OREANDA-NEWS. September 21, 2011. Timed to coincide with the fifth anniversary celebrations, the annual meeting of the Founding Partners and members of the Advisory Board took place at the Moscow School of Management SKOLKOVO today.

At the meeting, the results of the first five years were presented, including the academic programmes devised and launched, the international contacts and partnerships formed, and the work undertaken to transform the Campus into an area for exchanging opinions and ideas. Those at the meeting discussed plans for SKOLKOVO’s development, highlighting the creation of an “entrepreneurial ecosystem” as a priority. In line with tradition, student tickets were presented to the new class of MBA students.

“From the moment it was created, the School was and remains a true partnership project,” Ruben Vardanian said in his speech. “Today, looking at all the achievements that we have to be proud of, and the results of the first five years – an important threshold for any project – it gives me great pleasure to hand the post of SKOLKOVO President to a founding partner and someone who has been actively involved in the project since day one: Andrey Rappoport.”

Andrey Rappoport is one of SKOLKOVO’s first Founding Partners. As a member of the Coordination Council, he played an active role in resolving key issues in the life of the School and headed its HR Committee.

Ruben Vardanian, who has been President of SKOLKOVO since its inception, will remain on the Coordination Council and will head its Committee on International Cooperation and Strategic Partnerships.

At the meeting, new members of the Coordination Council were announced. They are Alexander Voloshin, head of the working group on establishing the International financial centre in Russia, and Anatoly Chubais, Chief Executive Officer of the corporation RUSNANO.

“I would like once again to express my gratitude to all of the founding partners and everyone who has helped us and supported the creation of the School. An unbelievable amount has been achieved, and even more lies ahead!” Ruben Vardanian said in the closing part of his speech.