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Ural start – Moscow status
In 2026, USUE is enrolling in a new master's program - Business Analysis in Foreign Economic Activity. This joint project between the Russian Foreign Trade Academy under the RF Ministry of Economic Development and Ural State University of Economics offers the opportunity to earn two master's degrees simultaneously.
Doctor of Economics Viktor Evgenievich Kovalev, the program's scientific director and professor at the USUE Department of World Economy and Foreign Economic Activity, answers questions about the unique educational pilot project.
-Viktor Evgenievich, how did students of USUE's Master's program Business Analysis for Foreign Economic Activity receive the opportunity to earn a prestigious diploma from Russian Foreign Trade Academy under the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia?
USUE is the only member of the national Consortium "Foreign Trade Specialists" in Yekaterinburg and the Sverdlovsk region, operating under the auspices of RFTA under the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia. The main goal of the consortium is to consolidate the efforts of the country's leading universities, with organizational support from the Russian Ministry of Economic Development, to enhance human resources and adapt the education system to new, constantly changing conditions of international trade. Following the consortium's first year of operation in 2025, our university was recognized as the winner of the “Foreign Trade Specialists” in the Project Leader category, beating out over 30 universities from 19 regions and 7 federal districts of Russia. This recognition demonstrates that USUE ensures high standards of training specialists for foreign trade and international business. In 2026, our university became the only university in Russia to receive the opportunity from RFTA to develop and implement a pilot joint educational project in the Urals, offering a unique opportunity to earn two master's degrees simultaneously. Outside Moscow, RFTA is currently the only university implementing such a project with our university. Besides USUE, only students from the National Research Nuclear University MEPhI in Moscow have the opportunity to simultaneously earn a diploma from RFTA. This program is being implemented to train elite engineering personnel for Rosatom State Corporation, focused on international projects. We are the second university in Russia to offer students this exclusive opportunity. An opportunity to receive in the Urals a master's degree from USUE, awarded with a Moscow diploma, is the best recognition of our university's outstanding academic standing in training specialists for foreign economic activity and international trade.
-Why might a dual-degree joint master's program be particularly appealing to both recent bachelor's degree graduates and practitioners with international experience?
Firstly, it is a convenient format for managers and practitioners: intra-extramural form of study using distance learning technologies. Duration of study: 2 years 4 months. Qualification: Master's degree (with two national diplomas). During discussions with our partners regarding the program format, we concluded that this format would be the most in demand, as combining work and study will be most comfortable for this category of students. Secondly, classes are planned for a fairly wide range of courses, actively using interactive and case-based learning technologies by the faculty of RFTA. The range of disciplines includes: foreign language, contemporary issues of international trade and the WTO, research and forecasting of general economic and commodity conditions, the organization and technology of foreign economic activity, the business environment of BRICS countries, successful presentation techniques and effective negotiations, competitive forms of trade (exchanges, tenders, auctions), insurance in foreign trade, risk management, and the theory and practice of negotiating in English. Moreover, RFTA will conduct a foreign language proficiency test after the start of the program, and all USUE Master's students will be assigned to language groups within RFTA based on their level of proficiency. This is intended to facilitate students' adaptation to the RFTA's requirements for foreign language study within the master's program. Thus, during the week, students will study in person at USUE in the evenings, and on Saturdays, instruction will be conducted via videoconference by RFTA’s faculty. Thirdly, students in the master's program will have exclusive access to the information and educational infrastructure of the national Consortium "Foreign Trade Specialists," including unique online courses and electronic educational resources created by leading universities and think tanks in the country on foreign economic activity and international trade (e.g., "Practice of Conducting Foreign Trade with China" – Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, "Africa: Opportunities for Cooperation and Risks" – HSE (Center for African Studies), "State Support for Export Activities" – REC School of Export, "International Protection of Inventions and Brands," "International Commercial Arbitration," "Real Logistics: Multimodal Transportation" – RFTA under the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia, and others).
- What competitive advantages does the scientific and educational collaboration between USUE and RFTA create for students in the implementation of the joint Master's program?
Since 1931, RFTA under the RF Ministry of Economic Development has been training specialists in the field of global economy, foreign trade, international law and logistics in foreign trade activities. The Academy is the oldest and most authoritative specialized educational center in our country, established to train executives and specialists in the field of international economic relations. Famous graduates of RFTA include: Mikhail Efimovich Fradkov, Chairman of the Russian Government (2004-2007), Director of the Foreign Intelligence Service of the Russian Federation (2007-2016); Sergei Ivanovich Kislyak, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation (2003-2008), Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the United States (2008-2017); Andrei Yuryevich Vorobyov, Governor of the Moscow region; Sergei Alekseevich Dankvert, head of the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (Rosselkhoznadzor); Sergey Ottovich Frank, chairman of the Board of Directors of PAO Sovcomflot, and many others. In my opinion, the combination of historically strong academic traditions and the high standards of training highly qualified specialists established at RFTA will strengthen the Urals' human resources potential by training a new generation of professionals at USUE – leaders capable of strategic thinking, identifying trends and prospects, being flexible, understanding logistics and marketing, digital technologies and law, understanding industry specifics, business culture and the specifics of interacting with partners from different regions of the world.
- What role do you assign for the Ural Chamber of Commerce and Industry, as the region's leading business association, in implementing the joint dual-degree master's program between USUE and RFTA?
Indeed, the mission of chambers of commerce and industry is to act as a link between government and business, guarantee the reliability of companies involved in foreign economic activity, and create all the necessary conditions for aligning business interests with regional and national socioeconomic development plans. The Ural Chamber of Commerce and Industry is one of the oldest in Russia. In 2026, it will celebrate its 67th anniversary. For many years, it has facilitated the establishment of business contacts in foreign economic activity, organizing high-level international business missions, bilateral meetings (B2B), exhibitions, and fairs both in Russia and abroad. It is a direct tool for finding foreign investors and partners, as well as promoting regional producers' products to foreign markets. USUE and the Ural Chamber of Commerce and Industry have been reliable partners for many years, and the chamber's president and chairman of its board, Andrey Adolfovich Besedin, chairs our university's board of trustees. I am confident that, as ambassador for the joint dual-degree master's program between USUE and RFTA, Andrey Adolfovich Besedin, president of the Ural Chamber of Commerce and Industry, will facilitate the effective promotion of this educational product among managers and specialists involved in foreign trade, strengthening the dialogue between the university and business and facilitating the transition from an isolated educational model to a co-creative model where the university and business act as equal partners in the training process. This is not simply a series of lectures by invited practitioners, but a systemic and in-depth collaboration aimed at developing specialists who are ready to perform effectively from day one.
- Viktor Evgenievich, where can one get additional information about the master's program and answers to questions about admission?
Detailed information about the joint dual-degree master's program between USUE and the RFTA, Business Analysis for Foreign Economic Activity, as well as the curriculum and admission requirements, is available on USUE's official websites. Applicants can access information about the program, application process, admissions deadlines, and consulting support from the Admissions Committee. Any questions you may have can be directed to the program's executive director, acting head of the Department of World Economy and Foreign Economic Activity, Ekaterina Aleksandrovna Antineskul, Doctor of Economics, associate professor, by phone +7 (343) 283-11-36 or by email eaantineskul@usue.ru .
