Tatyana Klyachko — Doctor of Sciences in Economics, Director of the Center for Lifelong Learning Economics, Institute of Applied Economic Research, Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA), Professor, National Research University Higher School of Economics.

Address: Bld. 1, 82 Vernadskogo Ave, 119571 Moscow, Russian Federation. E-mail: tlk@ranepa.ru (Corresponding author)

Alexey Novoseltsev — Vice Rector, National Research University Higher School of Economics.

Address: 11 Pokrovsky Blvd, 109028 Moscow, Russian Federation. E-mail: anovoseltsev@hse.ru

Elena Odoevskaya — Senior Assistant to Rector, National Research University Higher School of Economics.

Address: 11 Pokrovsky Blvd, 109028 Moscow, Russian Federation. E-mail: ekirilyuk@hse.ru

Sergey Sinelnikov-Murylev — Doctor of Sciences in Economics, Professor, Rector, Russian Foreign Trade Academy of the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation.

Address: 6A Vorobyevskoe Hwy, 119285 Moscow, Russian Federation. E-mail: sinel@vavt.ru

This paper explores the organizational and economic response of higher education to the coronavirus pandemic and the emergency transition to distance learning. We analyze the situation across different categories of universities as well as how they respond to campus closures and to the urgent transition to remote student-faculty interactions in learning. We also assess the education system’s need for additional public funding to promote digital learning environments, foster professional development of faculty members, and create job opportunities for students who have lost their jobs that paid their education and/or accommodation. Improvement scenarios are proposed for the funding mechanisms underlying the fulfillment of government contract for education and science, which have been applied since 2013.