Age as a Source of Academic Rent or a Resource Curse of University Youth?

The article is devoted to the age policy implemented by modern Russian universities and focused on largescale and accelerated rejuvenation of the scientific and pedagogical community. The relevance of the research topic is related to the problems of attracting and retaining young scientific and pedagogical workers (SPWs). The authors focus on the theory of academic rent, which makes it possible to explain the limitations of institutional and organizational measures to support university youth. The purpose of the article is to show monetary and non–monetary academic rents as a factor in attracting and retaining young graduates in universities. The article is based on research data carried out in 2024 using methods of analyzing documents and interviews with graduate students and applicants (n = 30 people) and SPWs of Russian universities (n = 30 people). At the theoretical level, the content of tangible and intangible elements of academic rent characterizing a group of young SPWs is disclosed. Based on the materials of an empirical study, the restrictive nature of financial support measures for young SPWs is shown. It was revealed that not all categories of young scientists and not all Russian universities have access to monetary rent. Only a part of the measures of financial support for young SPWs have signs of academic rent. Satisfaction with academic work and the prestige of the academic profession as elements of non-monetary academic rents do not bring dividends to young SPWs. The non-material “superprofit” of a part of the university youth is provided by membership in the institutions of representation of university youth. They serve as a launching pad for their career growth. Based on the ratio of two types of academic rent – monetary and non-monetary, the types of rent-oriented behavior of young SPWs (“ideological”, “pragmatists” and “ambivalent”) are identified and characterized. The practical significance of the research lies in the possibility of using its results to develop and improve programs for attracting and retaining young SPWs through the expansion of material and non-material academic rents and the development of scientific mentoring. The novelty of the study is because for the first time, the theory of academic rent is used to explain the problems of attracting and retaining young SPWs and the prospects for their consolidation in an academic career.

1. Shu k li na E. A., Pev naya M. V., Sh i rokova E. A. Adaptatsionnyi potentsial prepodavatelei «serebryanogo vozrasta» v usloviyakh transformatsii vysshego obrazovaniya [The Adaptive Potential of Teachers of the “Silver Age” in the Context of Transformation of Higher Education]. Obrazovanie i nauka, 2020, vol. 22, nr 1, pp. 146–169. doi: 10.17853/1994-5639-2020-1-146-169. (In Russ.).

2. Durakova I. B., Maier E. V. Uspeshnost’ rabotnikov starshikh vozrastov kak vyzov vysshei shkole [Success and Development of Older Workers as a Challenge to Higher Education]. Vysshee obrazovanie v Rossii, 2021, vol. 30, nr 6, pp. 144 –155. doi: 10.31992/0869-3617-2021-30-6-144-155 (In Russ.).

3. Il’ina I. Yu. Vozrastnaya dinamika professorskoprepodavatel’skogo sostava vysshei shkoly: aktual’nye tendentsii i otsenka perspektiv [Age Dynamics of the Teaching Staff of the Higher School: Current Trends and Assessment of Prospects]. Vestnik NSUEM. 2022, nr 3, pp. 128–139. doi 10.34020/2073‑6495‑2022‑3‑128‑139 (In Russ.)

4. Nauchno-tekhnologicheskaya politika Rossii v usloviyakh postpandemii: poisk novykh reshenii: dokl. k XXII Apr. mezhdunar. nauchn. konf. po problemam razvitiya ekonomiki i obshchestva (Moskva, 13–30 apr. 2021 g.) [Science and Technology Policy of Russia in the Conditions of Post-Pandemic: Search for New Solutions: Reports for XXII International Scientific Conference on Economic and Social Development], Moscow, Higher School of Economics, 2021, 63 p. (In Russ.).

5. Balezina E. A. Polozhenie molodogo prepodavatelya vuza v usloviyakh modernizatsii vysshego obrazovaniya: riski i ikh vospriyatie [The Position of a Young University Teacher in the Context of Modernization of Higher Education: Risks and their Perception]. Vestnik NNGU im. N. I. Lobachevskogo. Social’nye nauki, 2018, nr 4, pp. 99–108. (In Russ.).

6. Ramsden P. Describing and Explaining Research P roduct iv it y. Higher Educat ion. 1994, vol. 28, n r 2, pp. 207–226. (In Eng.).

7. Rogers T., Goldstein N. J., Fox C. R. Social Mobilization. Annual Review of Psychology, 2018, vol. 69, pp. 357–381. doi: 10.1146/annurev-psych-122414–033718. (In Eng.).

8. Galimkhanov A. B., Asadullina G. R., Sadretdinova E. V., Shaikhislamov R. B. Traektorii professional’noi kar’ery nauchno-pedagogicheskikh rabotnikov [The Trajectories of the Professional Career of Scientific and Pedagogical Workers]. Nauchnyi rezul’tat. Sotsiologiya i upravlenie, 2023, vol. 9, nr 4, pp. 58–72. doi: 10.18413/2408-9338-2023-9-4-0-5 (In Russ.).

9. Mudrova E. B., Legostaeva V. I. Privlechenie i zakreplenie v vuze molodykh nauchno-pedagogicheskikh kadrov na osnove sovremennykh tekhnologii adaptatsii [Brining and Consolidation of Young Scientific and Teaching Staff Based on Modern Adaptation Technologies]. Universitetskoe upravlenie: praktika i analiz, 2006, nr 2, pp. 61–64. (In Russ.).

10. Shmatko N., Volkova G. Sluzhba ili sluzhenie? Motivatsionnye patterny rossiiskikh uchenykh [Service or Devotion? Motivation Patterns of Russian Researchers]. Forsait, 2017, vol. 11, nr 2, pp. 54–66. doi 10.17323/2500–2597.2017.1.54.66 (In Russ.).

11. Rybakov N. V. Kadrovoe obespechenie nauki i vysshei shkoly v aspiranture rossiiskikh vuzov [Staffing of Science and Higher Education in Graduate Schools of Russian Universities]. Dis. … kand. sociol. nauk, Nizhny Novgorod, 2020, 208 p. (In Russ.).

12. Bednyi B. I., Mironos A. A., Ostapenko L. A. Professi onal’naya zanyatost’ vypusknikov aspirantury i napravleniya sovershenstvovaniya aspirantskikh programm [Professional Employment of Graduate Students and Areas of Improvement of Postgraduate Programs]. Vysshee obrazovanie v Rossii, 2015, nr 3, pp. 5–16. (In Russ.).

13. Uspeshnost’ vypusknikov i uroven’ oplaty truda prepodavatelei kak faktory konkurentosposobnosti universitetov Ural’skogo regiona [Success of the Graduates and Teachers’ Salary Level as Factors of Competitiveness of the Universities in the Ural Region]. Ekaterinburg, Izd-vo Ural. un-ta, 2020, 214 p. (In Russ.).

14. Kolychev V. D., Budanov N. A. Vovlechennost’ studentov i nauchno-pedagogicheskikh rabotnikov kak pokazatel’ otsenki korporativnoi kul’tury i instrument formirovaniya kadrovogo rezerva vuza [Student and Research and Teaching Staff Engagement as an Indicator of Corporate Culture Assessment and a Tool for University’s Personnel Reserve Formation]. Vyshee obrazovanie v Rossii, 2022, vol. 31, nr 2, pp. 42–57. doi: 10.31992/0869-3617-2022-31-2-42-57 (In Russ.).

15. Panf ilova Yu. S. Professional’nye dinastii v organizatsii: reputatsionnyi resurs ili istochnik napr yazhennosti (na primere meditsinskoi i akademicheskoi professional’nykh sfer) [Professional Dynasties in the Organization: Reputation Resource or a Source of Tension (in Medical and Academic Professional Fields]. Nauchnyi rezul’tat. Sotsiologiya i upravlenie, 2021, vol. 7, nr 4, pp. 157–166. doi: 10.18413/2408-9338-2021-7-4-1-0 (In Russ.).

16. Bashmanova E. L. Akademicheskaya druzhba kak perspektivnyi vid nastavnichestva dlya podderzhki interesa molodykh prepodavatelei i issledovatelei k universitetu kak mestu raboty [Academic Friendship as a Promising Type of Mentoring to Support the Interest of Young Teachers and Researchers in the University as a Place of Work]. Mezhdunarodnyi nauchnoissledovatel’skii zhurnal, 2023, nr 11, available at: https://research-journal.org/archive/11–137–2023-november/10.23670/IRJ.2023.137.64. (accessed 27.12.2024). doi: 10.23670/IRJ.2023.137.64 (In Russ.).

17. Enslin P., Hedge N. Academic Friendship in Dark Times. Ethics and Education, 2019, vol. 14, nr 4, pp. 383–398. doi: 10.1080/17449642.2019.1660457 (In Eng.).

18. Josifidis K., Supic N. The Uncertainty of Academic Rent and Income Inequality: The OECD Panel Evidence. Journal of Economic Issues, 2019, vol. 53, nr. 2, pp. 394–402. doi: 10.1080/00213624.2019.1594521 (In Eng.).

19. Welsh J. Tolli ng Academ ics: Rent-Seek i ng a nd Gatekeeping in the University Space. Capital & Class, 2021, vol. 45, nr 1, pp. 93–121. doi: 10.1177/0309816819900131 (In Eng.).

20. Muller S. M. Academics as Rent Seekers: Distorted Incentives in Higher Education, with Reference to the South African Case. International Journal of Educational Development, 2017, vol. 52, pp. 58–67. doi: 10.1016/j.ijedudev.2016.11.004 (In Eng.).

21. Akimova E. N., Shataeva O. V. Povyshenie kachestva rossiiskogo vysshego obrazovaniya: otvet na vyzovy sovremennosti [Improving the Quality of Russian Higher Education: Responding to Modern Challenges]. Ekonomika obrazovaniya, 2019, nr 5 (114), pp. 4–13. (In Russ.).

22. Balatskii E. V. Istoshchenie akademicheskoi renty [Depletion of Academic Rents]. Mir Rossii, 2014, nr 3, pp. 150–174. (In Russ.).

23. Kuz’minov Ya. I., Yudkevich M. M. Akademicheskaya svoboda i standarty povedeniya [Academic Freedom and the Standards of Behavior]. Voprosy ekonomiki, 2007, nr 6, pp. 80–93. doi: 10.32609/0042-8736-2007-6-80-93 (In Russ.).

24. Rogozin D. M., Solodovnikova O. B. Udovletvorenno st’ trudom prepodavatelei organizatsii vysshego obrazovaniya: ot retrospektivnogo analiza podkhodov k sovremennym kontseptualizatsiyam [Job Satisfaction of the Teaching Staff in Russian Universities: from a Retrospective Analysis of Approaches to Modern Conceptualization]. Sotsiologicheskii zhurnal, 2024, vol. 30, n r 3, pp. 98–123. doi: 10.19181/socjour.2024.30.3.5 (In Russ.).

25. Rudakov V. N. Zarabotnaya plata prepodavatelei rossiiskikh vuzov i effektivnyi kontrakt: informatsionnyi byulleten’ [Salary of Russian Universities’ Staff and Effective Contract: a Newsletter]. Moscow, Higher School of Economics, 2021, 32 p. (In Russ.).

26. Rudakov V. N. Zarabotnaya plata rossiiskikh prepodavatelei i uchenykh: differentsiatsiya, struktura i sostavlyayushchie effektivnogo kontrakta: informatsionnyi byulleten’ [Salar y of the Russian Universities’ Teachers and Researchers: Differentiation, Structure and Components of the Effective Contract: a Newsletter]. Moscow, Higher School of Economics, 2023, 36 p. (In Russ.).

27. Zborovskii G. E., Ambarova P. A. Mobilizatsiya resursov nauchno-pedagogicheskogo soobshchestva (keis vysshego obrazovaniya UrFO) [Mobilization of Resources of the Scientific and Pedagogical Community (the Case of Higher Education in the Ural Federal District)]. Sociologicheskie issledovaniya, 2022, nr 9, pp. 60–71. doi: 10.31857/S013216250020845–2 (In Russ.).

28. Rudakov V. N. Udovletvorennost’ rabotoi, kar’ernye strategii i plany prepodavatelei rossiiskikh vuzov: informatsionnyi byulleten’ [Job Satisfaction, Carrier Strategies and Plans of the Russian Universities’ Teachers: a Newsletter]. Moscow, Higher School of Economics, 2021, 36 p. (In Russ.).

29. Voronov A. S., Eremin A. V. Serebren ni kov S. S. Kadrovyi rezerv obrazovatel’nykh organizatsii vysshego obra zova n iya i nauch nyk h orga n i zat sii: voz moz h nosti formirovaniya i upravleniya na baze sovetov molodykh uchenykh [Personnel Reserve of Educational Organizations of Higher Education and Scientific Organizations: Opportunities for Formation and Management on the Basis of Councils of Young Scientists]. Gosudarstvennoe upravlenie. Elektronnyi vestnik, 2023, nr 101, pp. 170–185. doi: 10.24412/2070-1381-2023-101-170-185 (In Russ.).

30. Skachkova L. S., Shchetinina D. P., Kryachko V. I. Faktory sub”ektivnogo blagopoluchiya nauchno-pedagogicheskikh rabotnikov: rezul’taty fokus-grupp [Factors of Subjective Well-Being of Scientific and Pedagogical Workers: Results of Focus Groups]. Gosudarstvennoe i munitsipal’noe upravlenie. Uchenye zapiski, 2018, nr 4, pp. 138–146. doi: 10.22394/2079-1690-2018-1-4-138-146 (In Russ.).

31. Mikhalkina E. V., Skachkova L. S., Dyuzhikov S. A. Udovletvorennost’ tr udom v akademicheskoi sfere [Job Satisfaction in the Academic Sphere]. Terra Economicus, 2020, vol. 18, nr 3, pp. 160–181. doi: 10.18522/2073-6606-2020-18-3-160-181 (In Russ.).

32. Ambarova P. A., Shabrova N. V. Studenty kak partnery nauchnykh proektov v rossiiskikh vuzakh: vozmozhnosti i bar’ery [Students as Partners in the Research Projects in Russian Universities: Opportunities and Barriers]. Sotsiologicheskaya nauka i sotsial’naya praktika, 2024, vol. 12, nr 3, pp. 56–75. doi 10.19181/snsp.2024.12.3.3. (In Russ.).