Higher Education in Russia

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In the contemporary world the importance of human capital as a significant contributor to national wealth suggests that the education system is evaluated as a meaningful factor in the development of the quality and quantity of economic and social growth. The Russian system of education is considered by many, both inside and outside of Russia, to be the best education system in the world. Unfortunately some aspects of education in Russia are now facing financial hardship and are in an extreme need of financial support from the State. Nonetheless the quality of Russian education remains very high and this maintains the international image of Russia as the country with one of the highest levels of scientific and cultural development.

The Russian State must keep up with the pace of world thinking in regard to the importance of education. Presently the average payment/salary for a Russian Professor is $250 per month and for a teacher only $70 per month. Russia's leaders need not only to increase the pay for educationalists but also to increase funding for maintaining facilities, equipment and educational tools. These matters are the primary threat to the present world leadership of Russian educational institutions, as with the coming Europeanisation of Russia's education system those Professors and teachers who can now speak English or some other foreign language will soon leave Russia.

In September 2003 Russia signed the Bologna Declaration and joined the Bologna Process in order to introduce unified educational standards in Europe. This has effectively brought Russia into the European Union in the sphere of Education. In 1999 Ministers responsible for higher education in 29 European countries signed the Bologna Declaration. They agreed on important joint objectives for the development of a coherent and cohesive European Higher Education Area by 2010. The Bologna Process will increase the competitiveness of European Education (as education is now really a world competitive product) and improve the quality of higher education. The objective of strengthening social cohesion and reducing social and gender inequalities both at national and at the overall European level has also formed part of this Bologna Declaration.

This process of establishing a European Higher Education Area promises many advantages. First of all national degrees will be converted to European standard degrees in the different countries of Europe. This means all countries who sign this Bologna Declaration will switch to the system of "4+2": four years study to attain the Bachelor's degree + two additional years studying to get a Master's degree. This new standard will lead to an easier evaluation and recognition of degrees.

The declaration also supports the development and assurance of an integrated curriculum leading to joint degrees. The objective is that every student graduating from 2005 should receive, automatically and free of charge the Degree Certificate with an Attachment showing subjects studied and marks, issued in one of the European languages.

The Bologna Process will also increase the mobility of students and academic and administrative staff, with a new visa policy which will allow students to go to other "Bologna countries" freely to get education and with the opportunity to get double degrees from universities of different countries. With a view to promoting student mobility, Education Ministers will take the necessary steps to enable the portability of national loans and grants. International exchange programmes for lecturers are also to be provided. An important role in facilitating student mobility and international curriculum development will be the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) which becomes a generalized basis for a European cross-credit system.

Дата добавления: 2014-12-29