№ 48 (96), 2026. A welcome meeting for the 3rd cohort of students of the International Security MA Program conducted jointly by PIR Center and MGIMO

MOSCOW. 25 SEPTEMBER 2026. PIR-PRESS. A welcome meeting for the 3rd cohort of students of the International Security MA Program conducted jointly by PIR Center and MGIMO was held at MGIMO University.

On 17 September 2026, a welcome meeting was held with the students of the 3rd cohort of the International Security MA Program conducted jointly by MGIMO and PIR Center. The programm is aimed at training specialists in order to provide staffing for organizations engaged in foreign policy activities in the field of international security. The opening remarks to the master’s students were delivered by: Vladimir Orlov, Director and Founder of PIR Center, Academic Supervisor of the International Security MA Program conducted, and Professor at MGIMO; and Andrey Malov, Leading Expert at the Institute of International Studies, and Lecturer of International Security MA Program. The Director of PIR Center drew the students’ attention to the distinctive features of the programme, including a number of unique disciplines. In his address, Andrey Yuryevich Malov emphasized the depth, practice-oriented nature, and comprehensiveness of the programm, which encompasses both military and non-military aspects of security. A presentation on the master’s programm was delivered by Alexandra Zubenko, Deputy Director of PIR Center.

This year, 27 students from Russia, Mongolia, Kenya, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Bulgaria, the Slovak Republic, and Afghanistan were admitted to the International Security MA Program. The students shared their impressions of being admitted to the programme and their expectations for their studies at MGIMO:

“I am very happy to find myself within the walls of MGIMO and to continue developing my academic work. Thank you very much!” – Ukubaeva Malika (Kyrgyzstan)

“International security, in my view, is currently the most pressing issue in the world, given the speed of ongoing events. I am interested in a broad range of topics within this programme: from arms control and nuclear non-proliferation to hybrid warfare and advanced technologies in the context of modern military conflict” – Alexandra Kopitsyna (Russia)

“I hope that in this master’s programme I will find many like-minded people, and I hope that together we will be able to realize our human and intellectual potential and strive by all means to achieve our goals” – Artemy Sidorov (Russia).

In addition, Vladimir Orlov told the master’s students about the activities of PIR Center, drawing the audience’s attention to the implementation of the organization’s flagship projects within the following pillars: “Research and Applied Analysis,” “Education,” “Information and Digital Communications,” and the “PIR Alumni Community.'” Vladimir Andreevich also mentioned the PIR Center’s flagship educational projects, including the International School on Global Security.

During the meeting, the first-year students were issued student IDs, and an introduction session was held, in the course of which each of them spoke briefly about themselves, their background, and their academic interests.

More information about the International Security MA Program conducted jointly by PIR Center and MGIMO can be found at the following link: https://pircenter.org/about-edu/international-security/

Keywords: Education; Global security

ISMA

F8/PASH – 26/09/25