The education system is a very flexible structure, which is influenced by various factors (such as foreign and domestic policy of the state, interaction with other countries, economic reforms) and is constantly undergoing changes. In this article, we will consider the directions of development of the higher education system in Russia and in some foreign countries, and also talk about the possibilities of studying Russian students abroad.
The Bologna process and its impact
Speaking of higher education abroad and in our country, it is impossible not to mention the Bologna process - a movement aimed at unifying education systems in European countries and in Russia (our country became part of it in 2003, after the signing of the agreement). Prior to this, citizens of the Russian Federation, after five years of study at universities, received a diploma and got a job. But in recent years, the system of higher education in our country, as in other countries, has changed a lot. Abroad, HPE consists of three stages, in the Russian Federation - two stages: bachelor's and master's degrees, in European countries there is a doctoral degree, in our country it is called a postgraduate degree. The first stage of training inRussian university lasts four years, the second - two. Abroad, these periods are different in duration (depending on the country), for example, in England, it takes one year to study for a master's degree.
The duration of education in a Russian school is eleven years, in other countries of the world - twelve. For this reason, for admission to a foreign university, a certificate of completion of the school program will most likely not be enough.
Why does the Russian higher education system need reforms?
So, transformations in the field of education at universities have been actively carried out both in the Russian Federation and abroad for several decades now. These changes are both superficial and deep, both positive and negative. Nevertheless, higher education in Russia and abroad faces certain difficulties in its development.
In order to understand how to work on the system, it is necessary to identify both its goals and opportunities for further reform. The development of the system of higher education and science plays an important role both in education and in the research activities of the country. In Russia, the education sector is in a difficult situation. Once it was considered a reference, but now it has to focus on economic and social innovations. The education system in Russian universities should be aimed at high-quality training of future specialists, cooperation with foreign universities, making higher education less difficult to access, and, if possible, adopting the advantages of foreign institutions.
History of formation of the education system. England
If we talk about the development of higher education abroad, we can identify four main types. These are English, French, German and American systems.
In the UK, there are two of the oldest institutions of higher education - Oxford and Cambridge, which have hardly undergone any reforms throughout their history.
Although in the seventies of the twentieth century, the University of Cambridge adopted some traditions from other universities.
The education system in England is selective at all levels. Already from the age of eleven, children are divided into groups according to the development and type of their inclinations. Also, the training system is distinguished by its strict sequence - without passing the program of any stage of training, the student cannot proceed to the next one.
Since the sixties of the 20th century in the UK, there has been a division of schools and classes into more or less elite, depending on the plans of study and the possibilities of entering a particular university, as well as on education fees.
Development of the HPE system in France
So we continue talking about higher education abroad. Let's move on to the history of the formation of the French education system.
Higher education institutions in this country are not selective, as schools are inextricably linked with universities.
To enter a university, a French citizen needs a graduation certificateeducational institution. You can even call and apply to the institute. It is important that there are vacancies in the educational institution. In France, in recent years, there has been a tendency to reorganize the education system with a focus on a generally recognized model. The main disadvantage of the French HPE is the high percentage of deductions. Up to seventy percent of students who enter institutions do not graduate.
History of the German higher education system
The field of education in German universities began to change actively in the 90s of the 20th century after the reunification of the republic. Transformations in the German education system are carried out according to the type of American reforms in this area. Education is becoming more accessible, and its programs are being shortened. Unfortunately, with these changes, there is no unification of scientific and teaching activities, which was an undoubted advantage of the best universities in Germany.
German schools may lose their true edge by adopting too much American innovation.
The development of learning in America
The formation of the American system of higher education was significantly influenced by British universities, for example, Cambridge. By the 20th century, it was heterogeneous, university education was not available to everyone, as it was expensive. But the industry in the country developed at a rapid pace, and many professions became in demand on the labor market. Therefore, the question of personnel training was acute. For this, the education system was reformed, andnew institutions arose - junior colleges, where people who did not have the opportunity to study at a university could acquire any skills. Today, the education system in America is multi-stage.
In general, it suggests a specific focus of study, so it can be difficult for students who graduated from an American university to adapt to another, even similar, professional field.
Formation of the field of education in Russia
Before the revolution, the HPE system in our country was mostly religious in nature, and much of it was borrowed from Germany, since this country was considered the legislator of educational innovations. After the events of 1917, the goal of the authorities was to form a new approach to this area, based on accessibility, lack of gender discrimination, raising the level of culture of the country's population, forming a developed structure of educational institutions, defining and establishing the stages of the process itself.
By the early 1980s, the HPE system fully met all of the above criteria. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the party no longer controlled the education system, but they did not create any special innovations in the field of education. In 2007, the USE system was formed in order to simplify the procedure for entering higher educational institutions. Now Russia is oriented towards higher education systems abroad, and in this regard, a two-stage training system has been adopted (training for a degreebachelor's and master's degrees).
Directions of development of the field of study abroad today
Higher education institutions in European countries are changing in accordance with the requirements of the labor market.
What are the general trends in the development of higher education abroad?
- Higher education institutions are becoming more accessible. This means that each student can choose a profession, and the type and level of educational institution in which he would like to enter.
- A strong connection between research activities and universities is being formed (through the creation of specialized centers on the basis of universities). Work in such organizations contributes to the improvement of the qualification level of teachers, as well as the development of many useful skills and abilities of students.
- Careful selection of the content of educational programs, their correction, reduction of the course of lectures in some general education subjects.
- The trend of HPE focusing on the student (taking into account his psychological characteristics, inclinations, wishes; creating more elective classes, additional disciplines; lecture courses at the university are reduced in time, the student studies more at home, on an individual basis).
- Increase in the number of humanitarian disciplines, work on the general and aesthetic development of students, the formation of positive personal and social characteristics through the use of new forms of interaction in the classroom.
- Improving the computer literacy of students throughthe increasing introduction of PCs in the education system.
- Increasing government financial investment in education.
- Transition of higher education institutions to autonomous management.
- Increase in the number of selection criteria for teaching staff (more and more qualified specialists are required).
- General ways of evaluating the activities of higher educational institutions are being formed.
Directions of development of education in Russia
So, we found out what reforms of higher education abroad are being carried out today. As for our country, the following changes are taking place in the education system:
- Increase in the number of commercial universities.
- Reforming the field of education based on current trends in the development of higher education abroad.
- Orientation of the HPE system to the individual characteristics of students, the upbringing of positive personal qualities.
- Creating a large number of different curricula and training options for certain speci alties.
- Transition to a multi-level system (bachelor - specialist - master).
- Lifelong learning (opportunity for continuous professional development).
Main difficulties in the development of education in Russia
The system of higher education in our country today is characterized by flexibility, adaptation to the ever-changing situation in the international labor market. But at the same time, she retains her bestfeatures.
However, on the way to transformation, the Russian education system faces the following difficulties:
- The level of professional training of specialists is not high enough to meet the rapidly changing requirements of the global economy.
- Wrong balance between professional level of university graduates and selection criteria. For example, a shortage of working speci alties with an urgent need for qualified personnel in the technological field.
- Poor performance of non-profit educational institutions.
Studying abroad. Higher education: where and how to get?
Most often, citizens of our country enter the universities of the following countries: Canada, Australia, New Zealand, England, America.
Some applicants immediately apply to higher education institutions, others prefer to first attend special classes for preparation.
When choosing an institution for higher education abroad, first of all, you need to pay attention to criteria such as:
- Demand for a speci alty in the labor market.
- Further professional development opportunities.
- Education fees.
Not all educational institutions abroad accept applicants with a Russian school leaving document, thereforeapplicants need to take special courses (including linguistic ones).
Also, in order to get a higher education abroad, you must prepare the following documentation:
- High school graduation document.
- Diploma from a Russian university.
- Autobiography (resume).
- Photocopy of diploma insert.
- Document of successful passing of linguistic testing.
- Filled out and printed form (it is usually posted on the website of the educational institution).
- Letters of recommendation (from university employees). There must be at least three such documents.
- Motivation letter (with an explanation of the desire to study at this university in this speci alty)
If your goal is higher education abroad, you need to carefully consider the preparation of all necessary documents.
So, now there are significant changes in the field of education both in our country and abroad. But the reforms of higher education abroad are generally more effective, so many Russian applicants are trying to study in other countries for subsequent work in international companies.
