2ND PLACE ESN HSE University Moscow How do they describe their actions?
ESN HSE Moscow started as HSE Buddies Network in the summer of 2014, when the number of incoming international students became so big that a student support structure was bound to appear. We started as a buddy system, which remains the core activity of our section. Then we started to organize excursions and trips to nearby cities. Then, when the novelty has worn off, and most of the original team stopped being involved in the organisation, we discovered ESN at one of the youth forums in Tyumen, Siberia, which brought a new lease on life of the organisation. We quickly moved through the application process and became the third, the newest, and we think the strongest section of ESN Russia. Having a section in the capital is essential for the expansion and visibility of the Network in Russia.
A few words from the evaluators ESN HSE University Moscow is the newest section of ESN Russia, they are the first section in the capital of Russia Moscow. They haven’t managed to establish a relationship with the stakeholders within Moscow, so their biggest stakeholders are within the university - the Student Council and IRO. Through the Student Council (which is an elected organization of student self-governance, akin to Student Unions) they managed to raise a need into recognizing the international students and they expect the soon-to-be-formed Council of International Students to be one of their main partners in the University, which would be able to take an active stance on the ever-persisting problems of international students in our university. Since their existence they have also managed to acquire a grant through Scheme, that supports big projects by student organisations, for ESN Russia National Platform. As the National Board of ESN Russia is one of the newest ones, their 2 members are the members of it. It is a great example how can a section in small ESN country become top within the year.