Human Capital Multidisciplinary Research Centre Presents Results to International Supervisory Board
The Human Capital Multidisciplinary Research Centre, established in 2020 and coordinated by HSE University, recently held a session of the International Supervisory Board and presented work results for the period of 2020-2022 along with plans for 2023-2025, including fundamental and applied research in the field of human development, creation of unique empirical databases for the development of evidence-based social and economic policies, and the introduction of digital approaches in humanities and social sciences.
The Centre plans to continue working in high-priority areas, including a new project to create conditions for the formation of a harmoniously developed and socially responsible personality. This project is being implemented as part of the promotion of Russia’s national development goal until 2030 ‘Opportunities for Self-Realisation and Talent Development’.
First Vice Rector of HSE University Leonid Gokhberg, opening the meeting, emphasised that the consortium of the Human Capital Multidisciplinary Research Centre, which includes HSE University, the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA), MGIMO University, and the Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology (IEA) of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS), is the only winner of the competition held by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education working in the field of humanities and social sciences.
He considers the Human Capital Multidisciplinary Research Centre the largest project in the field of social and human sciences in the post-Soviet period bringing together specialists from most of the relevant disciplines.
‘It is difficult to name an area of research that is not reflected in the work of our Centre,’ Leonid Gokhberg said.
HSE University Rector Nikita Anisimov stressed the importance of electing an external supervisory board and discussing the report on the results and work plans of the Human Capital Multidisciplinary Research Centre. In his opinion, HSE University Vice Rector Lilia Ovcharova, the initiator of the Centre’s creation, is the driving force dealing with a broad agenda of human potential. The Rector emphasised the importance of the Human Capital Multidisciplinary Research Centre, underlining that it brings together hundreds of top scholars working on many academic projects and combines research with the development of educational programmes attracting students to academic work. He thanked the consortium fellow founders: RANEPA, MGIMO University, and IEA RAS.
‘This is just the beginning of the journey, now researchers from all over the world have joined us, and scientists from every continent are participating in the discussion of this work,’ said Nikita Anisimov.
The HSE University Rector invited those present to participate in the next HSE University’s April International Academic Conference and visit the exhibition of infrastructural neurocognitive and anthropological clusters of the Human Capital Multidisciplinary Research Centre, which will open in a few days.
Leonid Gokhberg then announced the creation of the International Supervisory Board of the Human Capital Multidisciplinary Research Centre. 32 people were elected to it—leading Russian and foreign scientists from universities and research hubs in seven countries (including China, Brazil, India, Japan, Venezuela, and Armenia), as well as representatives of NGOs and businesses. Olga Dergunova, Deputy President and Chairperson of the Management Board of VTB Bank, was elected the Council Chairperson, and Ekaterina Gladnikova, Senior Director for Strategy, Research and Brand at Vkusno i Tochka, was elected her Deputy, while HSE University Deputy Vice Rector Maria Nagernyak was appointed as Board Secretary.
Lilia Ovcharova, the initiator of the Human Capital Multidisciplinary Research Centre, presented a report on the main results and plans for the Centre’s work. She explained that the Centre’s programme had identified five key goals: solving fundamental and applied scientific problems of human development, supporting Russia’s entry into the leading five countries in human potential research, ensuring a contribution to the achievement of Russia’s national development goals, increasing the attractiveness of humanities and social sciences for Russian and foreign scholars, and increasing the prestige of research in humanities and social sciences in Russia.
‘The Centre is, first of all, its people; it brings together 580 scholars, most of whom are under 40. They are implementing 80 scientific projects and conducting 36 educational programmes, and 2,300 young researchers and students work with us,’ Lilia Ovcharova said. The consortium is unique in its interdisciplinarity, it has brought together scientists from 17 specialties, which allows for expertise in many areas of humanitarian knowledge.
The academic programme is divided into seven areas:
— social and humanitarian dimension of human capital;
— demographics and factors of active longevity;
— employment, social activity, and formation of key skills and competencies;
— humans in the era of technological transformations;
— neurocognitive mechanisms of social behaviour;
— natural and climatic determinants of sustainable development;
— human potential and safety in the global world.
Lilia Ovcharova said that 20 unique empirical databases have been created to study human potential. The anthropological cluster creates and expands the paleoanthropological information base. ‘We are going deep into history, said the HSE University Vice Rector. Also, within the scope of the Centre’s work, the researchers have assessed the impact of social policy on the level and quality of life of Russia’s population, and in particular the effect of a single allowance for the birth and upbringing of a child. In addition, some breakthrough digital technologies have been introduced into social and human sciences.
In the future, it is planned to develop a system of indicators for inclusive employment in Russian companies, create tools to increase productivity and expand the middle class in the new conditions, and study human behaviour under global stress.
Looking forward, experts from the Human Capital Multidisciplinary Research Centre plan to study the human impact on deradicalisation and countering extremism in the countries of Central Asia and the South Caucasus, develop an innovative technology for training personnel in the field of international security, create a unique Atlas of Human Development; and conduct research into the concept of global imbalances in the distribution of human capital.
Since the Centre’s launch, a total of 143 articles have been published in scientific journals of the first and second quartiles, 479 foreign researchers have been involved in the Centre’s work,100 million roubles of extra-budgetary funds have been raised for research, and the consortium has assisted in the implementation of five national projects of the Russian Federation.
‘I hope I can express everyone’s opinion: these are impressive results, these are not only academic achievements, but also networking within the consortium; this synergy yields significant research and educational results,’ said Leonid Gokhberg.
Russian and foreign members of the International Supervisory Board gave their comments and recommendations on the work of the Human Capital Multidisciplinary Research Centre.