The Center for Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies (CREES) is pleased to announce that on May 26, 2017, the Regents of the University of Michigan signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on its behalf with the National Research University Higher School of Economics, St. Petersburg (HSE). The purpose of the MOU is to promote cooperation in history, sociology, political science, anthropology, and other social sciences and humanities units involved in academic research between CREES and the HSE Center for Historical Research.

The terms of the agreement, which do not involve a financial obligation from either university, include commitment from both parties to promote joint research projects, symposia, workshops, and conferences; provide opportunities for faculty development and exchange; and support student and visiting research scholar exchanges. The MOU builds on many years of informal exchanges and research projects among U-M and HSE professors and graduate students. Both universities deemed it crucial to keep open avenues for academic collaboration between Russia and the U.S., and believe this formal relationship will be mutually beneficial.

CREES Director Geneviève Zubrzycki says of this historic partnership, “We’re thrilled to formalize a long-standing relationship with HSE and look forward to tightening our ties with that prestigious institution.  Academic relationships with Russian institutions are especially important given the current global political context.” Zubrzycki, associate professor of sociology, is among the U-M faculty who have partnered with HSU in the past. A major international research project co-directed by Ronald G. Suny (U-M) and Alexander Semyonov (HSU), “Comparative Historical Studies of Empire and Nationalism,” has been ongoing since 2014 and to date has included more than two dozen seminar presentations, conferences, and workshops, as well as two summer school sessions.

The Higher School of Economics has four campuses in Russia; the St. Petersburg campus was established in 1998 and is highly ranked both within Russia and worldwide among economics and social science universities. HSE has established itself as a globally-focused university that has developed strong international partnerships.

WEB LINKS: ii.umich.edu/crees | spb.hse.ru/en/

Contact: Mary Elizabeth Malinkin / T: 734.764.0351 / E: crees@umich.edu

The University of Michigan Center for Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies (CREES) is dedicated to advancing and disseminating interdisciplinary knowledge about the peoples, nations, and cultures of Russia, Central and Eastern Europe, and Eurasia, past and present. Through its own academic programs and its support of area-focused training and scholarship across U-M's schools and colleges, CREES helps meet the nation’s ongoing need for experts with deep contextual knowledge who are proficient in the region's languages. CREES is an affiliate of the Weiser Center for Europe and Eurasia and constituent unit of the International Institute. For more information, visit ii.umich.edu/crees.  

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