Abstract. In this paper, we attempt to find a common ground for the practical realization of new postgraduate training standards in Russia that are aimed at increasing the quality of Russian postgraduate education. Serious concerns have been recently expressed regarding the inconsistencies in the introduced standards and the need to substantially revise existing normative documents that regulate the postgraduate study system. However, although these thorny institutional issues are of great importance, academic supervisors and PhD programme teachers need to realize postgraduate syllabi in the here and now. Therefore, in order for the postgraduate study system to meet all the modern requirements, an adequate pedagogical model and reliable reference points should be determined. A social and philosophical analysis was carried out to examine the modern reality of young researchers and to outline a framework for the modernization of the existing postgraduate study system. The results of a survey conducted across the Institutes of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences to examine the perceptions of PhD students regarding the new programmes are presented and discussed. It is concluded that a sufficient level of academic awareness as a “researcher” and “teacherBresearcher” developed in postgraduate students may become an integrated pedagogical goal at this educational stage. The paper may be of interest to a wide readership of sociologists of science, PhD programme teachers, as well as to researchers concerned with contemporary issues faced by the Russian educational system and Russian science.

Abstract. Russian universities are now involved into a severe competition for university rankings with a special focus on academics publishing in international journals. The directive demand from the government meets the understandable response in terms of quantification, which does not reflect the quality of published research, nor does it foster pursuit for such quality. Establishing writing centers in leading universities seems to help solve the problem on the qualitative basis. However, to implement the policy aimed at raising the quality of research papers, Russia needs more than local, optional institutions or even a volunteer association of writing centers, such as the newly established Russian Consortium. To be taken seriously by governmental bodies and the academic community, academic writing ought to be introduced as a discipline taught at all levels of education. The concept of an interuniversity writing center, based on the financial support from universities is considered to be the most appropriate decision at the initial stage of the development of academic writing, for it will unite Russian experts and enable them to work openly and independently for the whole nation, and not only for a particular institution.

Abstract. The paper analyzes some contradictory tendencies in the development of higher chool in Russia. On the example of the Economics faculty of Saint Petersburg State University the author identifies some disturbing consequences of reforms, which are topical also for other higher educational institutions. On the basis of the questionnaire poll of BSC and MSC students, the author determines the key problems of higher school development on the modern stage. Inter alia the following questions are discussed: should master’s programs be academic or applied; is it rational to combine students after profile baccalaureate with students without appropriate education within the master course; is it reasonable to staff the state examination board entirely with business representatives. The paper presents the assessment of quality from graduates’ point of view. Some measures of improving the quality of education are suggested.

Abstract. The paper provides an overview of modern concepts of researchers’ mobility and migration, including concepts “brain drain” and “brain circulation”. The mobility is considered as one of the most important drivers of research career on academic and nonacademic labour markets. Using the data from the empirical study of Russian doctorate holders, the paper shows the main trends in international and domestic (intrasectoral and intersectoral) mobility and the impact that mobility has on the career opportunities of young scientists. Mobility rates of Russian doctorate holders are compared with those obtained in the international project “Careers of Doctorate Holders” (OECD, Eurostat, UNESCO Institute for Statistics). The results indicate that the main trends inherent in the Russian academic labour market are similar to those in the European and global labour markets. The findings of study indicates that mobile Russian researchers are more demanded in the national labor market, and are also involved in the “synchronous mobility”, when the scientist can have multiple affiliations and work simultaneously in several countries.

Abstract. The paper proposes an approach to the estimation of university professors’ age. Its purpose is to analyze the median age of teachers in Russian universities and identify problems relating to the teacher age structure. The paper considers various factors affecting teachers’ median age, such as the median age of employees in economics, average number of years of study, teaching staff job structure. There is a trend to the median age decrease for teachers on lower positions and the median age increase for teachers on top positions in a job structure. There is given the median age of teachers on certain positions, a teacher career ladder is proposed with estimated waiting periods for the next job position. The paper concludes that professional stability of middle-aged teachers is low, leading to polarization and thinning of the middle layer in teacher age structure, and this is the main problem.

Abstract. The Russian higher education institutions found themselves in difficult conditions which characterize the development of higher school in our country today. They are forced to be not only socially responsible, but also reputationally responsible subjects of education market. The purpose of the article is studying of the reputational liability of a higher educational institution as an important characteristic of its management system. The authors dwell on the content and structure of the reputational liability of educational institution. On the example of a concrete university an experience of forming the reputational liability of a higher education institution is viewed. Technologies to raise the reputational liability are described. The authors come to a conclusion that forming and raising of the reputational liability of Russian higher education institutions should have a long-term character that can be reached by the development of the corresponding development strategy. 

Abstract. The sphere of information technology is the most rapidly evolving and has a number of features that do not allow students to study all existing technologies, development environments, etc. In this connection, the paper analyzes the global trends in the evolution of IT sphere, determines the features of Russian trends. Basing on the comparative analysis of professional education all over the world the authors propose the model of IT-sphere organization. This model allows forecasting further growth of the IT industry, identifying promising areas of education and their content, necessary for educational programs design.

Abstract. The centralized structure of assessment tools of the main educational program of higher education consists of the following documents:

- fund of assessment tools of the educational program — the central document uniting information on competences (formulations, codes of competences, a matrix of competences, stages of formation of competences), the description of types and forms of control on all elements of the educational program, criteria and scales of estimation (basic, standard, specialized), the methodical materials defining procedures of assessment tools development and the procedure of assessment, the main assessment tools of elements of the educational program;

- funds of assessment tools of the current control of progress and intermediate certification as a part of working programs for separate elements of the educational program, which are developed on the basis of a central document.

The offered structure of the fund of assessment tools is brought closer to the classical scheme of normalization of data – «one fact – in one place». The basic information relating to competences is concentrated in one document. Distinctive feature of the offered structure is the possibility to reduce considerably time and labor input of documentation development of the educational program.

Abstract. This study reveals the process of using interactive Web 2.0 tools in CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning) classrooms. In modern conditions teachers have to work in multilingual classes, where the most of students are bilinguals. Researchers develop various models of bilingual education that have their own specifics related to the historic, linguistic, social, ethnic, economic situation. During the past 20 years the Content and Language Integrated Learning, or CLIL, is becoming increasingly widespread as a bilingual educational approach around European Union. It means that the second language is used as the medium of instruction in a process of teaching various subjects. In this research we describe the linguistic situation in the Republic of Tatarstan. The majority of secondary school graduates that use Tatar language as a medium of instruction meet with cognitive and linguistic difficulties when they begin studying at the university, where Russian is mostly used. Thus, it is important to use the CLIL in the higher education system of Republic of Tatarstan. The authors have analyzed the experience of using CLIL in European universities and made the conclusion that the most challenging part of implementation the CLIL methodology is the development of bilingual educational materials. In addition, students and teachers working in a CLIL setting face with a lack of suitable learning materials in the target language for subjects. The aim of present research is to reveal of the impact of using interactive Web 2.0 tools by Tatar-speaking students in the process of Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) implementation while studying ICT. The educational resources for ICT subject were designed and published on the Wikia website, and then the pedagogical experiment was conducted. The duration of the experiment was one semester. In this research we used a convenience sample of 50 first- year students of Tatar Philology and Culture Department of Kazan Federal University. The research was organized and conducted as a pedagogical experiment with parallel groups. Control group was a classical teaching approach group, which consisted of 25 students, in which Russian language was used and only frontal method was applied. Students in the experimental group (25 students) experienced CLIL approach and used appropriate learning materials related to Web 2.0. At the end of the pedagogical experiment, students took part in the final test (post-test). Statistical processing and interpretation of experimental data revealed the positive impact of using the interactive Web 2.0 tools on the process of CLIL implementation by Tatar-speaking students while studying ICT.

Abstract. The article focuses on the essential problem of Russian higher education – the need of high level of students’ background in mathematics in order to accomplish long-term goals of socioBeconomic innovation development. Due to this problem the analysis of the quality of students’ mathematical training in higher educational institutions is provided, the tendency of decreasing of its level is designated, the reasons of this fact are considered. Theoretical and empirical research methods were used in the study. The authors consider the results of students questioning to determine the significance of mathematics learning problems; they specify the quality of mathematical training of Russian schoolchildren according to the mathematical results of the USE, an international TIMSS and PISA researches. 

Abstract. With the rapid updating of knowledge and technologies, a shift is necessary from shortBterm courses of improvement of university teaching staff qualification to a system of continuous professional development, combining a system of practiceBoriented courses of formal (academic) refresher training and informal methodological support of teaching staff as the developers of discipline content, training tools and methods of interaction. Personal professional development routes are implemented within modular programmes of further education, after peer to peer evaluation, taking into account the individual needs of the Faculty and the University’s programme of innovation development priorities. Personal educational results achieved in the professional development system are evaluated by means of educational products created in the course of additional educational program selected. 

Abstract. This article actualizes the need to develop and implement a mechanism to identify the organization staff capacity, to its diagnosis and professional development. The article describes the experience of the Institute of organizational development and strategic initiatives of The Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration, which shows the effective use of such an approach. In particular, we are talking about the RANEPA best practices competition. This is a set of educational activities with a competitive component designed to identify, support and promote the best technologies and practices in the implementation of educational technologies, career management, intellectual property, their dissemination among the departments and branches of the Academy. The article presents the results of frequency analysis of the author’s opinion poll, the results of factor and cluster analysis, showing the difference in the level of development of the professional capacity of the respondents. The study results confirmed the effectiveness of the Competition as an approach for identifying and human resources development and the possibility of its use in practical activities of other organizations.

Abstract. This article is devoted to the problem of the organization foreign language course in the system of linguistic higher education with the use of information and communication technologies. Peculiarities of forming students’ foreign language competences in a new situation when cross-cultural component is becoming the principal part of foreign language education are considered. The author highlights the role of new technologies in teaching foreign languages, which facilitate an effective communication of specialists of various spheres in a multicultural environment. The article proves the necessity and the objective nature of transformation of the linguistic and educational paradigm – from communicative to intercultural in the conditions of the informatization of our society. The special attention is paid to the professional-focused technology in intercultural communication teaching.

Abstract. The paper presents the experience of using the distance forms of education in training of engineering specialties students. The influence of multimedia files as a part of the structure of electronic resource «Ecological monitoring», which is based on Moodle platform, on the degree of mastering of professional competencies was studied. The existence of such element allows students to look through certain parts of lectures repeatedly, which are individually necessary for lasting assimilation of educational and practical material and its subsequent reproduction. It assists to create an individual learning path and to optimize the dialogue with a pedagogue, which is especially important for students with disabilities. We established by methods of survey and statistical analysis of dynamics of passing the final certification on the discipline that the introduction of media files in electronic courses has a significant impact on the rate and degree of mastering practical skills, attendance of classes and assists to increase interest in the studied discipline and, as a consequence the performance as a whole.

Abstract. The article focuses on the features of the educational process organization in KNRTUBKAI. The problems and the various aspects of the organization contradictions are highlighted. The paper shows the effectiveness of the integrated approach to the educational process implemented at KNRTUBKAI. On each level and stage of educational process there are applied special methods of technical specialists training process organization and management, in accordance with the concrete purposes of education stages. The organizational structure of interaction between students, companies and universities taking into account the dynamic conditions of their functioning is developed. The organizational structure defines the mechanisms of functioning – the rules and the procedures that govern joint activities and actions of each subject: enterprises, universities and students. The proposed approach does not make restrictions on the choice of the form of interaction, methodology and training aids. 

Abstract. On the threshold of the 85th anniversary of Kazan Aviation Institute (today KNRTUBKAI) the goals and tasks of research activity conducted at the university are analyzed. It is noted that the specific character of scientific and educational process is distinguished by a combination of basic and applied scientific research with experimental-design developments, created in close ties with the industry. The aim of establishing an Institute in 1932 was to provide the aircraft industry with the skilled engineers. Today a priority of KNRTU-KAI scientific development is professional and technological support for high-tech mechanical engineering. To implement the given strategy the university has created engineering centers equipped by high-tech facilities up to the latest world standards as well as enterprise-based departments. The university is actively involved in implementing federal special-purpose programs, grant programs of the RF government, the RF Ministry for Education and Science and others.

Abstract. The article describes the history, development and early achievements of the German-Russian Institute of Advanced Technologies (GRIAT), an international educational project aimed at offering double degree graduate programs in engineering fields. Despite being launched only two years ago, GRIAT is proud of its first MSc graduates who received the diploma of KNRTUBKAI and German partner university. Currently, there are over 130 students studying in 7 MSc programs. Over the last years, GRIAT has become a platform for developing research among German and Russian professors, a host for various international conferences, exhibitions and fairs as well as a peace-building bridge despite political turmoil. The ultimate goal of GRIAT is to become a fully functional German Institute in Russia to connect education, science and industry, to unite two nations and to become a pace-maker for science and innovation.

Abstract. The article gives a detailed definition of the notion “extracurricular activity”, considers its types, forms and results. The article examines the role that extracurricular activity plays in the formation of professionally important qualities, general competences of students involved in a process of extracurricular activities. 

Abstract. Evolution strategy for reforming higher education in the UK during the transition from binary to a unitary system is considered in the context of existing alternative approaches to the choice of strategic priorities, forms and methods of educational process regulation, set out in the policy reports of Lord Robbins (1963), Lord Dearing (1997) and Lord Browne (2010).

The contradictory nature of neoliberal policy reforms in the last 25 years is seen as a reflection of tensions between the socioBcultural and economic functions of education, the underlying conflict between technocratic, social and humanistic approaches to solving the problem of higher education to adapt to the new technological and social reality of the twentyBfirst century. The conflict of interpretations by main political actors of such principles as social justice, freedom of choice, responsibility and efficiency is projected on their choice of strategy of forming «new» partnerships between educational subjects – universities, students, business and the state. Heuristic possibilities of using the method of critical discourseBanalysis to improve the regulatory framework in a crisis situation, and reducing risk in making innovative solutions, especially for young people, is considered by the example of the analysis of I. Fairclouch and N. Fairclouch parliamentary debate in 2010 to raise tuition fees in universities.