10 th BRICS International School Concludes in Moscow with 100 Participants from More Than 20 Countries
The 10th edition of the BRICS International School: New Generation took place in Moscow from 26 to 28 October 2026, bringing together 100 participants from more than 20 countries.
Over three days young professionals and researchers together with diplomats, experts and representatives of the technology sector were discussing what the world might look like in the near future and the areas in which countries are increasingly following their own development paths. Participants examined these global changes from a range of professional perspectives.
The School opened at HSE University. Victoria Panova, Head of the BRICS Expert Council-Russia and Russia’s W20 Sherpa, welcomed the participants. The guest of honor at the opening ceremony was Vyacheslav Nikonov, First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs.
A highlight of the first day was a meeting with Sergey Ryabkov, Russia’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Russia’s Sherpa to BRICS. This discussion helped young professionals understand how theoretical knowledge of international relations is applied in diplomatic practice.
Fyodor Lukyanov, Chairman of the Presidium of the Council on Foreign and Defense Policy, Research Professor at HSE University and Editor-in-Chief of ‘Russia in Global Affairs’, offered a historical perspective on current global trends. Using the evolution of international relations, he demonstrated how the past continues to shape the uncertainty facing the international system today.
The School then shifted its focus from global trends to the regional dimensions of the BRICS agenda. Alexey Kupriyanov, Head of the Centre for the Indo-Pacific Region of IMEMO RAS, discussed India’s role in contemporary international relations and the distinctive features of its BRICS chairmanship.
The second day focused on strategies for cooperation among Global Majority countries and forms of engagement beyond traditional diplomacy. In his lecture, “Cultivating the Next Generation: Russia’s Public Diplomacy in BRICS”, Sergey Orlov, Deputy Executive Director of the Gorchakov Fund, emphasised that a country’s attractiveness is shaped not only by official narratives but also by familiarity with its culture and personal contact between people from different countries.
Dmitriy Trenin, President of the Russian International Affairs Council and Academic Supervisor of the Institute of World Military Economy and Strategy at HSE University, outlined Russia’s strategic priorities in a changing world. Victoria Panova presented BRICS as the vanguard of the Global Majority. She explained to young international affairs professionals how the grouping has evolved from economic dialogue between Russia, India and China into a fully-fledged mechanism for coordination on finance, trade, technology, security and humanitarian cooperation, including civil society organizations and expert track. Dmitry Suslov, Deputy Director of the Centre for Comprehensive European and International Studies at HSE University, examined BRICS’s place in Russia’s foreign policy strategy and assessed the prospects for building a sovereign ecosystem of cooperation amid the growing fragmentation of international ties.
On the final day, discussions were focused on new geographical and thematic areas. Alexander Korolev, Deputy Dean of the Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs at HSE University, explored the role of ASEAN and BRICS as pillars of a polycentric world order. Raymond Matlala, Founder and Chairman of the South African BRICS Youth Association, highlighted Africa’s growing strategic role in global affairs.
During a visit to the Information Technology Cluster, participants met with Alexander Pavlov, Chief Managing Partner for Artificial Intelligence Development at VEB.RF. They discussed how technological trends emerge and who sets the rules for using breakthrough innovations and AI.
Alongside lectures and presentations, the programme included Q&A sessions that enabled direct dialogue between experts and participants.
Over three days, the BRICS International School: New Generation brought various agenda into a shared discussion. For young professionals, it opened new avenues of research and gave fresh impetus to professional exchange and future joint projects.