OREANDA-NEWS. September 23, 2011. The Moscow School of Management SKOLKOVO celebrated its fifth anniversary! Five years is a significant landmark for any project, it’s time to speak about achievements and set out new challenging goals! And just a while ago creation of a modern business-school of the world standard in Russia seemed to be just a dream!

Before noon a School Coordination Council meeting took place where conclusions of the first five year period of work were drawn and success in elaboration and launching of educational programmes, developing of the School international contacts, transformation of the SKOLKOVO Campus into a vivid platform of mind and idea exchange were noted. Within the session an important decision was made that has marked the start of a new SKOLKOVO development stage – Andrei Rappoport has taken up the post of the President of the School.  After the meeting Ruben Vardanyan said: “Today observing the success that one can be proud of and making a deduction of the first five-year term, a relevant landmark for any project, it’s especially enjoyable for me to consign the position of the School President to Andrei Rappoport, a SKOLKOVO Founder, to the one who was engaged in the business-school work from the very first day”. Moreover, the Founders handed over student ID cards to the students of the third MBA intake. 

At midday sharp all guests gathered in Congress Hall for the official ceremony dedicated to the School fifth anniversary. Birthdays are usually celebrated with the closest and dearest people, and it is, undoubtedly, a great moment to thank those who one values the most.  That is why the Moscow School of Management SKOLKOVO was generous in warm words and expressed its respect in the form of special rewards. Branded SKOLKOVO statuettes and books “SKOLKOVO HIGH FIVE” were presented according to 5 nominations:  “5 most life-changing encounters at SKOLKOVO”, “5 most inquiring Executive Education clients”, “5 professors from the students’ faculty list”, “5 most popular speakers and experts”, “5 students – first believers in SKOLKOVO”. Moreover, in the day of its fifth anniversary the School congratulated graduates of the Executive MBA programme who were presented with their diplomas by Andrei Volkov, SKOLKOVO Dean.

In the afternoon the Campus opened its doors to all those who wished to share with the School its high-day. Lots of surprises awaited the SKOLKOVO guests, they are: round-tables from the School professors, workshops on business, architecture, design and art, presentation of the MBA and EMBA educational programmes. The performance and workshop “The Art of Flowers” by Araik Galstyan attracted special attention, due to his efforts the School rested in wonderful flower composition on its birthday. 

According to the tradition, all those who wished could take part in culinary and sport workshop from the SKOLKOVO partners Correa’s and Planet Fitness, visit a Campus tour held by the SKOLKOVO employees, and go to the “From Tokio” by Alexei German Jr. film presentation.

2000 guests shared the School joy on its fifth anniversary! The high-day made a great matter for old friends to meet again and did not leave indifferent those who got acquitted with SKOLKOVO for the first time. It seems that dreams can really come true, and that means we can confidently move forward as the classic said: “There is nothing more powerful than an idea whose time has come”!