MGIMO Delegation Visits Beijing Capital University of Physical Education and Sports (CUPES)

2 December 2025

From 29 November to 2 December, a MGIMO delegation led by Artem Malgin, Vice-Rector for Development, held consultations with Professor Zhang Xia, President of Beijing Capital University of Physical Education and Sports (CUPES), and university officials on the development of joint master's degree and continuing professional education programmes in sports management, tourism and sports diplomacy.

MGIMO and CUPES are already implementing joint educational modules as part of the professional retraining programme “Global Sport: Legal Regulation, Positioning and Communications”, delivered through the Centre for Sports Diplomacy.

During the consultations, the parties outlined their plans for 2026, including student and faculty exchanges and the delivery of a new educational module. They also agreed to conduct an applied research project aimed at gaining a deeper understanding of trends in the development of national sports systems.

The MGIMO delegation also took part in the annual conference of the Russian-Chinese Association of Sports Universities. MGIMO was represented by Vice-Rector for Development Artem Malgin; Elena Baranova, Deputy Director of the School of Business and International Proficiency; Alexander Kryukov, Director of the MGIMO Alumni Association; and Ekaterina Zaripova, a specialist at the European Studies Institute.

At the plenary session, which brought together representatives of more than 30 Russian and Chinese universities, Vice-Rector Artem Malgin delivered a presentation entitled “International Aspects of Sports Management Education: Lessons from Programmes for Russian Olympians”.

Elena Baranova, Deputy Director of the School of Business and International Proficiency, spoke at a round table discussion on prospects for cooperation between Russia and China in sports education.

A Russian-Chinese youth hockey camp was held alongside the conference. The Diplomats hockey club played matches against teams representing Beijing universities. The aggregate score after two matches was 9–9. At the conclusion of the camp, the Chinese team was invited to participate in the 4th MGIMO Rector’s Ice Hockey Cup, scheduled to take place in Red Square in early 2026.

As part of the youth camp, students also visited the Embassy of the Russian Federation in China. The tour was organised with the assistance of the staff of the Russian House in Beijing and its director, Tatyana Uruzhemtseva.

The event was held with the support of MGIMO Endowment.