‘HSE Is an Exceptional Chance in My Life’

Mohammed Yassir Ali Osman

Photo courtesy of Mohammed Yassir Ali Osman

Mohammed Yassir Ali Osman, from Sudan, graduated from HSE’s Master’s Programme in Population and Development. He is now a doctoral student at the HSE Doctoral School of Sociology and conducts research at the Laboratory of Social and Demographic Policies at the Vishnevsky Institute of Demography. Recently he presented his dissertation on the migration intention of African students in Russia. In this interview with the HSE News Service, Mohammed Yassir Ali Osman shares the highlights of his research, his future plans after completing his PhD, and his advice for prospective researchers.

— Can you briefly summarise your main ideas or findings?

— The project explores the migratory intentions of African students in Russia. But before we do that, we have to show the countries with the highest increase and lowest decrease of international students in Russia. African student migration to Russia is being discussed to better understand their relocation plans after completing their degrees.

To find out whether African students plan to stay in Russia or leave, we must investigate their migratory motives and understand their target institutions, locations, departments, and specialisations.

Furthermore, we need to know why they chose Russia over other nations and who advised them to come to Russia. After their arrival in Russia, we must learn how they manage their social networks with both peers and Russians. And it is helpful to understand their work, how they accomplish it, and whether they will continue that employment after graduation.

The basic demographic of Africans is aged between 18–23 and single. They come from North Africa, the bulk of them are located in Moscow, and the majority study at RUDN and HSE University in master’s programmes in economics, engineering, medicine, and IT.

The migration of African students to Russia considers ‘pulling’ factors more than ‘pushing’ ones. For example, the key factors bringing African students to Russia are academic achievement and quality of life.

The argument examined educational quality across genders in relation to overall quality of life. The findings revealed that women prefer quality of life more than men, whereas men prioritise quality of education more than women. Furthermore, the findings indicated that employment in Russia and skill in Russian are the most important predictors of intention to remain.

Work is a significant factor in African student migration to Russia. Obtaining a job during study can help to retain these students. However, the kind of job matters. Therefore, providing part-time work opportunities for international students can significantly improve their retention in Russia.

The migration of African students to Russia is significantly influenced by social networks, mainly friends. We also found that women rely more on close relationships and benefit from weak ties with locals.

The reason we chose this topic was the internationalisation of higher education in Russia and the increase in the number of international students, particularly Africans.

— How has collaborating with colleagues at HSE helped your research?

— First, I would like to thank my scientific supervisor Mikhail Denisenko, who helped me with my study on this issue. He is not just a supervisor—he is always by my side whenever I need him. He has supported me academically, mentally, and financially.

My first topic was Sudanese migration, but my supervisor suggested expanding it to all African students in Russia. This made the theme considerably broader and stronger.

I am also grateful to Liliya Karachurina, the Deputy Head of the Department of Demography at the Institute of Demography, for her mental support, and to Maria Mezhevova and Kirill Reshetnikov for their advice and willingness to assist me with everything I need throughout my PhD.

I would also like to acknowledge Olga Savinskaya, the Academic Director of the Doctoral School of Sociology, for her assistance and willingness to provide consultations at any time, as well as the Programme Director, Victoria Ivanova. I would like to acknowledge Alexander Larionov, the Academic Supervisor of the Population and Development programme, for his assistance in data collection with his department. Furthermore, I want to thank Ekaterina Slobodenyuk for her psychological assistance and willingness to give academic help. I would also like to thank the Academic Writing Centre for their assistance in enhancing my previously published works.

Last but not least, I want to express my gratitude to the staff of the HSE dorms for their help. They are always willing to support foreign students, particularly me. Their social and psychological assistance is much appreciated.

All HSE staff are always willing to offer help and support.

— Have you worked in international teams, and how has it shaped your project?

I have worked in different international companies in Moscow and St Petersburg. Working with them motivated me to continue my research, as my role was to analyse information for these companies. These are skills I gained during my masters and PhD at HSE.

— How is life in Moscow as a foreigner?

I enjoy Moscow because, first and foremost, the people are kind and open-minded.

When I moved to Russia, I was determined to study Russian so that I could communicate effectively with individuals outside of academics.

I have several Russian friends, both inside and outside of academia. Because I speak Russian, my life has been good; people are willing to help me when I ask, demonstrating that Russians are lovely people—all they need is mutual understanding. My Russian friends always tell me about Russian culture, which I also learned about during my Russian classes. I would like to thank the department of Russian language, who teach Russian for free every year. I have visited numerous parks in Moscow with friends, and we go out for coffee and dinner together.

— Have you attended any international or academic conferences related to your research?

— I did attend one international conference in Braga, Portugal, but it was all online. I encourage PhD students to attend international conferences since they will get valuable experiences. My attendance at that conference taught me about how other PhD students throughout the world do their research, the ideas they have, and the current themes.

Our institute is involved in annual conferences where I have met many individuals from Russia and the former USSR.

— How do you cope with the challenges of your PhD programme?

— When I have difficulties, I go to my friend in the dormitory, Henock Melese, who has been really supportive for me psychologically, emotionally, financially, and even academically.

If I have problems as a foreign student, I can go to the dorm staff (and even the director) for help and good advice.

— What are your plans after completing your PhD?

— I am interested in continuing my work at the Laboratory of Social and Demographic Policies and the Vishnevsky Institute of Demography. Now am focussing on strengthening my Russian so that I may teach in Russian and continue with my project. HSE is an exceptional chance in my life, and it is time for me to contribute my talents and knowledge to our university's reputation.

— Any advice or tips for future international PhD students at HSE?

— First and foremost, I would encourage future foreign PhD students at HSE to study Russian; even a basic knowledge of the language can help you both within and outside of HSE. Second, when you get to the dorm, listen to the administrator's instructions. Lastly, maintain strong relationships with others around you and your supervisor. It is beneficial to have a friend, if only one, with whom you can chat when things go badly!