Higher Education in the Russian Federation

Assessing Progress Toward the Bologna Process Objectives

Sep 22, 2009

Although the Russian Federation committed to the Bologna Process objectives in 2003, educational reform has been hindered by social, economic, and political factors.

Before 1991, higher educational institutions (HEIs) in the Soviet Union were controlled by the State. The collapse of communism caused widespread changes – not only in politics and economics, but also in higher education. In 1996, the Russian Federation introduced The Federal Law on Higher Education, which allowed private universities to be formed. Seven years later, following the Berlin Communiqué, Russia committed to educational reform. But have Russian HEIs met the goals of the Bologna Process?

On June 19, 1999, Ministers of Higher Education from 29 European countries met in Bologna, Italy, to sign the Bologna Declaration. The Declaration's purpose was to increase the “international competitiveness of the European system of higher education” by creating a European Higher Education Area (EHEA) no later than 2010. The signatory partners also agreed to pursue six objectives in their countries, such as introducing a two-cycle degree system, standardizing degrees and credits, and encouraging academic mobility.

The Russian Federation signed the Bologna Declaration in 2003 and agreed to provide self-assessment reports at two-year intervals. Since 2003, three national reports have been submitted.

The 2005 national report acknowledged that the Bologna Process in Russia was in its infancy. As a first step, the Russian Federation established a new Ministry of Science and Education to oversee the 685 governmental HEIs and 619 non-governmental HEIs then in existence.

Within the Ministry, a working group was formed to survey higher education in Russia, to present recommendations for how the Bologna Process objectives should be implemented, and to coordinate the Bologna Process in its entirety. Nevertheless, concerns were raised even then about “financial, administrative and infrastructural limitations” that threatened to block reform.

The 2007 national report announced progress in implementing a uniform credit system, introducing legislation to support a two-cycle degree system, and promoting joint degree programs as well as academic mobility. In reality, the assurances were deceptive.

While the number of private HEIs had increased, only 35.8% were accredited. Even with a two-cycle degree system in place, the majority of students (92.4%) were enrolled in one-cycle Specialist programs, which were designed under the previous Soviet regime to centralize planning, standardize curricula, and serve the needs of employers. By comparison, 7.0% of all Russian students were in Bachelor degree programs and 0.6% in Master degree programs.

Promotion of joint degrees was even farther behind Bologna Process objectives, as only 2.3% of all students were enrolled in joint degree programs. Even more disappointing, 4.8% of all HEIs were issuing Diploma Supplements to about 25,000 total students (2.0%). In response, the Russian Federation pledged that Supplements would be issued to all students by 2008.

Even with a commitment to academic mobility, approximately 2,000 (0.027%) of 7.5 million total students were studying abroad. The likely reason for this statistic is financial. Although mobility funding was promised, only “100 Russian Federation presidential scholarships” were awarded annually to pay for foreign studies. Thus, only wealthy Russian students could afford to study in another country.

The 2009 national report revealed setbacks as well as stalemate. Even though new legislation had been introduced in 2007 to implement the two-cycle degree system, only 9.4% of all students were enrolled from 2008 to 2009. In response, the Russian Federation directed all HEIs to convert to this system by September 1, 2009.

Statistics for employability were similarly bleak. During the 2007–2008 period, 6.6% of students graduated with a Bachelor degree, compared to 1.0% of Master students. By way of explanation, most Russian employers did not trust the two-cycle degree system and preferred to employ students who had completed Soviet-style Specialist training.

The outlook for Diploma Supplements was no better. Despite the 2007 pledge, less than 1% of all HEIs were issuing Diploma Supplements to 2% of all Russian students. Furthermore, progress toward joint degrees was minimal. No Russian HEIs were involved in awarding joint degrees, and few participated in joint degree programs at any level.

There was no improvement in academic mobility. No arrangements had been made with “visas, residence and work permits . . . to enhance student and staff mobility.” Although financial support was promised, the Russian Federation was silent about funding sources. The same 100 presidential scholarships were available, which confirmed that mobility was reserved for the elite. As a result, no more students were studying abroad during this two-year period than had been in 2005–2007.

The Russian Federation national reports lack transparency. General statements of support for the Bologna Process objectives are offered, but the statistics show little progress overall in key priority areas such as the two-cycle degree system, joint degree programs, Diploma Supplements, and academic mobility.

Why has so little progress been made? First, Russian employers believe that a Specialist's degree provides students with better training than a Bachelor degree. Second, some Russian HEIs are reluctant “to become full partners in mobility programmes” or to support joint degree programs because of a lack of government funding and an unwillingness to learn foreign languages. Third, despite the fall of the Soviet regime, the Russian Federation is still beset with excessive regulation and a desire to control all aspects of education. Until social, economic, and political factors change, educational reform in the Russian Federation is likely to remain symbolic rather than substantive.

Russian Federation. 2005. National Reports 2004–2005. Bologna Process website.

Russian Federation. 2007. Bologna Process National Reports 2005–2007. Bologna Process website.

Russian Federation. 2009. The Russian Federation National Report 2007–2009. Bologna Process website.

The copyright of the article Higher Education in the Russian Federation in International Universities is owned by Jeffrey Willett. Permission to republish Higher Education in the Russian Federation in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.