Institute for International Studies

In Russian

The Institute for International Studies (IIS) is a multi-disciplinary research branch of MGIMO University, established in 1976 as the Problem Research Laboratory for System Analysis of International Relations, and last renamed in 2009. We pride ourselves on our history of conducting innovative, in-depth, applied research in IR.

Mission. We are dedicated to assisting authorities in making informed foreign policy decisions and establishing MGIMO as one of the most internationally respected hubs for expertise in IR.

At IIS, we:

  • conduct fundamental academic research and implement applied analytical projects;
  • provide wide-ranging expertise and proper substantiation of foreign policy initiatives;
  • publish articles in Russian and foreign highly-ranked, peer-reviewed academic journals;
  • share our expert assessments of international developments through leading media outlets;
  • maintain international expert and academic dialogue.

We cooperate with main Russian foreign policy decision-making bodies to put the conclusions of our research into practice. We work closely with the Presidential Executive Office, the Security Council, the Government, the Federation Council, the State Duma, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Defense, as well as with international organizations like the EEU, CSTO, and SCO.

Strategy. In 2018, we developed the Institute’s five-year road map, under which we are expanding our dynamic research network and creating new research centres aimed at studying the world’s most pressing issues that will have an impact on Russia’s national interests. We seek to increase the number of academic publications in the Q1-2 journals indexed in the Scopus and Web of Science databases, as well as to promote proven expertise through leading media outlets.

Organizational structure. The Institute hosts 11 centres conducting regional research and studying global issues. The Joint Editorial Board publishes International Analytics and Cuadernos Iberoamericanos journals. The academic and strategic development sections provide organizational support. The Director of the Institute is Dr. Maxim Suchkov, and the Deputy Director is Dr. Alexander Chechevishnikov.

Find out more about our centres, events, news or contact us via imi@inno.mgimo.ru.


Internship at the Institute for International Studies (IMI)

Before you apply for an internship at IMI or do the paperwork after completion of it, read this memo — carefully and till the end.

What is IMI?

The Institute for International Studies (IMI) is the leading research branch of the MGIMO-University. With 10 centres and one laboratory we study countries and regions of the world, global problems, Russian foreign policy and the international economy. We publish the results of our research in Russian and foreign highly-ranked, peer-reviewed academic journals and media outlets, and publish our own journals. We advise governmental authorities, international organisations and large businesses.

Why do you need an internship at IMI?

  • To see the work of a research institute from the inside and to try yourself as an analyst or scientist assistant.
  • To understand how science is born: from research design to journal article publication.
  • To learn more about international relations and the global economy and to put your professional knowledge into applied research.
  • To learn how to analyse political processes using quantitative and qualitative methods.
  • To see how academic journals are published and how texts are edited.

Who can apply for an internship at IMI?

Undergraduate and graduate students at MGIMO. It is not the specialisation that matters, but the ability to understand tasks, to complete them competently and in a timely manner, and to be proficient in Russian and foreign languages. To get rid of clerical style of writing and "water", we recommend reading the book "Write, Shorten" («Пиши, сокращай»).

How to get enrolled?

  • Choose one or more IMI centres where you want to do your internship and list them on your CV in order of priority (no more than three). If you have already chosen a supervisor in advance and have already made an agreement with him/her, please indicate this on your CV. This will help us better understand your preferences and place you more quickly.
  • Fill in the questionnaire in “ASUP” (АСУП), select "Institute for International Studies" and indicate the chosen departments (no more than three).
  • Attach your CV to the application form — it should include a current telephone number and email address so that we can contact you promptly.
  • Wait to hear from the MGIMO Career Centre about your placement at IMI; once we have found an internship supervisor, he or she will contact you independently.
  • We may refuse you if we cannot find a supervisor or place in a research team outside your field of expertise.

What should you do on the eve of your internship?

Contact your internship supervisor, find out about the work of the research team/supervisor, elaborate on your professional interests, determine a plan, schedule and format for working together, and meet if necessary. If you cannot get in touch, let us know as soon as possible.

To-do-list during the internship

We cannot set up permanent working places for interns in our office, so the internship is most often held remotely. Come to the office by arrangement with the supervisor.

  • Keep in touch during office hours on weekdays (9 a.m. to 6 p.m.).
  • Warn your supervisor if you are unavailable.
  • Respond promptly to requests.
  • Ask if anything is unclear.
  • Meet deadlines.
  • Notify the supervisor in advance if you can't make it in time.

Sticking to these rules is essential for a positive final grade for the internship, good feedback and, perhaps, to continue working with us.

The internship is over, what is next?

If you and your supervisor enjoy working together, you can continue your work once the internship is over. But first, fill in an internship diary and report — instructions for completing this and samples are available here. Sign the printed documents with your supervisor and get feedback from him/her before your internship defence. Check all deadlines with your dean's office. Upload all the documents to your personal account in the “ASUP”.

  • Do not retype clichés about what you did not do during the internship. Write only about what you actually did — in the simplest but most literate language.
  • There are no special forms for the report/ diary/ review or internship agreements. IMI is a MGIMO division, so all documents are printed on plain paper.
  • The supervisor's signature cannot be on a separate page, so at least three lines from the previous page of the document should be transferred to the page with the supervisor's signature — this prevents the possibility of text substitution.
  • All documents are stamped by the Executive Office (room 2001).

Any questions?

If you have any questions about the internship, please contact the MGIMO Career Centre by the phone (+7 495 234-58-73 or +7 495 234-84-66) or in person (rooms 1035, 1036).

If you have any substantive questions about the internship at IMI, contact Nikita Lipunov (n.lipunov@inno.mgimo.ru). In the subject line please write: "Internship | your surname".

Staff

Anna Kireeva

Anna Kireeva

Ph.D. (Cand.Polit.Sc.) in International Relations

Alexander Nikitin

Alexander Nikitin

Ph.D. (International Relations), Professor

Yulia Nikitina

Yulia Nikitina

Ph.D. in Political Science

Igor Okunev

Igor Okunev

Ph.D. (Cand. Polit. Sc.) in Political Science, Associate Professor

Nikolay Silaev

Nikolay Silaev

Ph.D. in History