International Trade

Profession

International trade is the oldest form of international economic relations. The renowned American economist William Bernstein, in his book “A Splendid Exchange”, writes that trade interests have worked wonders: opening up new lands and continents, helping conquer and destroy empires, building bridges between peoples and civilisations. It was the development of international trade that led to the emergence of the world market in the mid-nineteenth century, and this form of international economic relations was one of the driving forces behind globalization, which, on the one hand, brought countries closer together and, on the other hand, made them interdependent and vulnerable.
Master’s programme “International Trade” in English graduates with a set of professional knowledge, which allows to analyse world markets and understand the interests of the country and company in these markets, to know and be able to use the mechanisms of promotion of product or service in regional and world markets, to protect the national interests of the country in the world arena, to calculate the efficiency of trade transactions, to work with customs, to attract financial resources, work in the foreign exchange market; monitor and control the implementation of global development tasks and strategic partnerships, collect, analyse and consolidate reporting information.
The profession of an international trade economist specialising in international trade is a highly demanded and always highly paid profession, because at the current stage of development of the world economy there is no small, medium or large company, public or private, which is not involved in international trade.

Educational Process

The programme consists of a balanced set of courses. The basic course providing in-depth knowledge of modern trends in the development of international trade and foreign trade regulation is the course “International Trade”. Students acquire knowledge and skills of market analysis, conjuncture research and report writing under the course “World Market Conjuncture of Goods and Services” preceded by “International Statistical Databases (Advanced Level)” aimed at teaching students to work with international databases to find necessary foreign trade, financial and other types of statistics, work with big data and “International Economics” gaining the in-depth theoretical knowledge necessary to investigate and explain world market trends. The courses are lectured by I.N. Belova, PhD in Economics (with many years of experience in international consulting and forty years of teaching experience, author of textbooks and manuals recognised in Russia), A.A. Tinkova (certified database specialist) and N.A. Volgina, PhD in Economics, Professor (author of the basic textbook “International Economics” in Russia). In-depth knowledge enabling graduates to work with the customs authorities or later to become customs brokers, the ability to calculate the customs value of goods, determine the country of origin of goods, etc. is acquired via the course “Customs and Tariff Regulation”. The course is taught by Candidate of Economic Sciences, Associate Professor N.V. Dyuzheva (has many years of practical experience in foreign trade). International trade means not only exports, but also imports, students receive in-depth knowledge of procurement activities within the course “Organisation of International Procurement”, taught by I.O. Khabarov (Chief Specialist of the International Procurement Department of PJSC “Lukoil”). In the context of digitalisation of the world economy and, as a consequence, international trade, knowledge in the implementation and use of digital products is of particular relevance and students acquire it via the course “World Experience in Implementing Information Management Systems” lectured by Dr. of Economics, Professor V.N. Pinchuk (Management CEO Deputy, Operation and Network Development of FSUE “Russian Television and Radio Broadcasting Network” (RTRS)). The curriculum of this Master’s programme also includes a course on “International Logistics”, which is led by Irina Gladysheva, who has an extensive experience in international logistics and headed the Ministry of Economic Development and Competition Policy of the Arkhangelsk region for two years. International trade is connected with the constant need to conduct international negotiations at all levels: companies, ministries and agencies, states. The specifics of the international negotiation process as well as national peculiarities of doing business are acquired via the course “Theory and Practice of International Business Communication”, lectured by the Head of the Department of International Economic Relations, Doctor of Economics, Professor I.V. Andronova, from 2004 to 2014 financial director of “MMG Group of Companies”.
A specialist in international trade in his/her professional activities faces the need to attract financial resources, work with banks, international settlements, insurance, work in the foreign exchange market, a set of knowledge on this block of issues students acquire via the courses “International Currency and Credit Relations”, “International Finance”, “Business as Financial System: International Standards”, “International Activities of Commercial Banks”, “Insurance of Foreign Trade”, lectured by Doctors and Candidates of Science. The most crucial aspect of international trade is its legal regulation; students acquire basic knowledge of the aspect via the course “Legal Regulation of Economic and Foreign Economic Activity”, lectured by N.V. Dyuzheva, PhD in Economics, Associate Professor, Master of Law. Students of the International Trade programme who wish to broaden their knowledge of international law can obtain a professional retraining diploma in International Law from RUDN Law Institute.

Practice

Students studying in the English-language International Trade programme have two types of internships: research internships and pre-graduation internships. The research internship includes students' participation in Russian and international conferences, business games, round tables and Olympiads. For the last five years, students have been participating in the International Student Olympiad in World Economics at St. Petersburg State University of Economics every year. Every month the Department arranges round tables on topical issues of international trade. Master classes are arranged for students throughout their studies by representatives of leading Russian companies. Master-classes on sustainable development are held by Sibur's Director for Sustainable Development, M.K. Remchukov, lectures on “Organisation of International Procurement” are held by I.O. Khabarov, Senior Manager for Procurement Management for Foreign Oil and Gas Production Organisations of PJSC LUKOIL. A number of master classes devoted to specific features of Chinese economy are held by A.A. Maslov, a well-known Russian Orientalist, Doctor of History, Director of the Far East Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
The Department of International Economic Relations has such internship bases as:
- Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP);
- Russian Export Centre;
- Institute of Social and Political Studies of the Federal Research Sociological Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences;
- Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation;
- Agency for Human Capital Development in the Far East and the Arctic;
- Lomonosov Moscow Domodedovo Airport. Lomonosov Moscow Airport;
- Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation;
- A number of other commercial and non-commercial organisations, integration, state and regional structures.

Career

By acquiring a high level of professional knowledge and competences in international trade, global economics and international business in English, graduates of the programme have a wide range of employment opportunities and successful career development. Our graduates work and occupy top positions in large Russian and foreign companies — Roman Karlash (Sales Director of Smart Devices “Yandex”), Tigran Baklachyan (Senior Tax Inspector of the Armenian Customs Service), Elena Yakimovich (Head of Economics and Finance of Teploenergoremont LTD), Zoritsa Berich (Localisation Specialist of Gaijin Entertainment — the leading online games developer).
Among our graduates there are also those who hold leading positions in state organisations and ministries: A.V. Komendantov (Project Manager at the Agency for Human Capital Development in the Far East and the Arctic), K. Yelikbaev (Deputy Director of Internal Markets Functioning Department at Eurasian Economic Commission), Y. Volodin (Strategic Development Director at Goznak, a Russian Banknote and Coin Manufacturer). A large number of our graduates have set up their own companies, which are successfully operating on the Russian and foreign markets.
Graduates in International Trade may work as analysts, senior specialists, purchasers in foreign trade, transport and logistics, consulting and analytical companies. They may also work in the international departments of banks and financial companies. Our graduates hold positions as project managers and advisers in government agencies and related organisations.