The year 2017 has been marked by the celebration of the 20th anniversary at the International College of Economics and Finance (ICEF). The major celebratory events took place in September.
On September 14, ICEF hosted a Welcome reception for the students passing their first-year exams and entering the BSc double degree programme of the University of London International Programme.
ICEF Director Sergey Yakovlev welcomed at the event Professor Sir Adrian Smith, UoL Vice-Chancellor and Dr Mary Stiansny, UoL Pro Vice-Chancellor. The LSE was represented by Emeritus Professor Richard Jackman, Academic Director of UoL programmes at LSE, and Dr Jörn Rothe, new LSE.ICEF Project Dean.
The day continued with the honorary lecture of Professor Sir Adrian Smith given to ICEF and HSE students and staff. The lecture focused on the changing role of higher education in our society, reflecting on the UK and global developments.
Further information for both events can be found here:
Welcome reception; Honorary lecture
On September 15, the ICEF Graduation ceremony was hosted by the British Ambassador to Russia Laurie Bristow at his Residence in Moscow. 2017 was notable for the, so far, highest number of ICEF graduates: 171 students completed the double-degree BSc programme and there were 29 graduates from the MSc programme, which is being implemented jointly with the LSE.
About 60% of undergraduate students have received first and upper second class honours degrees from the University of London. It is indeed, a great achievement.
The invited guests included LSE Pro-Director Professor Paul Kelly, LSE.ICEF Project Dean Dr Jörn Rothe, the project team members and Professor Richard Jackman, the former LSE.ICEF Project Director.
Professor Paul Kelly noted in his speech that LSE sets high standards of education and ICEF students have proven they can meet them. He encouraged graduates to “talk about LSE and ICEF whenever you have the opportunity. And, if you become well-off, do not forget to support students and universities.”
Graduates were also addressed by speeches and congratulations from ICEF Director Sergey Yakovlev, Sir Adrian Smith and Dr Mary Stiasny (UoL), Professor Vadim Radaev (HSE First Vice-Rector), Alexander Shokhin (HSE President) and one of the founding fathers of ICEF Project Sergey Dubinin (Chair of the ICEF’s Board of Trustees).
Further information
The celebration was concluded by the Anniversary reception at the Puskhin Literary Museum. Among the invited guests were above-mentioned LSE and UoL representatives, in addition to the ICEF faculty, staff and alumni, and representatives from the HSE and the wider Russian academic and business community.
An introductory speech by ICEF Director Sergey Yakovlev described the twenty years of ICEF’s successful journey and expressed gratitude to all people involved in the ICEF support from the beginning, including Professors Richard Layard and Richard Jackman from LSE, and HSE Rector Yaroslav Kuzminov and Sergey Dubinin.
HSE Rector Yaroslav Kuzminov also highlighted the contribution of the LSE to the Russian education system.
The LSE founding father of the cooperation with ICEF, Professor Emeritus Lord Richard Layard, sent his greetings in a short video message along with the LSE Nobel Prize laureate Professor Sir Christopher Pissarides. Their messages and further information about the celebration can be found here.
The contribution and efforts of the LSE and UoL have been recognised by HSE awards – the Academic Honours Medal – awarded by the HSE Rector to UoL Vice-Chancellor Sir Adrian Smith, LSE Pro-Director Professor Paul Kelly and LSE Emeritus Professor Richard Jackman.