Ruza Reboot: Legendary Camp Welcomes HSE Students and Staff
In the Moscow Region, HSE’s country complex located on the banks of the Ruza Reservoir and bearing the same name Ruza, has reopened its doors. Faculties and other university departments can now apply on the complex’s website (in Russian) to hold events there in September.
The history of Ruza began over 60 years ago, but the camp’s operations were suspended in 2016 to carry out mandatory renovations. Its revival started in 2022 thanks to the efforts of an initiative group of students supported by HSE Rector Nikita Anisimov. A team was assembled, bringing together specialists from various university departments along with invited experts of architecture and development.
In 2023, Building No. 9 underwent a major refurbishment. The first to move into the updated facility were summer student construction brigades from the university.
In 2024, exterior lighting and perimeter CCTV security systems were installed across the Ruza complex.
In 2025, the site received an anti-terrorism safety certificate approved by EMERCOM of Russia, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and other authorities. At the same time, a state-of-the-art modular canteen was put into operation, meeting all sanitary and technical standards.
Today, Ruza’s infrastructure includes a modern building that can accommodate 84 people, a new canteen with 64 seats, a fully equipped medical centre, and a spacious marquee for large outdoor events.
Veronika Minina
‘Ruza is a place with a rich history and traditions, where generations of students and teachers have relaxed, studied, and worked. Today we are reviving this camp and making it a unique environment to develop the professional and creative potential of our students, staff, and partners. We see Ruza as a promising venue for new formats of educational, project-based, and cultural events,’ said HSE Vice Rector Veronika Minina.
This summer, Ruza hosted field training sessions for first-year students of the Faculties of Geography and Geoinformation Technology, Biology and Biotechnology. The Student Initiative Support Centre organised a dance convention for students from all four campuses, while the eLearning Office held an offsite corporate training session.
Participants shared their impressions of the camp sessions.
‘Ruza is a true source of strength. Here, you meet new people and spend time actively,’ noted Artemy Panarin, a student of the Information Science and Computation Technology programme.
‘It is a wonderful place where you can escape the city’s hustle and bustle and just live in the moment. Students from various disciplines gather here,’ said Ekaterina Nikitina, a student of Advertising and Public Relations.
‘I have been to Ruza three times. Each visit brought thousands of memories, dozens of new acquaintances, a touch of sunburn, and an immense boost of energy,’ recalled Elizaveta Mikhailova, a Journalism student.
Egor Danilov, another student of Information Science and Computation Technology, admitted, ‘I truly fell in love with this place—the atmosphere, the people, and the events that happen here.’
HSE University would like to express our gratitude to everyone who contributed to bringing this complex back to life. We thank the designers, builders, staff, and students for their hard work, as their joint efforts have restored an important part of our university's history. Ruza has once again become the place you always wanted to return to.
Faculties and departments can apply to host events in September by filling out the online form (in Russian).