Hooray. Hooray. Yesterday, at the Skolkovo business school, there was a ceremonial presentation of student ID cards. A wonderful project. The embodiment of Russian-style state capitalism. A whole bunch of crooks — “businessmen with clout” — got together and decided to immortalize themselves. To spend money on something outstanding. Yachts and palaces — that’s tacky. Too much like some Asian-style ostentation. It’s far cooler to build a business school. That demonstrates a European approach and breadth of vision. And yet they still feel sorry for the money...... But that’s exactly why they’re crooks — “businessmen with clout.” After declaring that they had invested their own personal funds, they took out a preferential loan from Sberbank. That’s what Skolkovo is being built with. Well, Abramovich also contributed land plots that were once grabbed for next to nothing through administrative leverage. And of course no one will repay the loan. Options for restructuring it were considered when it was issued. So this massive project to create a “private business school” will be paid for by taxpayers/the state and Sberbank shareholders. Including me. Skolkovo has its own LiveJournal community (look how advanced they are!). Its name? new_leaders Who would have doubted it.
brilliant teachers are ready to share their knowledge While the campus has not yet been built, the students are living at the Baltschug Hotel. Here is a wonderful interview with the school’s rector. He gives it in the Nobu restaurant. He has to give interviews somewhere, after all. No one can forbid living beautifully. Especially on someone else’s money.
all photos by nl We will wait for the day when the Skolkovo business school, while training “businessmen of a new generation,” starts working as a business model itself. And repays its loan to Sberbank. I think that will happen on the day and at the hour when Russia becomes a leader in nanotechnology. And this photo from the school’s opening could be used as its official emblem. Slogan: We know the shortest path to success!