H.E. Anatoly Antonov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the USA, will chair the State Examination Commission within the International Dual Degree M.A. Program in Nonproliferation Studies

MOSCOW. DECEMBER 27, 2022. PIR PRESS. «In 2023, H.E. Anatoly Antonov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the USA, will chair the State Examination Commission within the unique International Dual Degree M.A. Program Global Security, Nuclear Policy, and WMD Nonproliferation, implemented jointly by MGIMO University, Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey (MIIS) and the PIR Center. Until 2022 the Commission was headed by General Vyacheslav Trubnikov, who died in April this year. Currently, students from France, Italy, Russia, and the USA are preparing master’s theses… Waiting for mature works from future masters», – Dr. Vladimir Orlov, Founding Director of PIR Center, Professor of MGIMO University, and Academic Advisor of the International Dual Degree M.A. Program Global Security, Nuclear Policy, and WMD Nonproliferation (MGIMO-MIIS-PIR Center).

H.E. Anatoly Antonov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the USA, will chair the State Examination Commission as part of the final assessment procedure of 6^th cohort students (2021-2023) of the International Dual Degree M.A. Program Global Security, Nuclear Policy, and WMD Nonproliferation (MGIMO-MIIS-PIR Center). The final assessment procedure will include the interdisciplinary exam and the process of defending master`s theses by students.

“All previous years of discussions at the Commission have always been informal and intensive. According to the results, several students` works were recommended for publication. How will it be in the coming year? For me, as the scientific supervisor of a few master’s theses, it’s still an enigma. Waiting for mature works from future masters”, – Founding Director of PIR Center, Professor of MGIMO University, Dr Vladimir Orlov, who is also the Academic Director of the International Dual Degree M.A. Program Global Security, Nuclear Policy, and WMD Nonproliferation (MGIMO-MIIS-PIR Center), comments on the final assessment procedure.

Currently, students from Italy, Russia, the United States and France are studying within the Dual Degree M.A. Program in Nonproliferation Studies. Their master’s theses are devoted to the following thematic areas:

• cyberthreat assessment of nuclear facilities;
• small modular reactors in the global energy market: prospects and possible challenges;
• prevention of arms race in outer space;
• Russian Federation in the NPT review cycle 2022-2025: key challenges, priorities and recommendations for further actions;
• Russia-China cooperation in nuclear energy;
• arms reduction in the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic;
• international scientific cooperation and applications of dual-use technology by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to support its nuclear agenda;
• effectiveness of sanctions as a tool of nuclear nonproliferation: case of Iran;
• role of coalitions in the NPT review process: historical experience, current state and prospects for cooperation.

In December 2022, the third semester of the Program was completed by 6^th cohort students (2021–2023) at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, USA. There they attended training sessions, worked on their research, and participated in various specialized events and meetings with experts.

This year, female student of the Dual Degree M.A. Program Global Security, Nuclear Policy, and WMD Nonproliferation Océane Van Geluwe (France) has been awarded the IAEA Maria Sklodowska-Curie Fellowship Program (MSCFP). MSCFP is an initiative under the auspices of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) which aims to increase the number of women in the nuclear field by providing an inclusive educational environment. In particular, it provides for scholarships to cover graduate school tuition fees and have up to 12 months-long internships at the IAEA. Recall that in 2021, four female students of the Dual Degree M.A. Program in Nonproliferation Studies (MGIMO-MIIS-PIR Center) were awarded the IAEA Maria Sklodowska-Curie Fellowship Program (MSCFP): Rebecca Pantani (Italy), Hannah Harris (USA), Daria Kheyrie (Russia) and Sarah Erickson (USA).

This year, 6^th cohort students (2021–2023) have already had the opportunity to meet with H.E. Anatoly Antonov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the USA. On November 5, 2022, they took part in the meeting in the format of lunch in which together with H.E. Ambassador Antonov and their colleagues from other master’s programs of the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey they discussed arms control issues, key issues on the international agenda, and his personal experience of diplomatic work. “The meeting with the Russian Ambassador to the United States, Anatoly Antonov, was a unique opportunity for us to ask the most pressing questions about the prospects for the Russian-American strategic dialogue. Also, Anatoly Antonov shared his personal experience of diplomatic work and gave us valuable advice on building a professional path in the field of international relations. Thank you, Ambassador Anatoly Antonov, for the sincere and open dialogue with all the students who participated in the meeting”, – Alexandra Aladko, 6^th cohort student (2021–2023) of the Dual-Degree M.A. Program in Nonproliferation Studies (MGIMO-MIIS-PIR Center) commented the lunch with Ambassador Antonov at that time. Read more about the meeting here.

“I’m sure it will be an interesting and useful experience. Perhaps among the examinees there will be my old acquaintances with whom I had the opportunity to communicate informally in November at Monterey”, – H.E. Ambassador Anatoly Antonov comments on his participation in the State Examination Commission. In turn, we are confident that the involvement of a diplomat of such a level and experience in the implementation of the Dual Degree M.A. Program in Nonproliferation Studies will give the impetus to its qualitative development.

F13/MIN – 12/22