HSE Graduate School of Business and Alfa-Bank hold Summer School for Chinese students
The international summer school Digital Product Management, an educational project by the HSE Graduate School of Business and Alfa-Bank, brought together more than 30 students from leading universities in China.
Over the course of a week, participants studied key trends in the digital economy, explored tools for product management and design thinking, and took part in the development of real service-based solutions. The academic track included lectures by HSE Graduate School of Business professors on the Russian economy, Russia-China business relations, digital transformation, IT trends of 2025, and the specifics of digital product management. It also featured workshops by Alfa-Bank experts — leaders in fintech and artificial intelligence.
The academic part of the program was complemented by hands-on experience. This section began with a two-day design sprint at the Alfa-Bank Research Center, where students worked on creating digital services tailored for Chinese users in Russia. The teams conducted user interviews, moved through the stages of ideation, prototyping, and testing. They then continued working on their prototypes at the business school, developing financial justifications and considering other aspects of managing their digital products.
In the final stage, each team presented their project to an expert jury. All participants successfully completed their tasks and received certificates from HSE University and Alfa-Bank confirming their participation in the program.
"The summer school became more than just an educational project — it was a space for collaboration and intercultural dialogue. We saw how students from China eagerly immersed themselves in the Russian business environment, quickly learned new tools, and proposed creative solutions. This proves that global education truly has no boundaries," — noted Ivan Prostakov, Deputy Director of the HSE Graduate School of Business.
"The development of innovative technologies requires continuous exchange of ideas and experience between countries. We see great potential for cooperation between Russian and Chinese professionals in the digital product sphere. The participants of the summer school demonstrated a high level of preparation and a strong desire to implement advanced technologies. I’m confident this project will lay the foundation for successful future collaborations across various digitalization sectors," — emphasized Marat Ismagulov, Member of the Board and HR Director at Alfa-Bank.
The educational track was complemented by a cultural program: students toured Moscow, explored the city’s architecture and metro system, visited Red Square, Izmailovsky Kremlin, and other landmarks. Participants appreciated not only the academic intensity of the program but also the opportunity to experience modern Moscow as a dynamic international metropolis.
Chinese participants were unanimous in their positive feedback about the school.
“In China, many IT fields are well developed, but the Russian market is quite different. When the program started, I wanted to learn more about the Russian economy and Russian consumers. I was also drawn by the fact that the school was organized by one of Russia’s leading business schools — HSE GSB — and one of the country’s fintech leaders — Alfa-Bank. Thanks to this summer school, we gained valuable insights and saw how Russian entrepreneurs think and how innovation develops in Russia. The entire program exceeded my expectations,” — said Zulei Mu, a student at Tongji University.
“I already miss Moscow… You see, I studied applied mathematics in Russia, then returned to China, and now I’m pursuing postgraduate studies in mathematics. When I saw the announcement for the summer school in Moscow, I immediately realized it was a unique opportunity to step outside the academic world and dive into real business. It was a one-of-a-kind chance to interact with the team of a major private bank and attend lectures by professors from a top business school. We all went through intensive training and gained invaluable experience, even developing our own digital products. It was my first time fully immersing myself in business practice. I was very lucky to join a project that combined both academic content and practical experience. And of course, the unforgettable atmosphere of our excursions in Moscow — it felt like coming home again, and I already miss that the project is over,” — shared Rui Tang from East China Normal University.
The international partnerships of HSE Graduate School of Business with leading foreign universities and business schools are actively expanding across the globe. The cooperation roadmap includes not only short-term educational projects but also structured student exchange programs throughout the academic year, as well as international modules for MBA participants. For example, a recent MBA study trip was held in Shanghai at Fudan University — one of Asia’s top centers for business education.
The Digital Product Management Summer School by HSE GSB and Alfa-Bank marked another important step in strengthening ties between Russia and China in the field of education. The organizers are confident that such joint initiatives not only foster the exchange of knowledge and experience but also help build lasting business and cultural connections for the future.