HSE University Expert and Analytical Forum

Within the framework of the HSE University Expert and analytical forum, a session of experts from the Institute for Public Administration and Governance (HSE University), including staff from the International Laboratory for Digital Transformation in Public Administration was held. The participants discussed their experience in attracting young HSE researchers to expert and analytical work, as well as the specifics of interaction with experienced experts and representatives of a government customer. Elena Kopylova, an agile management specialist and coach with 15 years of experience, served as a moderator. Speakers included: Head of the International Laboratory for Digital Transformation in Public Administration Evgeny Styrin, Deputy Head in the Moscow Department of Natural Resources Management and Environmental Protection Mikhail Ushakov, and Chief Expert of the IGMU Administrative Modeling Department Daniil Alimpeev. 

Reliance on young researchers in expert analysis remains an important challenge and a factor in training specialists. The participants told how the mechanism of participation of young researchers, graduate students and students in the expert activities of the Institute for Public Administration and Governance in general and the International Laboratory for Digital Transformation in Public Administration in particular is arranged. Using the example of the Moscow Control Complex, the barriers and difficulties of attracting novice specialists to work with government customers were discussed. Evgeny Styrin and Mikhail Ushakov shared their experience in implementing the digital transformation of control and supervisory activities in the interests of the Moscow Control Complex. The large volume and tight deadlines of the project required the involvement of young colleagues. Working with a government customer required a non-standard approach, taking into account the specifics of a particular organization, developing applied recommendations and regular, weekly feedback on the results to the customer.  

Daniil Alimpeev emphasized the interdisciplinarity of expertise, especially legal expertise. Most often, it is not enough for government customers to analyze NPA alone, it is perceived as an intermediate stage, since calculations of socio-economic effects are especially important. Daniil Alimpeev also drew the audience's attention to the fact that future specialists in the field of law need not only skills in applying AI, but also conducting empirical research. Increasingly, government customers need not just an expert report, but assistance in achieving practical results. In this regard, the speaker recommended that students gain practical experience before expert experience, since it can be difficult to switch from purely scientific work to expert work due to differences in the format of work.  

Public administration, as a science, is enriched by practical, expert work, therefore such experience is especially important for students of GMU.  Most often, young colleagues participate in various projects in parallel, so they need time management skills and the ability to quickly adapt to expert work in various fields. The session allowed the young researchers to better understand their capabilities and the potential for participating in expert projects, and to discuss with the speakers the current problems of organizing project activities at the Higher School of Economics, which has a government customer.