HSE’s Development Will Continue in 2015, despite the Challenging Environment

Not including funds for capital investment, HSE’s projected revenue for 2015 amount to almost 14 billion rubles. This sum includes funds designated for carrying out public assignments (6.8 billion rubles), targeted subsidies for comprehensive repairs and stipends (0.8 billion rubles), funds for targeted programmes, such as the 5/100 Project and the international laboratory led by leading researchers (about 1 billion rubles).

The University’s revenue from paid-for educational services, orders for academic and expert research, and other forms of income will amount to about 5.3 billion rubles. It is expected that, by comparison with 2014, the total increase in HSE revenue will be about 800 million rubles (6%). The University’s expenditure in the coming year will near 15 billion rubles, and will be financed from revenue and funds carried over from 2014 (1.8 billion rubles). This growth in outgoings is chiefly down to an increase in payroll covering key personnel, including international specialists, and expanding funding for academic research – developing effective contract systems for academic and teaching staff and international academic integration will remain key priorities for HSE’s financial policy.

Faculty payroll will grow by 12% in 2015 year-on-year, the academic allowances and start-up grant fund will grow by 10%, and the total bonuses for educational programme managers will increase over two-fold. Financing for the full-time advanced postgraduate programme will benefit from a more than 1.5-fold increase (from 36 million rubles in 2014 to almost 56 million rubles in 2015), which is chiefly down to the increase in the number of students.

Investment in the University’s international laboratories will rise by almost 30% to 271 million rubles, which comes in addition to those projects implemented under the Russian Federation Government Directive dated 9 April 2010 Number 220. In total, funding for fundamental scientific research at HSE will increase by almost 10%, an achievement that is chiefly due to the implementation of the 5/100 Project and an increase in 2015 of the corresponding elements of the University’s public assignments.

This will enable HSE to fulfill its obligations in full, including regarding an increase in the average salary for teaching staff and academic researchers, and meeting the requirements set out in the Russian Federation Presidential Decree dated 12 May 2012, Number 597. The budget also includes additional measures to improve working conditions for international specialists given the currency volatility, in particular through increasing the compensation for their expenses incurred in academic mobility and medical insurance. The year 2014 also saw faculty expansion, as HSE now incorporates 10 major research and educational subdivisions integrating all aspects of the University’s activity and ensuring its positioning in the relevant subject areas.

In 2015, in addition to further enhancing faculty development programmes, work to build their resource base will continue, including through the creation of academic development funds through the transfer of a significant tranche of central budget funds. Work on creating new structures for faculty administrative and teaching support personnel, started in 2012 with the reorganization of educational programmes and creating study office systems, will reach completion.

Work to optimize administrative and general expenses will continue at central apparatus level – in 2015, they will be cut from 40% to 36%. The de-centralization of management and increasing operational effectiveness will remain key features in ensuring the University’s continuing development, alongside investment in academic research and income from key markets.

‘Overall, HSE’s budget is balanced with a rather high level of reserves. The management also has a nuanced understanding of the actions that need to be taken given the continuing challenging global economic environment. That is why we can be confident that HSE’s development will be fully underpinned in accordance with the University’s current programme documentation,’ HSE Vice Rector Alexey Novoseltsev said.

.