First exchange with Russian university announced

King's College London is to run its first ever exchange with a Russian university with the announcement of a new Erasmus+ academic exchange and mobility programme for students, researchers and staff in St Petersburg. The exchange agreement with the National Research University - Higher School of Economics (HSE) will run in the 2016/17 academic year and offers King's students and scholars the opportunity to engage directly with one of the world's most fascinating countries and cultures, through study at one of Russia's most outstanding universities. For students and staff at HSE, the agreement opens access to a wide range of study and research opportunities at a leading global university in the heart of the world's greatest global city. The King's-HSE Erasmus+ exchange programme covers the full range of disciplines taught at both universities, while particular opportunities have been identified in the fields of sociology, Russian and Eurasian studies, history, mathematics and informatics, and management. 'Vital to build strong bridges' 'Whatever your field, wherever you see your career taking you, there has never been a more important time to engage with Russia,' said Dr Samuel Greene, Director of the King's Russia Institute. 'Now, as relations between Russia and the West are in the news, it is vital that we build strong bridges and help people cross them. We are thrilled to be launching King's first ever Russian exchange programme, and excited to be working with a partner as important and dynamic as HSE.' 'This is an important and exciting development for HSE and is a particular boost to our international strategy at the St. Petersburg campus,' said Professor Christopher Gerry, Chair of the Internationalisation Steering Group at HSE St. Petersburg.