Spatial Transformation of the Higher Education System: Threats and Challenges to Single-Industry Towns

   The article proposes an approach to analyzing the spatial organization of the Russian higher education system. Methodologically, the study relies on the theory of structural functionalism. In order to solve the stated research problems, the authors used comparative historical and economic-statistical analyses, as well as the quick survey method. The study characterizes the specifics of the Russian system of single-industry towns and justifies the role of a single-industry town as an integral and essential element of the settlement system. The study also reveals structural and functional changes in
the Russian system of higher education that significantly limit the possibility of preserving universities and/or their branches in single-industry towns. It was proved that the functions of higher education institutions in a single-industry town are multifaceted, complex in nature, and not limited only to the sphere of education. In spite of this, the higher education system in single-industry towns downsizes at a significantly faster rate than in the country as a whole. The performed analysis shows that the persisting trend toward increasing territorial concentration in the country’s system of higher education can create a set of negative effects that have a disruptive impact on the national settlement system, the continuity of complex value chains, and the social stability of local communities in single-industry towns. A conclusion is made about the need for comprehensive solutions regarding the development of higher education in single-industry towns that combine both national mechanisms for achieving national goals and the toolkits of regional, industrial, educational, and corporate policies.

1. Katrovskiy, A.P., Vatlina, T.V. (2021). Spatial organization of the higher education of Russia. Vestnik Moskovskogo universiteta. Seria 5: Geografia = Lomonosov Geography Journal. No. 5, pp. 3-13. Available at: https://www.elibrary.ru/download/elibrary_47108840_61138284.pdf (accessed 21. 05. 2024). (In Russ., abstract in Eng.).

2. Katrovskiy, A.P., Baranovskiy, I.Yu., Vatlina, T.V. et al. (2022). Prostranstvennaia organizatsia vysshei shkoly i regionalnoe razvitie [Spatial organization of higher education and regional development]. Smolensk: Smolensk State University, 310 p. ISBN 978-5-88018-684-6. Available at: https://www.elibrary.ru/download/elibrary_47554106_88792245.pdf (accessed 21. 05. 2024). (In Russ.).

3. Dirsehan, Т., Shurenov, N., Tovma, N., Kozhamkulova, Zh., Akhmetova, Z. (2023). Challenges and potential of monotowns: a systematic literature review. R-Economy. Vol. 9, no. 4, pp. 437-455, doi: 10.15826/recon.2023.9.4.027

4. Turgel, I.D. (2014). Monofunktsionalnye goroda Rossii: ot vizhyvania k ustoichevomu razvitiiu [Monofunctional cities of Russia: from survival to sustainable development]. M.: Directmedia, 765 p. ISBN: 978-5-4458-4320-7. (In Russ.).

5. Antonova, I.S. (2015). The theory of diversification of the economy of a single-industry town. Vektory blagopoluchiya: ekonomika i sotsium =Journal of Wellbeing Technologies. No. 2. pp. 179-193. Available at: https://jwt.su/journal/article/view/826/833 (accessed 21. 05. 2024). (In Russ., abstract in Eng.).

6. Zerchaninova, T.E., Samkov, K.N., Turgel’, I.D. (2010). Sotsialnaia effektivnost’ deiatelnosti mestnoi administratsii: opyt sotsiologicheskogo issledovaniia monogorodov [The social effectiveness of the local administration: the experience of sociological research of single-industry towns]. Ekaterinburg: Ural Academy of State Services, 167 p. ISBN: 978-5-8056-0259-8. (In Russ.).

7. Bekhterev, D.V., Belyakova, G.Ya. (2021). Features of the development of single-industry towns taking intoaccount the life cycle. Problemy sotsial’no-ekonomicheskogo razvitiya Sibiri = Issues of Social-economic Development of Siberia. Vol. 46, no. 4, pp. 9-13, doi: 10.18324/2224-1833-2021-4-9-13 (In Russ., abstract in Eng.).

8. Pyatsheva, E.N. (2019). The functioning features of single-industry towns in Russia. Vestnik RGGU. Seriya: Ekonomika. Upravlenie. Pravo = RGGU Bulletin. Series: Economics. Management. Law. No. 2, pp. 18-34, doi: 10.28995/2073-6304-2019-2-18-34 (In Russ., abstract in Eng.).

9. Lyubovnyi, V.Ya. (2013). [Cities of Russia: development and management alternatives]. M.: Ekon-Inform, 613 p. Available at: https://elibrary.ru/download/elibrary_36853699_53020760.pdf (accessed 21. 05. 2024). (In Russ.).

10. Lyubovnyi, V.Ya. (2010). [Single-industry cities in crisis: condition, problems, rehabilitation opportunities]. Gorodskoe upravlenie [City administration]. Vol. 167, no. 6, pp. 38-49. Available at: https://elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=20159760 (accessed 21. 05. 2024). (In Russ.).

11. Turgel, I.D., Bozhko, L.L., Xu, L. (2016). Government support of single-industry towns in Russia and Kazakhstan. Finansy: teoriya i praktika = Finance: Theory and Practice. Vol. 20, no. 2 (92), pp. 22-32. Available at: https://elibrary.ru/download/elibrary_26280261_62357766.pdf (accessed 21. 05. 2024). (In Russ., abstract in Eng.).

12. Radjabov, F.T, Ismatov, J.A. (2023). Main directions of comprehensive socio-economic development mono-towns of Uzbekistan. Ekonomika i sotsium = Economy and Society. No. 10 (113), pp. 610-619. Available at: https://elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=20159760 (accessed 21. 05. 2024). (In Russ., abstract in Eng.).

13. Сlark, B.R. (1986). The Higher Education System: Academic Organization in Cross-National Perspective. California: University of California Press. ISBN-10: 0520058925. (Russian translation: Moscow: The Higher School of Economics, 2011. 360 p. ISBN 978-5-7598-0833-6).

14. Katrovskiy, A.P. (2003). Territorialnaia organizatsia vysshei shkoly Rossii [Territorial Organization of Higher Education in Russia]. Smolensk: Oikumena,198 p. ISBN 5-93520-041-4. (In Russ.).

15. Kuzminov, Y., Yudkevich, M. (2022). Higher education in Russia. Journal of Practical Studies in Education.Vol. 4. no. 1, pp. 1-7, doi: 10.46809/jpse.v4i1.61

16. Kuzminov, Ya.I., Frumin, I.D., Abankina, I.V. (2019). Kak sdelat’ obrazovanie dvigatelem sotsialno-ekonomicheskogo razvitiia? [How can education be made an engine of socio-economic development?]. Moscow: Higher School of Economics, 282 p., doi: 10.17323/978-5-7598-1995-0 (In Russ.).

17. Kuzminov, Ya.I., Semenov, D.S., Frumin, I.D. (2013). University Network Structure: From the Soviet to the Russian «Master Plan». Voprosy obrazovaniya = Educational Studies. No. 4, pp. 8-63, doi: 10.17323/1814-9545-2013-4-8-69 (In Russ., abstract in Eng.).

18. Bohret, C. (1984). Erwartungen der Region an ihre Hochschulen, Ergebnisseeiner Umfrage. Essen.

19. Florax, R. (1987). The regional economic role of Universites: the dark side of University. Twente University working paper. No. 2, pp. 51-55.

20. Monheim, H. (1977). Die raumordnung politishe Relevanz des Hochschulbaus. Informationen zur Raumentwicklung. No. 5.

21. Shatilo, D.P. (2021). University Cities in Europe: Concept, Development Specifics and Urban Planning Patterns. Kontury global’nykh transformatsii: politika, ekonomika, parvo = Outlines of Global Transformations: Politics, Economics, Law. No. 4, pp. 23-39, doi: 10.23932/2542-0240-2021-14-4-2 (In Russ., abstract in Eng.).

22. Quaglia, E.D., Rojas, J.T. (2014). Ideals for a University City. In: S. Lizarraga, C. Lуpez (eds.). Living CU 60 Years: Ciudad Universitaria1954-2014. Mexico: Facultad de Arquitectura UNAM, P. 95-131. Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/314255852_Ideals_for_a_University_City (accessed 20. 07. 2024).

23. Turgel, I.D., Bugrov, K.D., Oykher, A.D. (2023). Russian University Cities: Expectations vs. Reality. Vyssheeobrazovanie v Rossii = Higher Education in Russia. No. 5, pp. 89-111, doi: 10.31992/0869-3617-2023-32-5-89-111 (In Russ., abstract in Eng.).

24. Ambarova, A.P., Zborovsky, G.E. (2017). Higher Education in the Ural Macro-Region: Possibilities for Nonlinear Development. Modernizatsiya obrazovaniya = Integration of Education. No. 3, pp. 405-420, doi: 10.15507/1991-9468.088.021.201703 (In Russ., abstract in Eng.).

25. Ambarova, A.P., Zborovsky, G.E. (2019). Universities and Cities in Provincial Russia. Vysshee obrazovanie v Rossii = Higher Education in Russia. No. 5, pp. 37-51. doi: 10.31992/0869-3617-2019-28-5-37-51 (In Russ., abstract in Eng.).

26. Romanenko, K.R. Shibanova, E.Yu. Abalmasova, E.S., Egorov, A.A. (2018). Higher education in single-industry towns: models, practices, challenges. Universitetskoe upravlenie: praktika i analiz = University Management: Practice and Analysis. No. 22(4), pp. 110-125, doi: 10.15826/umpa.2018.04.044 (In Russ., abstract in Eng.).

27. Veselkova, N.V., Vandyshev, M.N., Pryamikova, E.V., Anikieva, A.V., Schwindt, U.S. (2024). Monogorod v dvizhenii: Opyt issledovaniia mobil’nostei [(Mono)city is in motion. Experience in mobility research]. Yekaterinburg: Ural University Press, p. 338. ISBN 978-5-7996-3802-3. Available at: https://elar.urfu.ru/handle/10995/129680 (In Russ.).

28. Kozlova, O.A., Evtushenko, N.S. (2016). The formation of the third function of a university in a small town: theory and practice. Zhurnal ekonomicheskoi teorii = AlterEconomics. No. 4, pp. 170-177. Available at: https://elibrary.ru/download/elibrary_27411046_81934029.pdf (accessed 21. 05. 2024). (In Russ., abstract in Eng.).

29. Volkov, S.K. (2023). Managed urban shrinkage in Russia: Logic, opportunities, and implementation. Regionalnaya ekonomika = Terra Economicus. No. 2, pp. 101-115, doi: 10.18522/2073-6606-2023-21-2-101-115 (In Russ., abstract in Eng.).

30. Parsons, T. (2008). Social systems. Voprosy sotsialnoi teorii [Issues of social theory]. No. 1, pp. 38-71. Available at: https://iphras.ru/uplfile/root/biblio/vst/2008/parsons.pdf (accessed 21. 05. 2024). (In Russ.).

31. Merton, R.K. (2005). Introduction to Social Theory and Social Structure. Contemporary Sociological Thought, pp. 23.

32. Shkaratan, O.I. (2011).Society as a social system. Sotsiologicheskij Zhurnal = Sociological Journal. No. 4, pp. 116-143. Available at: https://elibrary.ru/download/elibrary_18842442_46714608.pdf (accessed 21. 05. 2024). (In Russ., abstract in Eng.).

33. Ladov, V.A., Chaplinskaya, Ya.I. (2023). Analytical realism in the formal aspect: theory and practice. Vestnik Tomskogo gosudarstvennogo universiteta. Filosofiya. Sotsiologiya. Politologiya = Tomsk State University Journal. Philosophy. Sociology. Political Science. No. 75, pp. 38-48, doi: 10.17223/1998863X/75/4 (In Russ., abstract in Eng.).

34. Borovitskaya, M.V., Schneider, O.V. (2023). On topical issues of priority areas and approaches to the development of SMEs in single-industry towns. Ekonomicheskie nauki = Economic Sciences. No. 4, pp. 95-103, doi: 10.14451/1.223.95 (In Russ., abstract in Eng.).

35. Starikova, A.V. (2021). Old-Developed Regions in the Sociogeographic Space of Russia: History and Contemporaneity. Moscow: Association of Scientific Publications of the KMK, 379 p. Available at: http://ekonom.igras.ru/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/RSF_Monograph_Nefedova_2022.pdf (accessed 21. 05. 2024). (In Russ.).

36. Bozhko, L.L. (2022). Challenges of anti-Russia sanctions for metals and mining enterprises in Kazakhstan. R-Economy. Vol. 8, no. 3, pp. 237-251, doi: 10.15826/recon.2022.8.3.019

37. Akhmetova, Z., Tovma, N., Shurenov, N. (2023). Analysis of demographic trends of monocities in east kazakhstan region. Kazakhstan-Spektr = Kazakhstan-Spectrum. No. 3, pp. 85-100, doi: 10.52536/2415-8216.2023-3.06 (In Russ., abstract in Eng.).

38. Voropaeva, A.V., Korosteleva, L.Yu. (2024). It’s time for a new look at small towns. POISK: Politika. Obshchestvovedenie. Iskusstvo. Sotsiologiya. Kultura = P.O.I.S.K. Politics. Social Sience. Art. Sociology. Culture. No. 1 (102), pp. 51-62. Available at: https://elibrary.ru/download/elibrary_61445073_59237649.pdf (accessed 21. 05. 2024). (In Russ., abstract in Eng.).

39. Leontiev, D.A. (2020). Happiness and well-being: toward the construction of the conceptual field. Monitoring obshchestvennogo mneniya: Ekonomicheskie i sotsial’nye peremeny = Monitoring of Public Opinion: Economic and Social Changes. No. 1 (155), pp. 14-37, doi: 10.14515/monitoring.2020.1.02 (In Russ., abstract in Eng.).