16 – 21 November 2025
4th MGIMO – IOS RAS School for Young Orientalists “Political Economy of Technological Development in the East: How to Study?”
On November 16, 2025, the 4th MGIMO – IOS RAS School for Young Orientalists “Political Economy of Technological Development in the East: How to Study?” was opened at the Eurasian National University (Astana, Kazakhstan). The program is implemented by the “New Oriental Studies” Consortium within the framework of Priority 2030 program of strategic development.
The school has become the second one held by the Consortium in 2025. The previous event in Tashkent had sparked interest among potential students in Russia, Central Asian and Caucasian countries, urging the administration of the Consortium to hold another session of the educational program.
The organizers received more than 200 applications from Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Armenia and Belarus. Only 24 participants were chosen.
At the opening ceremony, representatives of the Consortium organizations and the Eurasian University greeted the participants. IOS RAS Deputy Director Prof. Vasily Kuznetsov described the mission and philosophy of the School, pointed out its significant place in the system of projects and work directions of the MGIMO University – IOS RAS Consortium.
On the first day, the lecture by Prof. Kuznetsov “How Do New Technologies Change the Political Process in the Countries of the East?” and panel discussion “New Technologies and Traditional Economic Institutes: Conflict or Convergence?” became the pivotal moments. The discussion was attended both by speakers in Astana and online participants from Moscow: Head of the Department of Economic Studies Prof. Alexander Akimov, Leading Researcher at the Center for Study of Common Problems of Contemporary East Dr. Nina Tsvetkova, Head of the Center for Scientific & Technological Cooperation and Agricultural Research Dr. Irina Deryugina, and CAIS Chief Researcher Prof. Alexander Yakovlev.
As one of the main moments of the first day, the participants were divided into task groups and started their project work that will conclude in the end of the School with a presentation of project proposals.
The School will run until November 21. Over the 5 busy work days, the participants will attend lectures by renowned researchers, take part in panel discussions and workshops devoted to methodology and instruments of analysis, and lastly, present their original research project on political economy of the East.