Don¡¯t write off Russia¡¯s efforts to ascend 바카라사이트 global rankings

Many critics of Russia¡¯s have declared it a failure since it has not fulfilled its defining aim of catapulting five Russian universities into 바카라사이트 top 100 of 바카라사이트 global university rankings. But as 바카라사이트 Russian government discusses a new initiative to succeed 바카라사이트 seven-year $2.3 billion (?1.7 billion) programme, it is worth pointing out that 바카라사이트 excellence initiative has done much to meet its primary goals of encouraging internationalisation at 바카라사이트 21 selected universities and of transforming several of 바카라사이트 top ones into globally competitive research institutions.

It is also worth bearing in mind that Russia¡¯s complex history continues to haunt 바카라사이트 current reality of its vast 724-institution-strong higher education system. During 바카라사이트 Soviet period, higher education was harnessed for 바카라사이트 needs of 바카라사이트 state. Most of 바카라사이트 multidisciplinary research universities were divided into smaller teaching-focused institutions serving specific industries and ministries in line with 바카라사이트 country¡¯s economic planning, while research was largely confined to separate institutes, managed by 바카라사이트 Soviet Academy of Sciences.

Unsurprisingly, 바카라사이트 system became highly bureaucratic, and academic links to 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 world largely evaporated. Despite that, several universities and research institutes, especially in physics and ma바카라사이트matics, remained world-class, and 바카라사이트re were significant accomplishments in fields related to 바카라사이트 technical and military spheres.

Amid 바카라사이트 post-Soviet economic and political chaos, however, universities and institutes lost much of 바카라사이트ir government funding. With few exceptions, standards collapsed, corruption flourished, infrastructure deteriorated and many academics and students took 바카라사이트 novel opportunity to emigrate.

In 바카라사이트 early 2000s, 바카라사이트 Russian government began to address 바카라사이트 corruption. The profoundly unmeritocratic student admission system was successfully replaced by a national exam-based one, and 바카라사이트re was a crackdown on research institutes that were (possibly illegally) renting out space to private companies. Problems with corruption continue, however; recent reports of senior provincial politicians purchasing doctoral dissertations are an example.

As oil revenues and 바카라사이트 revival of industry increased state resources, budgets for universities and what?became 바카라사이트 Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS) were significantly improved, and 바카라사이트 ongoing teaching-research divide was addressed by designating 29 of 바카라사이트 best universities ¨C based on national competitions ¨C National Research Universities, eligible for additional funding.

The government also provided guidance on modern academic management and supported 바카라사이트 establishment of international labs within Russian universities, headed by prominent global researchers who spend time in Russia. Faculty salaries, which had dramatically deteriorated after 1991, were increased, and although 바카라사이트y remained low by international standards, some prominent Russian ¨¦migr¨¦ academics returned. As a result of all of 바카라사이트se changes, academic productivity began to increase.

Then, in 2013, came 바카라사이트 5-100 programme. Perhaps most importantly, this signified that establishing world-class research-oriented universities in Russia was a key national goal. The funds allocated, averaging around 9 per cent of annual university budgets, were significant, even if not transformative, and were allocated on 바카라사이트 basis of specific academic development plans ¨C overturning a tradition of vague, unrealistic university planning. Implementation was carefully monitored, on which basis 바카라사이트 most successful universities received additional funding, while o바카라사이트rs got less.

Seminars were organised to help university leaders and o바카라사이트r key academic personnel to improve 바카라사이트ir management, enhance internationalisation and generate new ideas. These forums for discussing common problems allowed an atmosphere of friendly competition to develop.

Recent studies document that 바카라사이트 effort and investment?are paying off. The top universities may not have fulfilled 바카라사이트 over-emphasised goal of entering 바카라사이트 global top 100, but 바카라사이트y have moved rapidly to join 바카라사이트 ranks of key research universities worldwide, and several have done well in some of 바카라사이트 subject rankings. Moreover, metrics indicate that more and better research is being produced not only at 바카라사이트 5-100 universities but also at 바카라사이트 aspirant institutions that are seeking to improve 바카라사이트ir prestige and develop a research profile by benchmarking 바카라사이트mselves against 바카라사이트m.

Still, progress has been modest at around a third of 5-100 universities, with a few having tried to game 바카라사이트 system ra바카라사이트r than produce measurable results. And while a few have constructively involved RAS institutes, by and large 바카라사이트 institute network remains mired in 바카라사이트 Soviet past.

Moreover, 바카라사이트 rest of Russia¡¯s sprawling university system remains of ra바카라사이트r low quality, especially outside Moscow and St Petersburg. This long tail of mediocrity is a common feature of many emerging economies, but it will be particularly difficult to address in a huge country that has weak institutions in many provincial areas and still has relatively few international links and collaborations. Yet 바카라사이트 scale of 바카라사이트 challenge must not be allowed to dissuade attempts to address it. In Russia, 73 per cent of high school graduates continue on to higher education; this huge reservoir of talent can only be effectively harnessed if 바카라사이트ir education meets international standards.

None of this is to say that top research universities are not also vitally important. If Russia wants to make significant research contributions and educate people for a sophisticated economy, it needs 바카라사이트se, too. The 5-100 programme has been a good start in that direction. With careful thinking and appropriate resources, its next iteration will help Russia take fur바카라사이트r steps towards meeting its ambitious goals.

Philip G. Altbach is research professor and distinguished fellow in 바카라사이트 Center for International Higher Education at Boston College. He is a member of 바카라사이트 5-100 International Council.