Students of Moscow’s HSE facing expulsion for academic failure encouraged to go to war in exchange for academic leave

The administration of Moscow’s Higher School of Economics (HSE University) will be offering students who are facing expulsion for academic failure the option of signing a contract with Russia’s Ministry of Defense. The independent science-focused publication T-invariant has published a copy of the letter, sent to the university’s instructors, outlining the plan.

According to the document, from this point on male students will be offered an alternative to expulsion — one year of service in Russia’s Unmanned Systems Forces, during which the student will be granted academic leave and will be able to resume their studies afterward. Students are promised that after one year they will be discharged from the army unless they themselves choose to extend the military contract; they are also promised that they will serve exclusively in the Unmanned Systems Forces, with assignment to other units prohibited.

“We draw your attention to the fact that all notifications must be sent strictly via corporate email (the use of messengers in this case is not permitted). Starting January 22 (Thursday), we will request statistics on such notifications sent to your students on a weekly basis. By default, the text specifies a period (three days) during which the expulsion must be suspended to allow for the student’s response,” the letter says.

Full translation by The Insider:

Colleagues, good afternoon!

I am sending detailed information on notifications of student expulsions, which we discussed earlier as part of the meeting on performance rankings.

As of today, the standard expulsion notification for all male students who are citizens of the Russian Federation and who are subject to expulsion for poor academic performance must include information about an alternative option (text below and file attached). Standard templates are available in the handbook.

We draw your attention to the fact that all notifications must be sent strictly via corporate email (the use of messengers in this case is not permitted).

Starting January 22 (Thursday), we will request statistics on such notifications sent to your students on a weekly basis.

By default, the text specifies a period (3 days) during which the expulsion must be suspended to allow for the student’s response.

If you have students who are subject to expulsion on other grounds, you may also send them such a notification (if necessary, the three-day period may be adjusted downward, in the case of disciplinary grounds, for example).

For all questions, students may contact the Second Office.

Attached you may find the list of files that must be sent.

The information that must be added to expulsion notifications is provided below:

We draw your attention to the fact that there is an alternative to expulsion — the opportunity to conclude a special contract with the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation for a period of 1 year on a voluntary basis. For the duration of the contract, you will be granted academic leave, after the completion of which you will be able to continue your studies. More detailed information is available in the attached file.

Please inform us of your decision within three days. For this period, your expulsion will be suspended.

Military service under a special contract
in the Unmanned Systems Forces of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation

Dear student, we inform you that you have the opportunity to conclude a special contract with the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation for a period of one year on a voluntary basis.

Key advantages of service under a special contract for HSE University students:

– The special contract is established on a voluntary basis, and its duration is limited to one year
– Guaranteed discharge from military service upon expiration of the contract if there is no desire to establish a new contract
– Students who establish a special contract while studying under a basic educational program are granted academic leave
– Students who establish a special contract are provided with financial support and other payments
– Сitizens who establish a special contract cannot be reassigned to other positions in other units: military service is guaranteed exclusively in the Unmanned Systems Forces
– Mandatory training under a special training program for specialists of the Unmanned Systems Forces within the training network of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation for two months.

More information via the QR code:

For consultation, you may contact the Head of the Second Office of HSE University
Vladimir Nikolaevich Krotov.

Phone: +7 (495) 916-89-00 ext. 23832
E-mail: [email protected]
Address: 18 Kosmonavta Volkova St., Office 104.

This past December, students at the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT) said they were being urged to enlist for military service as drone operators. A representative of the university’s Military Training Center came to one of the lectures and offered students facing expulsion the option of signing a contract with the Ministry of Defense for the duration of their academic leave.