Science or industry: Improving the quality of the Russian higher education system

Abstract

The shape of the modern Russian science and higher education system is largely determined by the peculiarities of its structure during the Soviet period: its division into research and higher education sectors. However, throughout the 21st century, the higher education system has undergone significant reforms. An important focus of these reforms has been the development of the research mission of higher education institutions (HEIs). At the same time, the government launched reforms that focused on the development of regional markets, where universities were an important driver of this development, and on the interaction of universities with local employers. There have also been reforms aimed at changing the system to determine the number of state-funded places and places for targeted enrolment and how they are distributed between universities. All these reforms have changed the functioning of universities. In this study, we describe the current landscape of the Russian higher education system, and how different types of universities are involved in research, attracting more talented students and engaging with other sectors of the economy.