On March 13, 2026, the Fudan Institute for Global Public Policy (IGPP) organized the 24th lecture of the Fudan-Arab Lecture Series. Dr. Evgeny Styrin and Dr. Anna Sanina from the Higher School of Economics (HSE) in Russia delivered a lecture on the theme of Digital Transformation of Public Administration: Multilevel Governance Model in Russia. The session was chaired by Associate Professor Ziteng Fan of IGPP. Dean Yijia Jing served as discussant.

Dr. Evgeny Styrin is Head of the Digital Transformation Laboratory in Public Administration and an Associate Professor at HSE, with extensive expertise in digital government, multi-level governance, and public service performance management. He has been deeply involved in the design and evaluation of digital governance policies in Russia. Dr. Anna Sanina, also an Associate Professor and Leading Research Fellow, focuses on digital trust, citizen participation, and the emotional dimensions of digital governance.

Dr. Evgeny Styrin first outlined the structure of Russia’s public administration system, which operates across federal, regional, and municipal levels. He highlighted that the allocation of authority, budget planning, and cross-level coordination are central governance challenges, with digital technologies serving as key enablers to address these issues. He provided a systematic overview of Russia’s digital governance practices at the federal level, from the “Digital Economy” national project (2019–2024) to the subsequent “Data Economy” initiative launched in 2025. He also introduced Russia’s unified national data management platform, which standardizes data description, ensures data quality control, and supports AI dataset publication.

Dr. Anna Sanina then presented the research and practice of the Laboratory for Digital Transformation in Public Administration. Established in 2021, the laboratory aims to explore digital solutions for public governance and analyze their impact on citizen trust, emotions, and acceptance of government actions. On the research front, the laboratory focuses on six core areas, including digital trust and data-driven governance. On the practical side, the laboratory has developed educational simulation games, assessment tools for digital competencies, and chatbot prototypes for regional service centers.

In the commentary session, Dean Jing offered in-depth reflections on the presentations. He commended Russia’s efforts in advancing digital transformation within a multi-level governance framework and further explored related issues. He noted that China and Russia face many similar challenges in digital public administration, highlighting significant potential for future collaborative research.

During the Q&A session, faculty members and students engaged the speakers in discussions on topics such as strategies for cultivating digital talent. Drawing on their practical experience, the speakers provided detailed responses, offering diverse perspectives and valuable insights.

After the lecture, Dean Jing and Associate Professor Fan presented commemorative gifts to Dr. Evgeny Styrin and Dr. Anna Sanina. The event concluded with a group photo of the faculty and students.