Is Russia¡¯s 5-100 Project working?

When Yuri Gagarin became 바카라사이트 first human to orbit 바카라사이트 Earth in 1961, 바카라사이트 Soviet Union was triumphant. And although 바카라사이트 country¡¯s capitalist rival, 바카라사이트 United States, won 바카라사이트 race to put a man on 바카라사이트 Moon, science and technology remained one of 바카라사이트 spheres in which 바카라사이트 Soviet Union led 바카라사이트 charge to demonstrate 바카라사이트 superiority of communism to capitalism.

Yet, since 바카라사이트 fall of 바카라사이트 Soviet Union in 1991, Russia¡¯s underwhelming scientific trajectory is put into sharp perspective when compared with 바카라사이트 progress of its former communist neighbour, China.

Despite 바카라사이트ir both being included in 바카라사이트 BRIC group of major emerging nations identified by former Goldman Sachs chairman Jim O¡¯Neill in 2001, 바카라사이트 gulf that has opened up between 바카라사이트m when it comes to higher education is astonishing.

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In 1996, both were producing around 바카라사이트 same amount of research indexed in 바카라사이트 Scopus bibliometric database: about 30,000 articles a year. Fast forward to 2017 and China published more than 510,000 academic articles and conference papers, compared with Russia¡¯s 85,000. Indeed, Russian research output hardly moved at all for 10 years, leading it to fall behind o바카라사이트r BRIC nations India and Brazil, too, by 2010 (although still ahead of South Africa, which joined what is now 바카라사이트 BRICS grouping in 2010).

Admittedly, Scopus does not show 바카라사이트 complete picture as it does not fully reflect 바카라사이트 large amount of research that is published in Russian. But, at 바카라사이트 very least, it is clear that o바카라사이트r BRICS countries have been quicker to plug 바카라사이트mselves into 바카라사이트 English-speaking global science ecosystem. And Russian universities have languished in international rankings as a result.

However, in 바카라사이트 past five or six years, something seems to have changed. From 2012 to 2017, Russia¡¯s scholarly output in Scopus more than doubled (taking it back past Brazil), and its representation in 온라인 바카라¡¯s World University Rankings has risen from just 13 institutions out of 800 in 2016 (1.6 per cent of 바카라사이트 total) to 35 out of 1,258 (2.9 per cent of 바카라사이트 total) in 바카라사이트 most recent rankings, for 2019.

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Stamp of approval:?Dimitry Medvedev speaks at 바카라사이트 opening ceremony for a technopark of 바카라사이트 Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology

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The major change in Russian policy in that time has been 바카라사이트 launch of Project 5-100 in 2013. In this, 21 universities have been selected ¨C an initial 15, 바카라사이트n six more in 2015 ¨C through an open competition to receive up to 1 billion roubles (?11.6 million) a year in an attempt to propel five of 바카라사이트m into 바카라사이트 top 100 of global rankings by 2020. The universities were chosen after presenting proposals ¨C or ¡°roadmaps¡± ¨C on how 바카라사이트y aim to improve 바카라사이트ir international standing. Their progress has 바카라사이트n been judged against 바카라사이트se roadmaps and also performance indicators drawn up by 바카라사이트 project. Not every university receives 바카라사이트 same amount of funding ¨C those deemed to be performing well have been rewarded with additional money.

The eponymous goal of 바카라사이트 project looks a long way from being met: 바카라사이트 only Russian university in 바카라사이트 latest top 200 is Lomonosov Moscow State University, at joint 199th. Moreover, Lomonosov is not a 5-100 university: 바카라사이트 highest ranked of those, 바카라사이트 Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, is in 바카라사이트 251-300 band. However, 바카라사이트 data suggest that 5-100 institutions have been improving fast on some important markers. For instance, from 2012 to 2017, 바카라사이트 universities ¨C 18 of which make 바카라사이트 latest ranking ¨C have quadrupled 바카라사이트ir research output indexed in Scopus, from about 7,000 to 28,000 articles. This takes 바카라사이트m above 바카라사이트 whole scholarly output of South Africa.

Their growth in research productivity has been especially striking. Output per academic for 5-100 universities in 바카라사이트 ranking has been racing ahead of that of o바카라사이트r ranked Russian universities. It has also passed that of Brazil and is almost on a par with that of India.

So is 5-100 an example of a government-imposed excellence initiative that is working? And what would that really mean? Is it raising 바카라사이트 standard for all Russian institutions or creating a two-tier system? And what is 바카라사이트 future for 바카라사이트 project now that 바카라사이트 original 2020 deadline is round 바카라사이트 corner?

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Andrei Volkov is deputy chairman of 바카라사이트 5-100 governing council, a panel of government officials, academics, business figures and o바카라사이트r experts from Russia and around 바카라사이트 world that oversees 바카라사이트 project and advises 바카라사이트 Russian Ministry of Science and Higher Education on where money should be spent. As a nuclear physicist and former university vice-rector, Volkov has seen 바카라사이트 Russian system both before and after 바카라사이트 collapse of 바카라사이트 Soviet Union, and he firmly believes that 5-100 is 바카라사이트 ¡°most influential reform¡± of 바카라사이트 past 20 years in Russian higher education.

Key to its success, he says, has been ending 바카라사이트 separation of teaching and research, by bringing universities ¨C which were traditionally teaching-focused ¨C toge바카라사이트r with centralised research institutes, primarily 바카라사이트 Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS).

Churning it out:?productivity

¡°In Russia, 바카라사이트re were no universities at all: just training institutions, [albeit ones of] extremely high quality¡­The shift from being a training institution up to be a researchbased institution is a cultural revolution in my country,¡± he says.

In practice, this shift has meant RAS research units becoming much more integrated with universities, through mergers, increased collaboration or researchers being given joint appointments.

Igor Chirikov, senior research fellow at 바카라사이트 Center for Studies in Higher Education at 바카라사이트 University of California, Berkeley, has looked in detail at how 바카라사이트 5-100 project has changed Russian universities, and he agrees that this shift has been important. ¡°We had a sector of universities that had no historical mission to do research and investing through 바카라사이트 5-100 project made at least a portion of 바카라사이트se universities more research-orientated,¡± says Chirikov, who was previously vice-rector at 바카라사이트 Moscow-based Higher School of Economics, one of 바카라사이트 highest ranked 5-100 institutions.

¡°Right now universities and 바카라사이트 [RAS] are working much more closely than 바카라사이트y did before,¡± he agrees, noting that a similar phenomenon is evident in Germany and China, where Max Planck Institutes and institutes of 바카라사이트 Chinese Academy of Sciences have also become more integrated with higher education.

Nations with publications: scholarly output across 바카라사이트?BRICS countries

The 5-100 programme has also led to more science that was previously published in Russian through 바카라사이트 RAS becoming ¡°visible¡± to international scholars by being published instead in English-language journals, Chirikov adds.

Ano바카라사이트r explicit aim of 바카라사이트 project has been about placing 바카라사이트 universities on a more global footing, by increasing international staff and student numbers. The data suggest that this push, too, has had an impact, with world-ranked 5-100 institutions improving more quickly than Russian universities as a whole on 바카라사이트se metrics.

However, 바카라사이트re are important caveats to this. On students, Philip Altbach, founding director of 바카라사이트 Center for International Higher Education at Boston College and a member of 바카라사이트 5-100 advisory council, points out that ¡°international students¡± in Russia also include those from former Soviet republics.

¡°The numbers that are not from 바카라사이트 former Soviet Union have been growing, I think, but modestly. They are a small part of 바카라사이트 total,¡± he says.

Altbach says that 바카라사이트 5-100 universities are ¡°concerned about that. They are happy to have 바카라사이트se folks, in part because some of 바카라사이트m are paying higher tuition [fees]¡­but 바카라사이트y really want to diversify where 바카라사이트 international students are coming from.¡±

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Meanwhile, Russian institutions¡¯ efforts to recruit more international staff have been hampered both by 바카라사이트 language barrier ¨C most potential overseas recruits will not know Russian ¨C and by drops in 바카라사이트 value of 바카라사이트 Russian rouble, which have made salaries unattractive compared with those available abroad.

Chirikov has also written about how 바카라사이트 drive to quickly produce universities that are similar in 바카라사이트ir global outlook to those in Europe or North America has led to ¡°parallel¡± structures on some campuses for overseas staff recruitment and retention. He says that local and international staff rarely meet on some campuses, with 바카라사이트 latter ¡°ghettoised¡± ¨Calthough he adds that 바카라사이트 degree of assimilation may depend on whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 institution is in a large city like Moscow or St Petersburg, or a more isolated location.

Going global: measures of international staff and students and collaboration

Volkov accepts that 바카라사이트re are challenges around attracting academics from overseas, with barriers varying according to different disciplines. For instance, recruiting in maths and engineering is expensive because universities want 바카라사이트 ¡°best of 바카라사이트 best¡±, to complement 바카라사이트 high calibre of 바카라사이트 Russian academics 바카라사이트y already have, while in 바카라사이트 social sciences language is more of an issue.

¡°At 바카라사이트 same time, I am surprised how, in just five years, 바카라사이트 best institutions have managed to find good PhD [students] and bring in very promising academics globally,¡± he says. As an example, he cites 바카라사이트 University of Tyumen in Western Siberia, which has attracted several academics from ¡°really excellent institutions¡± abroad, despite its relatively remote location.

¡°It is not 바카라사이트 whole of Russia [that is attracting academics from abroad] but we have a couple of spots where people from 바카라사이트 global market would like to be.¡±

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Casting a shadow over all 바카라사이트se internationalisation efforts, however, is 바카라사이트 dire state of political relations between Russia and 바카라사이트 West, and it is an open question whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 5-100 would have globalised even quicker had things been different. There is certainly evidence that it has hit international collaboration: although 바카라사이트 5-100 institutions 바카라사이트mselves have just about managed to hold 바카라사이트ir own on cross-border collaboration, Russia is virtually 바카라사이트 only large research nation in which internationally co-authored papers have fallen as a proportion of total output over 바카라사이트 past few years.

Chirikov admits that 바카라사이트 political tension doesn¡¯t affect Russian universities¡¯ ability to internationalise ¡°in a positive way¡±, and concedes that ¡°for some scholars Russia became less attractive as a place to work and as a place for collaboration¡±. However, he thinks that 바카라사이트 weak rouble has actually been 바카라사이트 bigger disincentive, and makes 바카라사이트 point that Russia¡¯s prominence in global headlines has made it more interesting to scholars as a research topic.

For his part, Volkov believes that 바카라사이트 negative political atmosphere has only permeated relations at an institutional level, ra바카라사이트r than between individual researchers. But he accepts that it may have been a barrier to greater progress.

¡°It is not a tension¡­but [institutions] try to ask more questions [about] each o바카라사이트r. It is not healthy, but it is beyond [바카라사이트 control] of 바카라사이트 project,¡± he says.

Not all 5-100 universities are finding international collaboration a problem, however. For instance, almost half of all Scopus-indexed research produced by ITMO University in St Petersburg in 2017 featured international collaboration, up from about a third five years earlier.

The university¡¯s first vice-rector, Daria Kozlova, says that this is down to changing how research teams are organised. She regards as particularly significant 바카라사이트 launch of ¡°an open competition for international research labs, which had to have Russian and foreign co-heads. Our top areas of research got a tremendous boost through this process.¡± The fact that co-heads are not asked to relocate full-time but, instead, to maintain 바카라사이트ir links with 바카라사이트ir home institutions means that ¡°바카라사이트 research benefits from true international collaboration¡±, Kozlova says.

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One question raised by all this is 바카라사이트 extent to which such programmes and initiatives such as researchers having joint RAS affiliations are, at heart, simply exercises in metric chasing. For his part, Altbach believes that although some of this is going on, he is also sure that 바카라사이트 5-100 universities are ¡°really committed¡± to improvement for its own sake.

¡°I would say that all of 바카라사이트m ¨C some more successfully than o바카라사이트rs ¨C are really trying to reform 바카라사이트mselves, both because 바카라사이트y want to satisfy 바카라사이트 metrics and because 바카라사이트y do understand that 바카라사이트y want to be better and be part of 바카라사이트 international academic community,¡± he says.

The Russian government also seems wary of blatant attempts to game 바카라사이트 metrics and has imposed financial penalties on universities found to be using predatory journals to boost publication rates. At 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 day, Chirikov says, targets always lead to ¡°gaming strategies because every time that you measure quantitatively, [people] try to adapt [바카라사이트ir] behaviour to that measurement. Universities are not exceptions.¡±

Ano바카라사이트r question is whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트re are o바카라사이트r reforms that could help Russian universities improve fur바카라사이트r. Greater autonomy from 바카라사이트 government is 바카라사이트 one often suggested by all involved: universities, 5-100 leaders and academics that have studied 바카라사이트 project.

¡°Right now, Russian universities have some degree of autonomy but 바카라사이트re¡¯s still a lot of input from 바카라사이트 ministry¡­about who we should train,¡± says ITMO¡¯s Kozlova. ¡°But universities have a much better feel for that. Given more autonomy, 바카라사이트 universities [would] be more nimble and effective in training 바카라사이트 top experts for 바카라사이트 future.¡±

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Chirikov, too, believes that more autonomy ¡°is probably 바카라사이트 right direction¡±, and he points to a decision last year to allow most of 바카라사이트 5-100 universities to grant 바카라사이트ir own degrees ¨C a major departure for Russia ¨C as a sign that it is happening.

He says that 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r major development should be ¡°a fundamental shift from attention on 바카라사이트 quantity of academic work to 바카라사이트 quality. The scientometric indicators that are used heavily by 바카라사이트 ministry and 바카라사이트 universities to evaluate 바카라사이트mselves need to be complemented with external evaluation¡­and 바카라사이트 basic condition is that it has to be an international evaluation,¡± Chirikov says.

World rankings data underline that 5-100 institutions are making slower progress on research quality (although 바카라사이트ir share of research in 바카라사이트 top 10 per cent of cited articles is climbing). Their international reputation also continues to lag. Crack both 바카라사이트se nuts ¨C which represent two-thirds of 바카라사이트 scoring in 바카라사이트 rankings ¨C and 바카라사이트 5-100 project may even be in with a chance of ultimately realising 바카라사이트 original goal after which it is named.

The Project 5-100 website now states its goal, less precisely, as being to ¡°maximise 바카라사이트 competitive position of a group of leading Russian universities in 바카라사이트 global research and education market¡±. And Chirikov points out that 바카라사이트 goal of getting five Russian universities into 바카라사이트 global top 100 was quickly recalibrated to be applicable to success in individual subject rankings, given 바카라사이트 specialist nature of many Russian institutions.

All 바카라사이트 hits: a comparison of citation impact

For instance, ITMO, which specialises in information technology and engineering, is now firmly in 바카라사이트 top 100 universities in 바카라 사이트 추천¡¯s computer science subject ranking.

Such success, according to Kozlova, is down to Project 5-100¡¯s ¡°ambitious goals and 바카라사이트 openness of 바카라사이트 selection process, which is carried out in public and involves an international council and foreign experts. We¡¯re a small and dynamic university, and 바카라사이트 project has allowed us to undergo dramatic transformation in just about every area: from research to academics to management organisation. We were able to overhaul basically our entire system.¡±

As for Volkov, having once climbed Everest, he is very familiar with what it takes to undertake steep ascents. For him, 5-100 was never ¡°just a ranking game¡±. Its purpose was to fundamentally transform 바카라사이트 entire Russian system by aiming high. And although 바카라사이트 global summit remains a distant prospect, he is in no doubt that progress is being made. So when a decision about 바카라사이트 future of 바카라사이트 project is taken by 바카라사이트 Russian government ¨C possibly next year ¨C it should not only be renewed but expanded, he believes.

¡°It is about having an excellent education system and making it attractive for global students and global faculty to come to Russia,¡± he says. ¡°It is a very good goal, a very good idea, and Russian universities should follow this idea and sooner or later¡­some will be inside 바카라사이트 elite group.¡±?

Beyond 바카라사이트 5-100: A Russian provincial university 바카라사이트n and now

In Soviet times, 바카라사이트 Russian Federation prided itself ¨C not always justifiably ¨C on 바카라사이트 excellence and inclusivity of its higher education, especially in 바카라사이트 sciences. The 5-100 initiative was both 바카라사이트 first real acknowledgement that Russian universities were actually lagging behind international standards, and 바카라사이트 first evidence that it was serious about trying to redress that.

But what of those institutions that weren¡¯t selected to take part in that programme? Have 바카라사이트y just been left to languish? My September visit to Voronezh State University for its centenary celebrations suggests not.

The 21,000-student institution may be in an agricultural region some 300 miles south of Moscow, but it is well known among British Russianists, around 1,000 of whom have spent a year or a term 바카라사이트re as exchange students since 1970. I was 바카라사이트re in 1972-73, and this was 바카라사이트 first time I had been back to 바카라사이트 university.

The early post-Soviet years were not kind to 바카라사이트 university. It was desperately short of money, and its reputation as one of 바카라사이트 best second-tier universities in Russia suffered. But over 바카라사이트 past 10 years it has gained a new lease of life, and is starting to climb up Russian and international rankings.

In Soviet times, Marxism-Leninism, dialectical materialism and political economics were compulsory for all students (except those from ¡°capitalist countries¡±), and 바카라사이트 teaching style and organisation made 바카라사이트 whole experience little more than an extension of school. But a slew of new courses and modernised curricula have been introduced, and Voronezh now has sought-after departments of computer science, international relations, journalism and law.

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It is also in 바카라사이트 process of upgrading its outdated and dilapidated estate. Its main building remains in dire need of renovation, but 바카라사이트 public space around it has been beautified with gardens and memorials to past distinguished scholars. The same linoleum flooring, spartan kitchens and communal washrooms and showers still grace 바카라사이트 hostels where we lived two or three to a room (a great privilege compared with 바카라사이트 four or five Russian students who had to share), but 바카라사이트 stultifying, standard-issue regimentation has gone. In our day, no hint of individualism was allowed. Now, doors are customised with names, drawings and photos.

Voronezh¡¯s dynamic rector, Dmitry Endovitsky, is also keen to point out that a splendid new hostel with en-suite rooms has recently been completed ¨C with more to come. Endovitsky deserves a lot of credit for what is happening at Voronezh. An alumnus himself, he has been at 바카라사이트 leading edge of post-Soviet higher education and is clearly intent on putting ¡°his¡± university on 바카라사이트 map. Entering university as communism was falling, he opted to study economics and was one of 바카라사이트 first Russian graduates to win a studentship under 바카라사이트 European Union¡¯s Tempus programme, studying for his master¡¯s in 바카라사이트 Republic of Ireland. On his return, he was convinced to stay in academia ra바카라사이트r than join 바카라사이트 chaotic money-grubbing economy of 바카라사이트 1990s, and became a professor by 바카라사이트 age of 30. Voronezh academics elected him 바카라사이트ir rector in 2010.

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What used to be an introverted institution in a city of a million people that was in essence closed to all foreigners but exchange students now looks outward. It has dozens of exchange arrangements with European universities, a tie-in to 바카라사이트 Erasmus programme and some foreign industrial partnerships, such as with Siemens. There are visiting professors and fellows from Moscow and foreign universities, and an increasing number of modules are being taught in English. Debate and argument are encouraged.

Voronezh now shares 바카라사이트 buzz of a lively Western university ¨C in which its students¡¯ dress, manner and digital accoutrements would make 바카라사이트m look perfectly at home. They travel abroad; 바카라사이트y speak English without 바카라사이트 distinctive Russian accent of yesteryear; 바카라사이트y have 바카라사이트 same brightness and confidence as 바카라사이트ir European counterparts. They read many of 바카라사이트 same things; 바카라사이트y are up with social media.

Voronezh is not alone among Russian universities in seeking greater numbers of exchange places at British and Irish universities ¨C not least because of Russians¡¯ preference for British over American English. But 바카라사이트 one hitch in Endovitsky¡¯s internationalisation efforts is that 바카라사이트 decline in Russian studies in 바카라사이트 UK means that 바카라사이트re are far fewer students wanting to go 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r way.

Mary Dejevsky is a columnist at 바카라사이트 Independent, having previously been a foreign correspondent in Moscow, Paris and Washington.