On the Question of the Demand for Professional Postgraduate Studies in Russia: Analysis of Data on the Thesis Defenses in Technical Sciences

Modern Russian postgraduate school is institutionally oriented towards the reproduction of the personnel potential for science and higher education. Since the career trajectories of a significant part of PhD graduates go beyond the academic labor market, the scientific and pedagogical community is discussing the prospects for the development of the so-called professional postgraduate studies in Russia, which should provide targeted training of highly qualified personnel for knowledge-intensive sectors of the economy and the sphere of intellectual services. The discourse on professional postgraduate studies is focused on the possibility of adapting the effective practices of foreign universities, and, unfortunately, is currently not supported by quantitative data on the demand for such a format of postgraduate training in Russia. The purpose of this study is an empirical analysis of the demand for professional postgraduate studies in the field of technical sciences. Using data on PhD graduates who successfully defended dissertations in technical sciences in 2019 as an example, for the first time a quantitative assessment was made of the prevalence of practice-oriented dissertations, the authors of which are employees of organizations in the knowledge-intensive sectors of the economy. The empirical basis of the study was the publicly available data on the defense of dissertations for the degree of candidate of technical sciences in Russia in 2019 (N=1663). For a detailed analysis, dissertation materials were selected, which contained information about postgraduate studies and the place of employment of dissertators (N=715). As a result of the study, parameters were determined that characterize the degree of prevalence in Russia of practice-oriented dissertations on various disciplinary groups of technical sciences, including: the proportion of PhD graduates employed outside the academic sphere; the proportion of dissertations thematically related to the professional activities of their authors; prevalence of preparation of dissertations on the basis of enterprises of the real sector of the economy; differences in socio-demographic characteristics and publication activity of PhD graduates working on dissertations at universities and in science-intensive business organizations. On the basis of the analysis, a conclusion is made about the expediency of developing professional postgraduate programs in the field of engineering and technology aimed at staffing the innovation sphere, as well as legitimizing the special requirements for these programs and practice-oriented dissertations prepared during their implementation

Professional Doctorates: International Experience and Russian Context

The diversification of forms and types of doctoral programs is currently a global trend. Universities across the globe offer programs that differ in the modes of training, characteristics of the target audience, and possible labor markets after graduation. In Russia, doctoral education exists in a unified format, focusing primarily on the academic labor market. Recently, there have been discussions about the need to expand the range of programs and the types of academic degrees in Russia. In this article, we present the analysis of professional doctoral programs: in response to what challenges and needs they appeared, how they are implemented, in what forms they exist. In addition, we consider the Russian experience of implementing professional doctoral programs; analyze the existing opportunities and barriers for their development. Based on the analysis, we came to a conclusion about the relevance of the professional doctoral programs’ development in Russia, the expediency of simplifying the conditions for their implementation and legitimizing special requirements for the design of dissertations with an applied orientation

FACTORS OF EFFICIENCY AND QUALITY OF TRAINING IN PH.D. PROGRAMS (SOCIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS)

В работе обсуждаются результаты опроса экспертов - докторов наук, профессоров, имеющих практический опыт подготовки и аттестации научных кадров - по проблемам совершенствования аспирантских программ, выявлению ключевых факторов и критериев эффективности и качества подготовки аспирантов. Значительное внимание уделено изучению точек зрения респондентов, представляющих различные научные дисциплины.The results of a survey carried out among experts having practical experience in the training and attestation of academic personnel are discussed. The survey concerned the problems of improvement of Ph.D. programs, revealing the key factors and the criteria of their efficiency and quality. The respondents in the survey represent many different areas of studies

Practice-based doctoral programs and professional degrees: analysis of foreign experience

Practical-oriented postgraduate programs aimed at developing graduates’ professional career outside the academic labor market have become widespread in leading foreign universities. There is a statutory unified format of postgraduate studies in Russia, aimed at training of personnel for science and higher education. At the same time, the need of adaptation of postgraduate training programs to the demands of the real economy sector is becoming more evident. The purpose of this review is to analyze scientific publications and case studies of foreign universities implementing practical-oriented postgraduate programs with professional degrees, which are equivalent to PhD in social status. Drawing on the analysis of international experience, the prospects of the establishment and development of such programs in Russian postgraduate studies are discussed. The study identified the most common characteristics of practical-oriented programs and their differences from academic postgraduate programs: 1) students’ involvement in applied research, which is relevant for the real economy sector; 2) an individual approach for postgraduate education considering professional interests of the students and employers’ demands; 3) a clearly structured system of education and scientific management, based on cooperation of universities and enterprises; 4) using innovative forms of final academic assessment. Based on the analysis of Russian experience it is concluded that practical-oriented training for postgraduate students is in demand and in fact already exists, but is not provided with necessary statutory regulation. It is pointed out that, owing to a lack of data, the extent of this arrangement and key barriers on the way to a degree among Russian practical-oriented postgraduate students have not been studied. The main directions of empirical research, which are necessary for making adequate management decisions on institutionalizing practical-oriented postgraduate programs in Russia, have been formulated. The article is of interest to researchers of higher education, scientific, pedagogical and administrative employees of higher education institutions, as well as for the state authorities responsible for implementing the policy of education and certification of highly trained personnel.В ведущих зарубежных университетах широкое распространение получили практико-ориентированные аспирантские программы, нацеленные на развитие профессиональной карьеры выпускников за пределами академического рынка труда. В России нормативно закреплен унифицированный формат аспирантуры, ориентированный на подготовку кадров для науки и высшей школы. При этом все более очевидной становится потребность в адаптации института аспирантуры к запросам реального сектора экономики. Целью данного обзора является анализ научных публикаций и кейсов зарубежных университетов, реализующих практико-ориентированные аспирантские программы с присуждением профессиональных степеней, эквивалентных по своему общественному статусу академической степени Ph D. На основе анализа международного опыта обсуждаются перспективы становления и развития подобных программ в российской аспирантуре. В результате исследования выявлены наиболее общие характеристики практико-ориентированных программ и их отличия от программ академической аспирантуры: 1) вовлеченность обучающихся в прикладные исследования, представляющие интерес для реального сектора экономики; 2) индивидуальный подход к образовательной подготовке аспирантов, учитывающий их профессиональные интересы и запросы работодателей; 3) четко структурированная система обучения и руководства диссертационными работами, основанная на сотрудничестве университетов и предприятий; 4) применение инновационных форм итоговой аттестации выпускников. На основе анализа российского опыта делается вывод о том, что практико-ориентированная подготовка аспирантов востребована и де-факто уже существует, но не обеспечена необходимым нормативно-правовым регулированием. Отмечается, что вследствие дефицита данных масштабы такой подготовки и ключевые барьеры на пути к ученой степени у российских аспирантов-практиков практически не изучены. Сформулированы основные направления эмпирических исследований, необходимых для принятия адекватных управленческих решений по институционализации практико-ориентированных аспирантских программ в России. Статья представляет интерес для исследователей высшего образования, научно-педагогических и административных работников вузов, а также для органов государственной власти, ответственных за реализацию политики в области подготовки и аттестации кадров высшей квалификации

Barriers to Doctoral Degree Attainment: Problems of the Period after Postgraduate Studies

Повышение результативности аспирантских программ становится сегодня одним из важнейших вопросов в обеспечении экономического развития государства. Российским аспирантам, нацеленным на получение ученой степени, как правило, не удается защитить диссертацию в период обучения в аспирантуре, и они нуждаются в дополнительном времени для завершения своих работ. Цель данной исследовательской статьи – выявление и анализ ключевых проблем, с которыми сталкиваются выпускники российских аспирантур, стремящиеся представить свои диссертации к защите. Новизна предлагаемой работы определяется двумя обстоятельствами. Во-первых, в отличие от других эмпирических исследований аспирантуры внимание авторов сфокусировано на барьерах на пути к ученой степени, возникающих не в процессе обучения, а после его окончания. Во-вторых, анализ основан на результатах опроса выпускников, успешно преодолевших эти барьеры и защитивших кандидатские диссертации. Эмпирическая база исследования – анкетные онлайнопросы кандидатов наук из числа недавних выпускников аспирантуры, а также административно-управленческих работников, ответственных за подготовку и аттестацию аспирантов. Полученные в исследовании количественные данные свидетельствуют о том, что наличие либо отсутствие диссертационного совета в организации, осуществляющей подготовку аспирантов, – один из ключевых факторов, определяющих темпы и эффективность продвижения выпускников аспирантуры к ученой степени. В целом результаты исследования позволяют заключить, что сложности, возникающие на завершающем этапе подготовки диссертации к защите, в значительной мере обусловлены несовершенством механизма сопряжения систем государственной научной аттестации и подготовки научно-педагогических кадров в аспирантуре, и авторами статьи обсуждаются возможные организационно-управленческие решения, направленные на сближение этих систем и повышение результативности аспирантуры. Данная статья представляет интерес для исследователей высшего образования, а также для научно-педагогических и административных работников, вовлеченных в процесс управления подготовкой и аттестацией кадров высшей научной квалификации.Increasing the effectiveness of postgraduate programs is now becoming one of the most important issues in ensuring the economic development of the state. As a rule, Russian postgraduate students, who are aimed at getting an academic degree, fail to defend their theses during their postgraduate studies, and they need additional time to complete their work. The purpose of this research article is to identify and analyze the key problems faced by Russian postgraduates seeking to submit their dissertations for defense. Our investigation comes to be original in two aspects. First, in contrast to other empirical studies of postgraduate school, the authors’ attention is focused on the barriers to attaining a degree, which arise not in the course of study, but after graduation. Second, the analysis is based on interviewing those graduates who have successfully overcome these barriers and defended their PhD theses. The empirical base of the study is online questionnaire surveys of Russian PhDs (Candidates of Science) who have recently completed their postgraduate studies, as well as administrative and managerial workers responsible for postgraduate students’ training and certification. The quantitative data obtained indicate that the presence or absence of a dissertation council in an organization wherein postgraduate students are trained is one of the key factors determining the pace and effectiveness of the postgraduates’ proceeding to an academic degree. In general, the results of the study make it possible to conclude that the difficulties at the final stage of preparing a dissertation are largely due to the imperfection of the mechanism for pairing the systems of state scientific certification and scientific and pedagogical personnel postgraduate training. Thus, we discuss possible organizational and managerial decisions of how to bring these systems closer and improve the performance of postgraduate studies. This paper might be of interest for higher education researchers, as well as for scientific, pedagogical and administrative workers involved in the management of personnel training and higher scientific qualifications certification.Работа выполнена при поддержке Министерства науки и высшего образования Российской Федерации (госзадание, проект № 730000Ф.99.1.БВ16АА02001).This work was supported by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation (project nr 730000F.99.1.BV16AA02001)

Problems and Prospects for the Development of Doctoral Education in Russia: The View of Regional Universities

The concentration of state resources in the leading universities poses the problem of reproduction of the scientific and pedagogical personnel in regional universities that do not participate in state-funded academic excellence programs. Based on the data from three focus group interviews with heads of doctoral studies offices at regional universities, the article analyzes problems arising in the implementation of the current model of training and certification of doctoral students. Four following groups of problems are identified: 1) the rigidity of requirements for the structure and content of the educational programs, 2) the imperfection of the system of attestation, gaps between attestation activities, 3) the problem of “retention” of doctoral students after the completion of the educational program, 4) the problems of conjugation of the processes of preparing a dissertation and its defense. The authors discuss possible ways to overcome the identified problems through providing universities with greater autonomy in designing the structure and content of the educational programs; synchronization of the procedures of the final state attestation and dissertation defense; creation of mechanisms for supporting successful doctoral graduates at the final stage of their preparation for the defense of a dissertation; development of network forms for implementation of doctoral programs with leading universities and research institutes

INTEGRATED «ACADEMIC MASTER'S - PHD» EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS

We propose the concept of integrating programs of the second and third levels of higher education and creating exclusive educational systems «Academic Master's program - postgraduate school» on this basis. The purpose of such systems is to provide systematic targeted training of highly qualified experts (holders of Candidate of Sciences degree) for professional research and teaching work in higher education institutions. The programs are focused on a small number of Bachelor program graduates, who are motivated and possess cognitive and psychological qualities that allow them to prefer an academic career, given the minimum necessary conditions. We consider some organizational, structural and content features of the integrated programs, including the institutional integration of Master's and postgraduate program levels, as well as a number of issues related to the focused step-by-step development of research and teaching competencies throughout the whole «path» of preparation for the Candidate of Sciences degree. A modular structure of the educational component of the program is proposed. By using an example of the program in the area of studies «Computer Science and Computer Engineering », a curriculum option is discussed

Integrated Programmes for Master’s Degree and PhD Students

Introduction: the aim of this study is to develop a new model for training highly qualified academic and research staff based on the integration of academic master’s degree and PhD programmes. The new model of research-focused education is based on the continuity of PhD programmes with academic master’s programmes. It enables the implementation of consistent development of research and teaching competencies within the framework of a single educational path aimed at defending the PhD thesis. Such integrated programmes are intended to ensure (both organisationally and in terms of content) that students are adequately prepared for a professional career in the academic field. Materials and Methods: the methodological basis for creating this model is provided by the competencybased approach. The methods for developing integrated educational programmes “Academic master – PhD studies” include the coordination of the systems of competencies for the second and third levels of higher education, as well as the application of the modular approach in curriculum design, thus helping to optimise the content of training of professional researchers and teachin g staff for higher education institutions. Results: a new approach to the organisation of targeted training of research and teaching staff has been developed. This approach provides for the unity and continuity of research and educational components of training at the second and third levels of higher education and ensures the creation of optimal individual educational paths leading to the defense of the PhD thesis. A model of integrated programmes “Academic masters – PhD studies” has been developed, which is explained on the example of training experts in the field of mathematical modeling. Discussion and Conclusions: the model of education at the second and third levels of higher education proposed in this paper enables an optimal organisation of academic programmes aimed at training research and teaching staff for universities. The results of the work may be of interest to researchers of higher education, as well as to research, teaching and administrative staff members of higher education institutions dealing with the issues of PhD training and certification

Doctoral Education as an Institutional Resource for Training Research and Higher Education Personnel (Article 1)

The diversification of professional trajectories of academic degree holders is now becoming a global trend, and it prompts us to take a fresh look at the problem of evaluating the effectiveness of existing institutions for the training of academic and research personnel – the systems of doctoral education in Russia and abroad – in terms of the training of academic researchers and higher education teaching staff. Our two articles which share the scope of problems and have a single general concept, consecutively address the following issues: the collection and analysis of empirical data on training in doctoral programs; the dynamics of dissertation defense by graduates after the completion of doctoral programs; the actual timeframe of doctoral students’ advancement to their degree; the proportion of graduates who continue their scientific career after graduating from the doctoral program. The first article analyzes the organizational and methodological aspects of information and analytical support of institutions responsible for doctoral education in the countries of the European Union, the United States and Russia. It provides information about the organization of the systems for monitoring doctoral education and doctoral program graduates’ professional careers in foreign countries. The authors note the insufficient information support for the programs aiming to develop doctoral education in Russia, as well as the lack of empirical data necessary to assess the effectiveness of Russian doctoral education in the reproduction of human resources for the research and education sector. The results of the authors’ scientometric research concerning doctoral program graduates’ retention in the field of research and higher education are announced. The second article will present the details of the method and the results of these studies