MOSCOW. MARCH 26, 2025. PIR PRESS. “PIR Center has gained a reputation as a leading Russian non-governmental organization in the field of international security. Many years of fruitful research work by a highly professional team is the key to its success. Equally important are PIR Center’s educational and training projects – the International School and the new master’s program on international security, implemented jointly with MGIMO University. I am confident that the graduates will make a worthy contribution to strengthening Russia’s expert potential,” – Sergey V. Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister.
MGIMO University will welcome an Open day at International Security Master’s Program on April 8, 2025 at 16:00 in room 442. During the event, Dr. Vladimir Orlov, Founding Director of PIR Center, Program’s Academic Director, and MGIMO University Professor will inform about the Master’s Program and its peculiarities.
The Open Day will also be attended by lecturers of International Security Master’s Program who are recognized practitioners and experts in the field of international security. Among them: Dr. Mikhail Lysenko, Associate Professor at the International Law Department at MGIMO University, PIR Center Advisory Board Member; Mr. Igor Vishnevetskiy, PIR Center Advisory Board Member, in 2012-2016 – Head of the Department for Nonproliferation and Arms Control of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in 2016-2021 – Deputy Permanent Representative of Russia to the OPCW in The Hague, in 2021-2023 – Deputy Director of the Department of Nonproliferation and Arms Control of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Dr. Alexey Ubeev, PIR Center Advisory Board Member, worked in the Russian Foreign Ministry system, headed the IAEA Sector at the Russian Permanent Mission to International Organizations in Vienna, and headed the Department of Nuclear Nonproliferation, Nuclear Safety and Security of the Department for Security and Disarmament of the Russian Foreign Ministry. He participated in the development of a number of important international treaties in the field of nuclear nonproliferation, nuclear safety and nuclear security; and other lecturers.
Also, students of the first cohort of International Security Master’s Program, including Kirill Prokhorov, the winner of the Vyacheslav I. Trubnikov Grant Competition, will share their educational experience. The Grant Competition was established exclusively for students of International Security Master’s Program and is held annually. A winner receives a waiver of graduate tuition for the second, third and fourth semesters.
International Security Master’s Program is designed for all those who are interested in international security in all its diversity and want to make their future career in this field.
Graduates may work in public authorities and federal agencies; international organizations; think tanks and research institutes; state corporations and development institutions; media and non-governmental organizations; and political consulting.
The Master’s Program pays special attention to OSINT. The curriculum includes classes on OSINT, while students have a unique opportunity to study such a discipline in Russia.
Yuri Shakhov, 1st year student of International Security Master’s Program: “During a recent class in our program, a seminar on “OSINT Methodology and Practice as Applied to International Security, Arms Control, and WMD Nonproliferation Studies” was held. At the seminar, PIR Center’s report was also presented. Students were provided with paper versions of the report, which is a valuable resource for anyone involved or interested in OSINT. It provides a clear structure covering the key principles of open source, analysis tools and basic security issues. Authors has paid attention to real-life examples of how OSINT is used in the international security arena, supported by clear illustrations. This book will be especially useful for students and anyone who plans to work or is already working in analytics, government agencies, or journalism”.
In 2024, the first cohort of students united 25 young specialists from Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and other countries. Some of them shared their impressions of studying at the program.
Herman Selyavin, 1st year student of International Security Master’s Program, RIR Center Intern: “International Security Master’s Program is a truly unique opportunity to get a full-fledged education in the field of international security. There are really no analogues of programs of this level in Russia. A distinctive feature of the program is its practice-oriented nature: the academic schedule is full of meaningful events with the participation of leading experts. The Russian-African Forum of Young Specialists, meetings with representatives of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Rosatom State Corporation are just some of the activities offered to students in the first year of the program. I would especially like to mention the competently selected lecturing staff. The level of experts, including practitioners with experience in international organizations, allows the students to stay on top of the current agenda and analyze real cases. As the monitor of the group, I would like to add that we have formed a very strong and friendly team in the Master’s program, which is a pleasure to study and work with. I express my gratitude to Vladimir A. Orlov, the Academic Advisor of the program, and to the entire PIR Center staff for the opportunity to study on this unique program”.
Feihan Wang, 1st year student of International Security Master’s Program (People’s Republic of China): “As a Chinese student at MGIMO, I chose International Security program for its unique approach to teaching. The master’s program combines fundamental disciplines – from nuclear nonproliferation to international law – and innovative areas such as information security, space security, and economic security. The program is especially valuable because of its faculty of practitioners: active diplomats and participants in key international security negotiations. The experience of the lecturers turns their lectures into master classes, where theory becomes a tool for further practical work. In addition, the program gives access to alternative approaches, different from Western ones, through analysis of Russian strategic thought and a healthy critique of global doctrines. It is especially important for my understanding, as a specialist from China, of the peculiarities of the multipolar world order promoted by Russia. The program is perfect for those who want to make a career in government agencies and international organizations, who value out-of-the-box solutions, and who are ready to fully immerse themselves in studying aspects of global security”.
Daria Morozova, 1st year student of International Security Master’s Program: “The choice of International Security Program at MGIMO was a logical step in my professional development. Education can fairly be called unique. The key advantage of the program is the teaching staff. Classes are taught not only by leading theorists in the field of international relations, but also by practitioners with experience in diplomatic missions, international organizations and expert structures. Of particular value are the lectures of specialists who have been directly involved in the negotiation processes on security and non-proliferation issues. Cooperation with PIR Center provides access to private seminars, meetings with current diplomats and experts, and research projects. This allows you to immerse yourself in a professional environment as early as in the first year. The program is characterized by high intensity, with a significant focus on learning English at a professional level. The main classes take place in the afternoon from 14:30. This structure allows combining studies with preparation for seminars and independent work. For me personally, studying here was an important step on the way to professional realization, and I am sure that this choice will be similarly valuable for future students as well”.
We invite applicants and all those who wish to participate in offline or online format. Registration via the link (for offline participation of external guests not from MGIMO until April 4, 14:00).
To learn more about International Security Master’s Program, visit PIR Center website (in Russian).
Any questions regarding the International Security Master’s Program should be directed to PIR Center Executive Assistant to Director Sviatoslav Arov at arov@pircenter.org
Keywords: International Security; Education
ISMA
F4/SOR – 25/03/26
