TRANSFORMATION OF THE RUSSIAN UNIVERSITIES AND ACADEMIC DEVELOPMENT OF RESEARCH AND TEACHING STAFF: SEARCHING FOR STRATEGIC PRIORITIES CONSISTENCY

Abstract

Introduction. The article considers the issue of consistency of strategic guidelines for the transformation of Russian universities and the academic development of research and teaching staff. The directions of higher education transformation are analyzed: globalization and international integration; increasing the inten- sity of interaction with employers and industry; technological progress; integration of science and practice; individualization of education; development of interdisciplinarity; avoidance of rigid hierarchical struc- tures; emphasis on the soft skills development (among students and employees); transition to entrepre- neurship; sustainable development referring to environmental challenges. It is noted that the successful strategic development of universities is possible under the condition of a formed corporate concept of academic development.

Materials and methods. Applied conclusions are made on the materials of sociological research implement- ed using the following methods: 1) semi-formalized interviews with representatives of administrative and managerial personnel of nine Russian universities (2019-2023, N=166); 2) questionnaire survey of research and teaching staff and administrative and managerial personnel of Russian universities (2022, N = 306).

Results and discussion. The consequences of low consistency of academic development of research and teaching staff with the university transformation strategy, as well as a lack of university management atten- tion to the employees’ human capital growth are revealed. The state of academic development and priority competencies of the research and teaching staff; factors, hindering human capital growth in universities are analyzed. An overview of the prospects to open for universities with the development of employees’ human capital and a range of problems associated with the lack of consistency of academic development programs with the higher education transformation strategies is proposed.

Five levels of correlation of the involvement of research and teaching staff in corporate academic develop- ment programs with the strategic orientation of universities to increase human capital are proposed. Recommendations are developed to improve the coherence of academic development and effective implementation of the higher education transformation strategy in Russia. The research findings can be used by representa- tives of university management interested in improving the quality of education and research in Russia.