About
The "Digital Product Management" Summer School, jointly organized by the Graduate School of Business at HSE University and Alfa-Bank, invites students from China to spend a week in Moscow developing practical skills in digital product management, learning from leading industry experts, and diving into the culture, history, and energy of one of the world’s most dynamic cities. Participants will also gain insights into doing business in Russia, including a visit to Alfa-Bank’s headquarters, where they will explore the inner workings of one of the country’s leading financial institutions.
Participation in the program is free of charge for all selected students.
The academic program is designed for students with a background in management, digital technologies, or related fields. You will study key IT trends, digital business models, customer journey mapping, product analytics, and usability testing. The program also includes the development and defense of a final group project under expert guidance — equivalent to 2 ECTS credits.
All sessions are delivered in English by professors from HSE and professionals from Alfa-Bank, one of Russia’s largest and most digitally advanced banks. You will get exclusive access to Alfa-Bank’s research center and hear firsthand insights into fintech innovations and AI-driven product solutions.
Outside the classroom, the cultural program invites you to discover Moscow: enjoy a guided city tour, learn some facts about Moscow metro, and try your hand at painting a traditional Matryoshka doll. Participants will stay in a comfortable hotel in the city center, just a short walk from the HSE Business School campus.
Join us in Summer 2026 for an unforgettable educational and cultural experience in Moscow!
Program
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August 1 (Saturday)
Arrival in Moscow. Check-in at the hotel
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August 2 (Sunday)
07:00–09:00
Breakfast (at the hotel)
10:00–16:00
Moscow Sightseeing Tour (in English).
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August 3 (Monday)
Venue: HSE Graduate Business School
07:00-09:00
Breakfast (at the hotel)
09:30–10:45
Welcome address by Alexey Belov, Head of educational projects at Alfa Bank.
Introductory lecture: "Introduction to HSE Graduate School of Business
Russia: an Economic and Social Portrait"
Speaker: Professor Ivan Prostakov10:45–11:00
Coffee break
11:00–12:30
Lecture: "Business Prospects between China and Russia: Specifics of Doing Business in Russia"
Speaker: Associate Professor Sergei Shaposhnikov
13:15–14:00
Lunch break
13:30–15:00
Lecture: "IT Trends 2026: AI Agents, Robotics, CBDC"
Speaker: Professor Mikhail Komarov
15:00–15:15
Coffee break
15:15–16:45
Lecture: "Digital Transformation of Russian Enterprises"
Speaker: Professor Mikhail Komarov
16:45–17:00
HSE Graduate School of Business Campus Tour
17:00–18:30
Lecture and Workshop: Step into Russian: Introductions, Etiquette, Traditions
Speaker: Visiting Lecturer Ekaterina Kozhemyakova
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August 4 (Tuesday)
Venue: Alfa-Bank Office
Participants will be taken to the venue by organizers07:00–09:00
Breakfast (at the hotel)
10:00–10:30
Alfa Research Center (ARC) welcome tour
Kseniya Nikonova, Lead UX Researcher for Retail Business and Internal Services
Julia Dzynova, Lead of the Discovery Team at Alfa Research Center
10:30–11:10
Goal Setting and Planning Work Sessions. Warm-Up Exercise: Convergent/Divergent Thinking
Kseniya Nikonova, Lead UX Researcher for Retail Business and Internal Services
Julia Dzynova, Lead of the Discovery Team at Alfa Research Center
11:10–11:45
Design Thinking: Introductory Overview
Kseniya Nikonova, Lead UX Researcher for Retail Business and Internal Services
11:45–12:00
Coffee break
12:00–13:25
Workshop: Preparing an Individual Interview Plan in Teams and Conducting Express Interviews
13:25–14:10
Lunch break
14:10–16:45
Workshop: Problem Framing, Selecting the Key Pain Point, Idea Generation, and Exploring Possible Solutions
17:00
Culture program
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August 5 (Wednesday)
Venue: Alfa-Bank Office
Participants will be taken to the venue by organizers07:00–09:00
Breakfast (at the hotel)
10:00–11:15
Quick Recap, Team synch, Ideation Sprint
Kseniya Nikonova, Lead UX Researcher for Retail Business and Internal Services
Julia Dzynova, Lead of the Discovery Team at Alfa Research Center
11:15–11:30
Coffee break
11:30–12:00
Workshop: Focusing on the Key Concept, Discussing and Selecting Ideas for Product Prototyping and Testing
Kseniya Nikonova, Lead UX Researcher for Retail Business and Internal Services
Julia Dzynova, Lead of the Discovery Team at Alfa Research Center
12:00–13:00
Workshop: Preparing to Create a Rapid Prototype for Testing
Kseniya Nikonova, Lead UX Researcher for Retail Business and Internal Services
Julia Dzynova, Lead of the Discovery Team at Alfa Research Center
13:00–13:45
Lunch break
13:45–14:45
Workshop: Pair Testing, Gathering Feedback, and Generating Ideas for Product Improvement
Kseniya Nikonova, Lead UX Researcher for Retail Business and Internal Services
Julia Dzynova, Lead of the Discovery Team at Alfa Research Center
14:45–15:45
Workshop: Refining the Prototype and Structuring Presentations
15:45–16:00
Coffee break
16:00–17:00
Final Pitch: 5‑min pitch + 3‑min Q&A
Kseniya Nikonova, Lead UX Researcher for Retail Business and Internal Services
Julia Dzynova, Lead of the Discovery Team at Alfa Research Center
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August 6 (Thursday)
Venue: HSE Graduate Business School
07:00–09:00
Breakfast (at the hotel)
10:00–11:30
Lecture: "Digital Business Models of Enterprises"
Speaker: Professor Zeljko Tekic
11:30–11:45
Coffee break
11:45–13:15
Workshop: "Osterwalder Business Model Canvas"
Speaker: Professor Mikhail Komarov, Professor Zeljko Tekic
13:15–14:00
Lunch break
14:00–15:30
Workshop: "Osterwalder Business Model Canvas" (continued)
Speaker: Professor Mikhail Komarov, Professor Zeljko Tekic
16:00
Culture program
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August 7 (Friday)
Venue: HSE Graduate Business School
07:00–09:00
Breakfast (at the hotel)
10:00–11:30
Final Project Preparation
Speaker: Professor Mikhail Komarov, Professor Zeljko Tekic
11:30–11:45
Coffee break
11:45–13:15
Final Project Preparation
Speaker: Professor Mikhail Komarov, Professor Zeljko Tekic
13:15–14:00
Lunch break
14:00–15:00
Completing the Feedback Form and Preparing for the Presentation
15:00-17:00
Final Pitch Presentations
17:00-17:30
Award Ceremony
17:30-18:30
Farewll dinner
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August 8 (Saturday)
Check-out from the hotel, departure from Moscow
Entry Requirements
Applicants must meet the following criteria:
Be a Chinese citizen preferably residing and studying in China
Citizenship
Be currently enrolled in a Bachelor's (3rd or 4th year) or Master's degree program
Level of education
Be majoring in IT, Computer Science, Business & Management, Marketing, Product Management, or a related field
Education focus
Have at least a B2 level of English proficiency
Level of English
Please note: Satisfying the entry requirements does not automatically guarantee admission to the program. As part of the selection procedure, shortlisted applicants will be invited to attend a brief online interview (approximately 5 minutes).
Required documents:
Valid travel passport (with at least 6 months remaining before expiration)
Academic transcript
covering at least the most recent semester
Certificate of enrollment from home university
must be issued on official university letterhead and bear the university’s official stamp
Confirmation of English Language Proficiency
can be provided through an official language certificate, or a signed statement from your home university confirming that you have a B2 or higher according to the CEFR scale
Medical insurance policy with a minimum coverage of €30,000
valid for the full duration of the program
Accommodation
Accommodation information for Summer University 2026 is currently under development. Details will be announced soon.
The accommodation is fully covered by School Organizers — participants are not required to make any payments.
Cultural program
To make the experience truly unforgettable, the GSB International Office has prepared a rich cultural program featuring a variety of activities. All excursions will be conducted in English to ensure accessibility and understanding. The exact dates and times of the cultural program activities will be announced later.
Meals
Breakfast is included with your hotel stay. Coffee breaks and lunches during the School will be provided by School Organizers. Dinners and any additional meals, including those during excursions, are not covered and must be paid for separately.
Exploring Moscow
Outside of the Summer School and other activities organized by the HSE university and its partners, you will have free time to explore Moscow — one of the most beautiful cities in the world. The city is safe and offers an extensive, convenient public transport system that makes it easy to get around at any time of day, even at night. During the Orientation session, you’ll receive practical tips on basic local rules, essential apps, and other helpful information to make your stay in Moscow safe, comfortable, and memorable.
Visa
Visa Information for Chinese Citizens
Through September 14, 2026 (inclusive), citizens of the People’s Republic of China may enter the Russian Federation and stay there for up to 30 days without a visa for private or business trips, tourism or to take part in scientific, cultural, social, political, economic, or sporting events.
Contacts
Please contact us if you have any questions.
Email: incoming.gsb@hse.ru
Phone: +7 (495) 772-95-90 (ext.27916, 28503 or 28502)
Address: Office 4304, 26-28 Shabolovka Str., Moscow 119049
Hours: 9:00 – 17:30 (GMT+3), Monday-Friday
Previous Schools
FAQ
No, but it will be an advantage.
Yes, both. You will be given a HSE certificate of participation and get 2 ECTS credits
English.
No.
Yes, the confirmation is highly desirable although not obligatory. Mind that you can confirm your level in the International Office of your home university by showing them your English grades and asking to issue a paper stating that your level is high enough to participate in our School.
All sessions begin at 10:00 and finish no later than 17:00. The daily schedule includes a combination of lectures and seminars, with opportunities to interact with industry professionals. Coffee breaks and lunch will be provided each day. On some days, cultural activities will be offered after the academic sessions.
Yes. Cultural program is organized for all participants. After it, you can spend time however you prefer.
April 15, 2026 (11:59 PM, Moscow time).
Within 5 days after the application deadline, shortlisted applicants will receive an invitation to take part in a short interview (about 5 minutes). Applicants who successfully pass the interview will be informed of the admission decision within 10 days after the interview.
No, you don’t need any supporting or confirming documents for an electronic visa — including an invitation letter, hotel booking, or proof of purpose of visit.
Write us at incoming.gsb@hse.ru describing the problem.
A notarized translation is an official translation of a document (such as a passport) that has been certified by a notary public. This means that the translator confirms the accuracy of the translation, and a notary verifies the identity of the translator and certifies the statement.
For this program, a notarized Russian translation of your passport is required. This can be arranged in two ways:
- By a certified notary in your city — You submit the original document from translation agency and receive a stamped translation.
- Through your university's International Office — If your university is authorized, they may provide an official translation and certify it with a university stamp and signature.
There are no strict rules, but our faculty and staff follow a smart casual dress code. No shorts are allowed.
While most of the program costs are covered (including accommodation, breakfast, lunches, and coffee breaks during the academic part), participants should plan for some additional personal expenses, such as:
- travel insurance
- dinners – (approx. 7–15 USD per meal, depending on the place)
- meals during excursions
- public transport – Moscow’s metro and buses are affordable (a typical ride costs around 1 USD)
- souvenirs and personal shopping
- SIM card / mobile data (optional)
International bank cards do not work in Russia, and WeChat Pay is accepted only in a very limited number of places. We recommend bringing cash with you — US dollars or Chinese yuan can be easily exchanged at local currency exchange offices.
Majestic Moscow
Moscow has always been about strolling through grand boulevards, admiring the striking architecture of the Kremlin and Red Square, exploring historic metro stations, and immersing yourself in the vibrant rhythm of one of the world’s most dynamic capitals.
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