HSE Graduate School of Business and X5 Retail Group Signed Strategic Partnership Agreement in Educational Projects
X5 Retail Group, a multi-format retail company in Russia, operating retail chains 'Pyaterochka', 'Perekrestok', 'Karusel', and HSE Graduate School of Business signed a strategic partnership agreement in education. ‘Innovations in Retail’ programme will be launched as one of the first steps in this partnership for students of Higher School of Economics and other universities.
There is a long-term and sustained partnership planned between HSE and X5, which has become the first strategic partner of the university in the field of grocery retail. In April, a new multifunctional classroom will be open at HSE Graduate School of Business for lectures and seminars of the programme ‘Innovations in Retail’, workshops, students’ solutions scouting, industry meetings with leading Russian and global companies. Higher School of Economics and X5 are planning to hold joint researches, publish scientific and educational articles on retail and new technological solutions.
‘Innovations in Retail’ programme will be launched in April of this year and is designed for 48 listeners in one cohort. There will be a competitive selection for the programme, the best candidates will receive a scholarship from X5 Retail Group. Representatives of HSE Graduate School of Business, practitioners and specialists in innovations from X5 Retail Group, retail chains ‘Pyaterochka’ and ‘Perekrestok’, and leading Russian and world companies (such as Internet Initiatives Development Fund, Plug&Play, and others) will be teaching on the programme. The duration of the programme is 3 months. It will include offline and online classes, content available 24/7, home assignments and project group work. As a result of the studies, project groups will create concepts of innovative products and services that can be implemented in X5 infrastructure. This programme is expected to introduce up to 50 hypotheses to the funnel of X5, producing 5-10 effective projects. Focusing education on the objectives of the company will allow it to easily find new interns and select the best students.
Valery Katkalo, First Vice Rector of HSE and Dean of Graduate School of Business:
One of the key drivers for the development of HSE Graduate School of Business is building a network of corporate connections with leading Russian and world companies. Partnership with X5 Retail group is an essential part of this process. By uniting our efforts, we will achieve leadership in the quality of education on specialized business programmes. This partnership will give a new impulse to our research in the field of retail and will allow us to implement ambitious plans of supporting student start-ups by creating a joint business incubator.
As noted by Ivan Melnik, director for innovations of X5 Retail Group, the partners set an ambitious goal – to develop entrepreneurship in the university by creating a new format of the education process.
Ivan Melnik, director for Innovations of X5 Retail Group:
In the framework of this strategic partnership, X5 is planning to stimulate the search for new ideas, creation and development of innovative products, services and processes demanded by modern business by means of students. The best projects will become part of the business and be of use for millions of clients in one of the biggest industries of the country. The launch of this partnership is a logical step in the systemic work of X5 with innovations. Together with HSE, we wish to improve the quality of education taking into consideration relevant demand of business and accumulated expertise, help in developing professional workforce and open career opportunities for talented students.