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Rector of National Research University Higher School of Economics (HSE)

Professor, Head of the Department of Institutional Economics, and Academic Supervisor of the HSE Center for Institutional Studies (CInSt).

In 1979, graduated with a degree in Economics from Lomonosov Moscow State University.

From 1979 until 1989, Yaroslav Kuzminov lectured in the Department of Economic Theory and History of Economic Thought at Moscow State University.

Later, from 1989 until 1993, he worked as a researcher at the Institute of Economics, Russian Academy of Sciences.

In 1992, Prof. Kuzminov, in cooperation with Prof. Evgeny Yasin, proposed the establishment of a new type of institution of higher education — the Higher School of Economics — to the Russian Government. And thus, he became the youngest rector of a state university in the Russian Federation.

Yaroslav Kuzminov took part in the development of proposals for Russia’s socio-economic policy for the period up until 2020 (‘Strategy 2020’). Through this project, Dr. Kuzminov headed the expert group ‘Labor Market, Professional Education and Migration Policy’ (2012).


In 2002, Dr. Kuzminov was awarded with the Order of Honour by the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation. In 2003, the French Government made Dr. Kuzminov an Officer of the Ordre des Palmes Académiques (Order of Academic Palms). In 2009, he was awarded the International Leiontief Award ‘for achievements in the organization and radical modernization of economic education in Russia’. He has also received the following awards: ‘Order For Merit for the Fatherland’, 4th Class, by Russian President Vladimir Putin (2012); Acknowledgement from the Russian President (2013); Stolypin Medal, 2nd Class (2017); ‘Order For Merit for the Fatherland’, 3rd Class (2017); Badge ‘For Contribution to the Development of State Statistics’ (2017); Acknowledgement from the Russian President (2018); and Honorary Badge ‘Moscow State Duma. 25th Anniversary’ (2019).

Sergey Kirienko was born July 26, 1962, in Sukhumi. On finishing school, he entered the shipbuilding department of Gorky Institute of Water Transport Engineers from which he graduated in 1984. 1991-1993, studied at the governmental Academy of National Economy, specialising in Finance and Banking. April 1998, became Prime Minister of the Russian Federation and held this office till August 1998 when Boris Yeltsin dismissed the Government. May 2000, President Vladimir Putin appointed Sergey Kirienko as Plenipotentiary Representative of the President in Volga Federal District. November 2005, Russian Government appointed him as Head of the Federal Atomic Energy Agency. December 2007, following President Putin’s order, he took the position of Director General of the State Atomic Energy Corporation “Rosatom”. October 2016, First Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office of the Russian Federation. Sergey Kirienko has been awarded the Order of Honour.