Faculty of Computer Science and Skoltech Host Third Statistical Learning Theory Olympiad

HSE University’s Faculty of Computer Science and Skoltech have organised Statistical Learning Theory Olympiad for the third time. The Olympiad’s main award is admission to the HSE University and Skoltech joint master’s programme.

Record-breaking fifty-one applications were submitted this year. Students of dozen universities including HSE University, Lomonosov MSU, MIPT, RUDN University, Bauman MSTU, MAI, MIET, RANEPA, Universities of St Petersburg, Samara, Omsk, Nazarbayev University, Innopolis University, and the University of Waterloo have participated in the Olympiad. Traditionally, it took place in two rounds – portfolio contest and the competition at the Skoltech campus. This year, however, all events went online.

Thirty participants were selected for the competition. Interviews and mathematics exams took place on May 23 and 24. The exam board was formed of the HSE University and Skoltech representatives: Vladimir Spokoiny, Alexey Naumov, Quentin Paris, Denis Belomestny, Maxim Panov, Grigory Kabatyanski, Alexey Zaytsev, and Dmitry Yarotsky.

 

Alexey Naumov, Statistical Learning Theory programme academic supervisor

Statistical Learning Theory Olympiad is becoming a good tradition. This year the Olympiad was hosted online, which increased the number of participants. The winners will soon become the students of a joint HSE University and Skoltech master’s programme. We are now planning to open the application process for the next year’s Olympiad. We await third-year students from Russian and foreign universities, interested in machine learning mathematics and willing to try and enrol to our programme. I would also like to thank Huawei and Sberbank – industry partners who have supported the Olympiad.

Apart from the competition itself, during the last days of the Olympiad lectures were given Statistical Learning Theory programme academic supervisor professor Vladimir Spokoiny, as well as Sberbank data scientist Maria Tikhonova and AI expert, Huawei senior engineer Alexander Petushko.

The results were announced on June 1. Out of fourteen winners selected by the board, twelve first-place winners are awarded the admission to the HSE University and Skoltech joint master’s programme without exam; two second-place winners are awarded the highest points for the admission interview.

HSE University’s admission campaign starts June 22 till July 31; meanwhile, one can enrol Skoltech right now – registration for the next selection is open till July 16.