AWC Welcome Day 2026 (online)

The "turn to the East" in Russian academia has made collaboration with scholars from Eastern countries a part of everyday academic life. Along with new opportunities it has also brought unfamiliar communication challenges. Why is a seemingly perfect email not replied to? What does it mean to "lose face" and how can it be avoided? Where does the invisible line between the public and the private lie when communicating with colleagues from Eastern countries? Which familiar norms of communication suddenly prove counterproductive and inappropriate?

In this workshop, we will discuss cultural foundations of these differences and translate theoretical recommendations into concrete ready-to-use advice. We will work through real cases in a game format, and learn to tell "harmful" advice from advice that truly works. As a result, every participant will leave with a checklist for effective and comfortable collaboration with Eastern partners. 

Speaker: Arsenii Buchatskii is a visiting lecturer at the School of Foreign Languages and the Faculty of Social Sciences at HSE University, a research assistant at the International Laboratory for Social Integration Research and the Department of Sociology, and a doctoral student at HSE University's Doctoral School of Sociology. He teaches academic writing in English and self-designed courses on various areas of sociological research. He has played leading roles at international research organizations. His research interests include digital transformation, social inclusion, the public sphere, and identity studies.

AI-assisted translation takes seconds. But a good translation — one that reads as if written by a human for a human — requires a very different kind of work. In this workshop, we will talk about how to structure your workflow with AI tools so that an academic or professional text does not lose its author's voice and lands precisely within the cultural and discursive expectations of the target-language reader. Our approach is grounded in the practice of translation in academic contexts, but the focus is on prompts and strategies.

We will discuss how the task of preserving the author's voice differs from that of adapting a text for a foreign audience, how a post-editing prompt differs from a prompt for initial translation, and why AI tools that perform well with journalistic texts tend to break down with academic writing. Participants will receive ready-made prompt templates.

Speaker: Daniil Osipov, Candidate of Philological Sciences, Associate Professor at the School of Foreign Languages, Faculty of Humanities, HSE University; Head of the "Digital Communications" specialization within the degree program "Foreign Languages and Intercultural Communication."   

What do sports and academic writing have in common? At first glance, very little. Yet both athletes and successful academic writers achieve excellence through discipline, clear strategy, consistent practice, attention to details, and a commitment to continuous improvement.

In this workshop, we will explore the principles that unite success in sport and academic writing. We will discuss the role of rules and standards, the importance of quality and precision. We will also see how regular practice helps develop strong writing habits. Participants will examine academic texts from a variety of disciplines, strengthen their analytical skills, and complete practical exercises designed to improve unique academic style and confidence in writing. The workshop offers concrete strategies, techniques, and recommendations that can be applied to your own writing practice. Whether you are just beginning your academic journey or looking to refine existing skills, you will gain instruments to write more effectively and move one step closer to becoming a true champion of academic writing. 

Speaker: Natalia Kolchugina holds a PhD in Linguistics and is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the HSE University Research and Education Laboratory for Linguistic Conflict Studies and Modern Communicative Practices. She is a translator and interpreter, linguist, intercultural communication specialist, and coordinator of major international events. Previously, she worked as an in-house translator and interpreter for the FC Lokomotiv women's team.

If you are planning long-term research internships or collaborative research or teaching projects with  international partner universities, this seminar is highly recommended.  We will focus on navigating the application process for the HSE Long-Term Academic Mobility Competition and avoiding common pitfalls during the application process.  Drawing on her own successful experience as a mobility grant recipient, the speaker will provide a detailed walkthrough of the selection procedure, key deadlines, and essential document requirements. Particular attention will be given to crafting a compelling action plan and selecting an ideal host institution. The speaker will address the audience’s questions and provide tailored advice for individual research proposals,  which can maximize your chances of getting a mobility grant.

Speaker: Anastasiia Piatachkova is the Academic Supervisor of the International Relations Bachelor's program, Deputy Head of the Asia-Pacific Sector at the Center for Comprehensive European and International Studies, Senior Lecturer at the Department of International Relations at the HSE University. Anastasiia defended her PhD in 2025 (with honors). Her scientific interests cover theories of international relations, security issues in the Asia-Pacific region, as well as the foreign policy of the PRC. Anastasia is the author of more than 50 publications in Russian and foreign journals; she has an experience of participating in grant programs of the Russian Science Foundation and the Russian Foundation for Basic Research. 

In the workshop, the speaker will guide you through essential strategies for crafting effective, engaging, and accessible academic websites. A core focus of the session will be on Russian-to-English content adaptation, where Maria will present actionable techniques such as tailoring information for international audiences, ensuring clear calls to action, restructuring text for readability, and applying inclusive language. She will explore the critical role of proper English for both human readers and search engines, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a consistent tone of voice and accuracy. Through hands-on activities, participants will analyze sample academic texts and collaboratively develop effective AI prompts to automate and refine these content improvements. By the end of the workshop, participants will leave with a comprehensive set of adaptation strategies and a ready-to-use draft prompts that can significantly elevate their academic department’s web presence.

Speaker: Maria Nikitina has been the Chief Editor of the HSE University English-language website for four years, managing a team of editors and translators and overseeing the content development for the news feed, as well as department and project websites. She works on the HSE Style Guide and contributes to the HSE Glossary. Maria has also translated several novels and recently launched a blog about English–Russian translation tips.