatives of the financial market. The courses and teaching were developed with the input of specialists of the Bank of Russia and the National Payment Card System alongside representatives of financial organisations and vendors of information security systems.
The curriculum combines technical courses on cybersecurity and IT technologies with the study of the financial system, risk management, regulation, and the cyber-resilience of credit and financial sector organisations. The programme allows graduates not only to master the technological aspects of security, but also to understand business objectives and regulatory requirements.
The programme features the direct participation of Bank of Russia specialists in the formation of the educational experience, as well as a practice-oriented educational process. The students worked with real cases, studied regulatory requirements, discussed issues of financial infrastructure protection, completed practical training and a series of seminars led by industry experts (including divisions of the Bank of Russia), and discussed professional tasks with parties directly responsible for the development and security of the financial market in Russia.
Theses also focused on practical issues: all projects were dedicated to current tasks of the Bank of Russia and issues of information security in the credit and financial sector. Graduates explored real industry challenges and proposed solutions that can be used in their professional activity.
Andrey Afonin, Director of the Bank of Russia University, highlights the importance of connecting theoretical knowledge to solving applied problems. ‘The first graduation is a milestone for any educational programme. It confirms that the idea was successfully implemented, and the joint work made it possible to train specialists with not only fundamental knowledge, but also an understanding of the real tasks of the credit and financial sector. It is especially important for us that the programme involves close cooperation with practitioners. This approach allows graduates to work confidently at the intersection of information security, financial technologies, and regulation, and for employers to recruit specialists who are ready for modern industry challenges,’ he said.
The first results confirmed the programme’s relevance and the high level of professional training. Seventeen students received prestigious diplomas in a promising field. Most of the graduates have already started working in the information security departments of banks, government agencies, and financial organisations, and several graduates have joined the team of the Information Security Department at the Bank of Russia.
In his welcoming speech to the graduates, HSE MIEM Director Dmitry Kovalenko noted that it’s difficult to overestimate the importance and level of competencies acquired during the two years of study on the programme.
Dmitry Kovalenko
‘You worked with top specialists facing real challenges in protecting credit and financial infrastructure, both at the level of individual enterprises, banks, and organisations, and nationwide,’ he stressed. ‘I sincerely wish you continued professional growth and bright career development. You are the first graduates of the programme, and it is up to you to determine its reputation among employers in the near future. Your success will confirm the success of MIEM, the entire university, and our partners from the Bank of Russia, for whom the programme is also a brainchild. Remember MIEM—our doors are always wide open, so come visit us, come to teach with us, and bring us new ideas for cooperation. We look forward to it!’
Graduates of the programme note that it combines practical experience in financial technology with an academic approach and the expertise of HSE University and the Bank of Russia.
‘A diploma with honours was not my ultimate goal, but it was the result of serious effort, combining work and study, and a sincere interest in the field of education. The most difficult thing was to reframe my mindset, abandon the old patterns that were ingrained in my work, and learn to the limit of my abilities. The programme helped me get out of my comfort zone and gave me new tools that I have already implemented in my projects at the bank. I would particularly highlight the face-to-face workshops based on active interaction between the speaker and the students. I am glad to be among the first graduates of this programme,’ said Alexander Syrbu, graduate of the programme (with honours), director of information security at a branch of a large international bank.
‘Thanks to the training in the Master's in Information Security in the Financial Sector, I now know how the information security methodology works in banks and I learned how to work with documents and regulatory requirements. At the same time, I also gained technical skills that help me understand the process more deeply. Before that, I was immersed in my own field and did not have a clear picture of the entire banking system. Now I understand which processes to pay attention to first. The practical orientation and the opportunity to receive expert advice on emerging issues were especially valuable. We’ve stayed in touch with the teachers, and I know that I can always turn to them for advice. My classmates and I developed good working and friendly relations. The programme has provided a good foundation on which I plan to build my career at the bank,’ said Anna Chvyr, programme graduate and employee of a major Russian bank.
‘The most valuable thing that the master's programme has taught me is to look for the 25th hour in a day and not to panic when it seems that there are more deadlines than there are hours in the calendar. Apparently, this turned out to be more convincing than any line in my CV; as a result, I received an offer to join the Bank of Russia team. I would like to thank my supervisor Anton Sergeev and my mentor from the Bank of Russia, Savva Morozov, for their support along the way and their ability to believe in me!’ says Irina Goloshchapova, programme graduate and employee of the Bank of Russia.
‘The main thing that the programme gave me was the opportunity to compare my practical experience in the field of payments and financial technologies with the academic approach and expertise of HSE teachers and specialists from the Bank of Russia. The knowledge accumulated over the years of my career has received professional confirmation and a more systematic justification. I studied many aspects of the banking sector that I simply hadn't thought about before as part of my major. The acquired knowledge and HSE certificate will be an important basis for my further professional development,’ said Ruslan Khansuvarov, programme graduate and head of banking products.
The graduates were awarded diplomas by Anton Sergeev, Academic Supervisor of the programme, and Andrey Afonin, Director of the Bank of Russia University.
After the graduation ceremony, graduates, teachers, and representatives of the Bank of Russia planted a commemorative tree—a symbol of the first graduation of the joint master's programme and the continuity of generations of students. The red oak, a symbol of strength and wisdom, was the tree of the first graduation.
The joint programme of the Bank of Russia and HSE University will continue to develop, upgrading the curriculum according to changes in technology, regulation, and the current challenges in the financial industry. Its main task remains unchanged—to train specialists capable of ensuring the reliability and security of the modern credit and financial system. Applications for the programme are open until August 8.
