The priority project of the RF Ministry of Education and Science «Universities as centers of development of innovations» has been planned as a long-term project; the life of the project is from October, 2017 to December, 2025. The main objective of this project is to ensure the global competitiveness of the Russian universities as well as the creation of at least 100 regional university centers of innovative, technological and social development by the end of the project. Thus, university centers of innovative, technological and social development of regions based on educational institutions have to be focused on solving problems of sustainable social and economic development of the constituent territories of the Russian Federation. The university center is a higher education institution which has been successfully qualified by the competition committee, and, therefore, announced as the winner of the competition.

The purpose of this study is to compare the effectiveness of scientific activities of the largest medical universities in Russia on the basis of data from foreign and domestic scientific resources, and to establish the degree of correlation between the data presented in various citation indexes. The information on publications of employees of the 20 largest medical universities of the Russian Federation for last five years was analyzed: the number of articles, the number of citations of articles and University Hirsch index. The sources were the database of the Russian Scientific Citation Index (RINC) (the publications in the journals included in the core of the RINC were taken into account separately), the Scopus database and the Web Of Science database (WoS). On the basis of the data obtained, the organizations were ranked according to several scientific indicators and correlation between various indicators was established using the coefficients of rank correlation. Correlation was revealed between different indicators of publication activity in the WoS and Scopus databases. There was no significant correlation between the data obtained in the analysis of citations in the core of the RINC with the data obtained from the analysis of citations in the international databases WoS and Scopus. Correlations with the indexes in other databases and the core of the RINC were also not revealed. The study was limited only to medical universities of the Russian Federation and the results cannot be used to compare indicators in other fields of science. To analyze the publication activity of medical universities, the use of databases (DB) Scopus, WoS is possible. The indexes calculated on the basis of the citation of journals included in both the RINC and separately into the core of the RINC cannot be applied to characterize the intensity of scientific research at the international level. Carefully use indicators derived from RINC data in combination with indicators obtained from the Scopus and WoS databases. It also raises doubts about the objectivity of the ratings of medical universities, which are based on the use of data from the RINC. For the first time, using the method of statistical analysis were established correlations or their absence between the citation indexes in various databases. The results of the research can be used to compile medical university ratings based on the results of scientific activity

This paper is an analytical study that aims at determining the development patterns of universities participating in the Project 5-100 from the perspectives of their financial structures, development priorities and key performance indicators’ dynamics. Using statistical techniques, including cluster analysis, we attempt to record the development patterns within several frames. The analysis based on the data of the Monitoring of performance of Russian higher education institutions of the Ministry for Education and Science; on the target and actual indicators, fixed in the roadmaps of the participating. The cluster analysis was implemented in two key time points of the Project: at the starting point (2013), when the second stage of the Project started (2015), and in the last available time point (2016). The analysis revealed the patterns of financial structures’ changes, the patterns of actual development in accordance with the roadmaps. We also identified four complex patterns using the cluster analysis. Moreover, the identified patterns were matched with the dynamics of universities’ progress in terms of inclusion into worldwide rankings. These results can be used in further researches of Project 5-100 or similar excellence initiatives in higher education, as well as when studying participating universities’ performance.

This article is designed to draw attention to such phenomenon as academic diversity of students within universities and to specify the research agenda for studying this phenomenon and its relationship with university management. A review of existing literature and statistics on the example of Russia allows for a) identifying the range of possible reasons for the growth of academic diversity in higher education institutions, and b) offering basic prerequisites for defining its level. For the first time the article analyses the academic diversity as a contextual variable and the organizational characteristic of higher education institutions, and justifies its significance for university governance and management. The author also provides a range of theoretical framework through which university governance can be analysed in the context of high academic diversity. The continuation of this work will be a more detailed study of universities management practices. The results of this work can be used to expand the current research agenda in the field of higher education, as well as to analyse and plan the activities of certain universities.

Higher education around the world is undergoing serious transformations influenced by technological, social and economic processes. Universities are striving to keep their competitive positions on the market of educational services. Today many countries are involved in the global education ranking race. On the way to leadership some countries are guided by experience of more successful racers, adopting their «best» practices. Logically, all countries seek for prosperity and make efforts not to remain on the periphery. However, such factor as culture or national mentality can interfere with transformational processes in education. The study is aimed at conducting a comparative analysis of academic engagement of bachelor students enrolled at Russian, Chinese, Japanese, British and US universities and establishing the role of culture in the existing differences in the educational systems of these countries. The sample includes 26,648 students studied at the selected universities in 2016-2017 academic year and agreed to participate in the international project ‘Student experience in the research university’. The index of academic engagement in class was generated with the Factor Analysis. The results of the oneway analysis of variance (ANOVA) show the significant difference between the level of students’ academic engagement of Russian, US, UK, Chinese and Japanese universities. According to the results, students in China are the least engaged among students of other countries because they are not required to demonstrate active participation. Russian and US students are described as the most engaged in comparison to students of other countries. The findings of the study confirm the importance of taking into account existing cultural aspects in developing academic strategies, communication with international students in class, and conducting comparative research.

The article is devoted to the discussion of a collective monograph based on the results of long - term (21 years) sociological monitoring of Sverdlovsk regions students. The role of the book in the development of youth sociology and education sociology is analyzed alongside with the opportunities for managerial decision - making at the university and regional level. The most imporan outcomes of the monitoring are revealed concerning dynamics of the basic sociological and cultural characteristics of students: social status, professional self - determination, values, civil culture, student’s pastime.

This is a research article presenting the results of monitoring lecturers’ and students’ activities at university departments. Based on monitoring lecturers’ and students’ activities at university departments authors evaluated the level of their involvement into university management processes and suggested mechanisms for attracting lecturers, post - graduate and graduate students to department management. Research covered 350 department heads from 24 universities all over Russia and 26 experts - representatives of university management from 20 Russian universities. The object of the research is the level of postgraduate students and lecturers’ involvement into university management processes. In order to conduct these monitorings authors used special forms of information collection: check lists for experts and questionnaires for Chair heads. Analysis of monitoring university chair lecturers’ activities demonstrated low level of lecturers’ and post - graduate students’ involvement into the chair management: only 55.6 % of chair heads managed to organize chair work in such a way to provide all staff with chair responsibilities; 14 % chair heads make all decisions concerning chair activities by themselves. 40 % of them believe that delegating functions is a useless procedure as nobody can do the work better than the chair head; only 41,4 % of chairs have official position of vice - head of the chair. Authors suggest mechanisms for encouraging lecturers, graduate and post - graduate students to participate more actively in the management of the chair. Particular attention is given to designing organizational and functional structure of chair management, increasing the role of vice -chair heads and conducting chair meetings and seminars. One of the necessary prerequisites of university chair effective functioning is the active participation of lecturers in management. Suggested mechanisms of attracting lecturers to chair management require evaluating efficacy of their implementation which can also be an object of further research. Authors suggest using the following mechanisms of attracting lecturers, graduate and postgraduate students to chair management: - constructing effective organizational and functional structure of chair management - forming the institution of vice - chair heads - organizing and conducting chair meetings and seminars The use of suggested mechanisms in case of organizing team work of chair head, lecturers, graduate and post - graduate students will facilitate significant increase in publication activities of teaching staff of the chair; strengthening of extra - mural work with the students; growing number of received grants and research conducted; successful employment of graduates which is the most important outcome of chair activities. The article contains the results of monitoring lecturers’ participation in chair management which justify the need for their active involvement into managerial processes at the chair. The difference between this research and other works on the topic is that it offers and justifies measures aimed at effective formation, implementation and development of lecturers’ potential by means of increasing the level of their involvement into university management processes.

Need and possibilities of transition from the market of educational programs to the market of qualifications on the basis of the analysis and synthesis of normative legal acts of Russia are proved in article. Formation of modern national system of qualifications induces educational institutions to increase efficiency of education on the basis of the preserving processes of vocational training of qualified personnel for the benefit of social progress, intense response to behavior of the public and non-state institutions in the direction of satisfaction of market need for work. Development of a harmonious and consistent control system which will provide the constant growth of competitiveness of teachers of the higher school has to become one of cardinal problems of reforming of a domestic education system. The higher education of Russia actually is on the way to new structure of staffing of national economy. In the scientific literature devoted to problems of innovative economy relevance questions, mechanisms of implementation of mutually beneficial cooperation of business structures and education are considered. However importance of competitiveness of teachers and need of her assessment is practically not discussed. This problem is considered obvious. At the same time, assessment of competitiveness of scientific and pedagogical employees of higher education institution remains out of this evidence. The purpose of this conceptual article is the analysis of very tectonics of independent assessment of qualification. Independent assessment of qualification is considered as the tool of assessment of competitiveness of human resources of the higher school. The term «assessment of competitiveness of teachers» was not widely adopted still in domestic practice owing to high methodological and methodical uncertainty. For methodical judgment of the mechanism of assessment of competitiveness of human resources of the higher school the primary value has knowledge of parameters of a status and characteristics of very tectonics of independent assessment of qualification. The very tectonics of independent assessment of qualification is integrated formations of components, correlation and which interaction causes validation of qualification of the persons claiming for implementation of a pedagogical type of work. In article the role of independent assessment of qualification as independent branch of business assessment of competitiveness of employees of the higher school is justified. In article the authoring interpretation and interpretation of social and economic contents, an entity of backbone components of very tectonics of independent assessment of qualification is given. The author’s research allows to develop understanding of need and a role of independent assessment of qualification as method of assessment of competitiveness of teachers. Independent assessment of qualification allows to operate with technologies of detection and assessment of anomaly of supply and demand of qualifications in the market of teaching work. Independent assessment of qualification allows to create connections of the higher education with labor market and civil society. Article is of interest to the educational organizations as allows to create methodical approach to assessment of competitive advantages of scientific and pedagogical workers. Need and possibilities of transition from the market of educational programs to the market of qualifications on the basis of the analysis and synthesis of normative legal acts of Russia are proved in article. Formation of modern national system of qualifications induces educational institutions to increase efficiency of education on the basis of the preserving processes of vocational training of qualified personnel for the benefit of social progress, intense response to behavior of the public and non-state institutions in the direction of satisfaction of market need for work. Development of a harmonious and consistent control system which will provide the constant growth of competitiveness of teachers of the higher school has to become one of cardinal problems of reforming of a domestic education system. The higher education of Russia actually is on the way to new structure of staffing of national economy. In the scientific literature devoted to problems of innovative economy relevance questions, mechanisms of implementation of mutually beneficial cooperation of business structures and education are considered. However importance of competitiveness of teachers and need of her assessment is practically not discussed. This problem is considered obvious. At the same time, assessment of competitiveness of scientific and pedagogical employees of higher education institution remains out of this evidence. The purpose of this conceptual article is the analysis of very tectonics of independent assessment of qualification. Independent assessment of qualification is considered as the tool of assessment of competitiveness of human resources of the higher school. The term «assessment of competitiveness of teachers» was not widely adopted still in domestic practice owing to high methodological and methodical uncertainty. For methodical judgment of the mechanism of assessment of competitiveness of human resources of the higher school the primary value has knowledge of parameters of a status and characteristics of very tectonics of independent assessment of qualification. The very tectonics of independent assessment of qualification is integrated formations of components, correlation and which interaction causes validation of qualification of the persons claiming for implementation of a pedagogical type of work. In article the role of independent assessment of qualification as independent branch of business assessment of competitiveness of employees of the higher school is justified. In article the authoring interpretation and interpretation of social and economic contents, an entity of backbone components of very tectonics of independent assessment of qualification is given. The author’s research allows to develop understanding of need and a role of independent assessment of qualification as method of assessment of competitiveness of teachers. Independent assessment of qualification allows to operate with technologies of detection and assessment of anomaly of supply and demand of qualifications in the market of teaching work. Independent assessment of qualification allows to create connections of the higher education with labor market and civil society. Article is of interest to the educational organizations as allows to create methodical approach to assessment of competitive advantages of scientific and pedagogical workers.

The case presented in the article describes the experience of organizing and functioning of initiative groups from Petrozavodsk State University conducting research in the field of public and administrative communication. This experience was accompanied with expert activities and organizing dialogue involving university representatives and public and administrative institutions of the region in the context of tasks determined by the status of pillar university. The aim of the article is to define possible forms of university community influence on forming public agenda in the region in the context of pillar university development asks based on the description of social involvement parameters of university initiative groups created in 2015-2017. Because of obtaining the status of pillar university in 2017 PetSU focused the main vector of university development on solving the tasks of forming innovation infrastructure and organizational design which suggests implementation of renewed mission and strengthening the social role of the university in the region. Alongside with actualization of university interaction with main stakeholders ensuring stable regional development existing practices of university public participation in intersectoral interaction system also play an important role. Many of them result from implementing strategic development program «University complex of PetSU in academic and educational space of European North: innovation development strategy» (2012-2016 гг.). Since 2015 within this program several initiative projects on studying public and administrative interaction in Republic of Kareliya were conducted. Peculiar features of organizing and implementing these projects are analyzed in this article. The results of project activities were used as the basis for forming overall interaction system for initiative groups’ members and external partners, authorities and republic administration, public consulting structures and public organizations. Practical use of experience in organizing interdisciplinary teams and results of initiative projects are reviewed in the discourse of university third mission. The forms of social involvement presented in this case can be used in constructing interaction between pillar university with main actors participating in the process of regional development management. Project materials are analyzed with the help of such methods as event - analysis, comparison, structural and functional analysis in the framework of «case-study» research strategy. Case review is preceded by literature review on the topic of university social role. Original nature of this article is in the analysis of pillar university participation in the system of communication between public and administration. Use of experience allowing for defining social partnership patterns in the process of forming regional agenda demonstrates opportunities which are initially seen in intersectoral dialogue at the local level in the context of solving individual tasks. Multiplication of interaction cases gives cumulative effect which reveals new opportunities of university influence on the state of regional public sphere. Presented information can have practical implementation in renewing forms of social involvement as an integral part of the third mission. Generalization of existing social partnership practices is important for organizing interaction with regional society on a higher level of pillar university development management.

The article presents main ideas of forming competence - based practice - oriented educational program. Peculiar features of this method is in broad use of actualized information from open Internet sources. Special algorithms for automated search and formation of professions and employers lists based on analysis of professional standards were developed. This method is universal and can be applied to designing and altering educational programs at the universities. In the process of implementing algorithms for searching, processing and selecting information authors formed lists of professional standards for professional activity types, professions according to the Russian classificatory of professions for workers and office workers, employers organizations and position types which can be useful for university employment centers, as well as teaching and methodic departments and educational institutions managers in organizing their everyday activities. Conducted analysis of vacancies presented by employers from the obtained list allowed for forming the list of requirements (competencies) for potential employees. Research results formed the basis of designing bachelor program in the specialization «Mechatronics and robotics», practical orientation of which should facilitate employment of Petrozavodsk State University graduates at the companies situated in Karelia Republic and North - Western Federal District and meet personnel needs of these companies by means of providing them with specialists with required competencies.

The main aim of the presented research article is to find solution to existing problems in the field of interaction between university and industry. This aim is achieved by solving the following tasks: 1) analysis of the situation in the field of interaction between the university and business/industry 2) focusing attention on the need for cooperation between universities and industry and identifying key barriers to their interaction 3) looking into the formats of interaction between the universities and business/industry 4) formulating suggestions on improving new generation of «triple helix» - «screw spiral» and its influence on the cooperation between university and business/industry. The article is aimed at providing grounds for the need for new model of interaction between universities and industry based on statistical and historical data. Gathering analytical data on the current state of affairs in the field of research and academic potential allowed for forming stable opinion concerning the need for changing the model of interaction between universities and industry. This monitoring allowed for identifying weak points and focusing attention on the development of interaction between key actors suggests a new model which would meet modern requirements. The aim of this article can be reached by conducting overall analysis of existing literature, summing up necessary knowledge on interaction between universities and industrial sector; analysis of the need for interaction, key barriers and formats of interacting with the aim of formulating suggestions which would facilitate cooperation and identify the most effective patterns of partnership. This analysis covers the following documents: information and analytical sources, preceding research, international research organizations data, historical documents. The results of the research article prove the relevance of transforming the concept of a four-stage spiral into a new model of interaction between universities and industrial sector based on conducted analysis of relationship development between industry and universities, barriers in conducting partnership activities and the need for such cooperation, as well as the analysis of three-stage and four-stage spirals. The article can serve as an analytical material for university executives willing to enhance cooperation with industry according to regional requirements, as well as understand the situation in this sphere and create favorable environment for developing partner relations (for example, in the entrepreneurial sphere). Key limitation for this research is the inability to present the results of screw spiral design for Russian universities because of insufficient level of completeness of the model. This research should be continued in the field of completing screw spiral and is implementation and development in the field of university and industry interaction. The results of the research presented in this article can be useful for industrial sector development in the regions by means of creating university-industry interaction and considering possible barriers and priority development sphere. This article might be particularly interesting for the universities that have necessary resources (material, intellectual, technical) and whose main aim is to establish university as the driver of territory development for the region where they are situated. Originality of the article is in detailed analysis of interaction between universities and industry, formulating the need for such partnership, reviewing key barriers and ways of possible cooperation establishment. The topic presented has not yet been sufficiently analyzed so far; this fact makes the research particularly relevant.

The article belongs to the category of cases, and is aimed at investigating the characteristics of graduates’ employment immediately after university as well as attempting to understand how their starting professional trajectories results reflect the higher education quality. The authors emphasize the importance of studying the relationship between labour market and higher education system through feedback mechanisms with university graduates six month later after university in terms of scientific research (identifying the features of graduates’ educational and professional trajectories development) and in terms of practical implications (the effectiveness of investing in high-skilled specialties reproduction, their training and preparation for the regional labour market). The Ural Federal University experience in measuring the educational environment quality (taking into account the research design) allows for comparing the graduate sociological survey outcomes (responses over a wide range of parameters was more than 30 % output of graduates 2017) and university administrative database (the parameters of academic achievements, education levels, educational directions). In addition an overview of the employment indicators and starting salaries of the Alumni Employment Monitoring is presented, which indicates the differentiation of the characteristics of starting professional trajectories by the bachelor’s and master’s educational level of the university graduates of 2014 and 2015. Analysis of these data also shows that UrFU is the largest university in the region for young professionals’ production (10 % of the total graduates’ number in the Urals Federal District). Research results demonstrate contribution to the young specialists training for region needs: 69 % of bachelor’s degree graduates 2017 and 79 % of master’s degree graduates got the job in the region. The case of the Ural Federal University helps to extend he view of the university contribution to the young professionals training quality at different educational levels. Research results show that graduates expect their professional and career trajectories development from investments in higher education, however, master’s degree graduates in starting professional trajectories can count only on the salary premium in the amount of 8 %. The key conclusion of the study is as follows: combining work and study allows graduates to integrate into the labour market more quickly, but those who continue educational trajectories in the masters and post-graduate educational program, more often find a main specialty job. On average 83 % of master’s degree graduates get a job similar to specialization obtained during higher education. To satisfy the needs of the regional labor market in highly qualified specialists and forecast their output, it is necessary to form the value orientations of talented undergraduate students who were able to identify their natural aptitudes to the professional activity in which they were getting a bachelor’s degree in higher education, and consequently involve prospective students into master’s educational programs.

The article looks into relevant problems of interaction between enterprises and universities in the Russian regions. The importance of studying such problems is based on a set of discrepancies between social and economic conditions and managerial models defining the character and dynamics of network interactions between companies and Russian universities. The article is based on the analysis of the results of sociological research project «Forming a Non-Linear Model of the Russian Higher Education in the Region in the Context of Economic and Social Instability». Based on the empirical sociological database of Sverdlovsk region authors aim at evaluating interaction of existing universities with enterprises -drivers of regional economy considering stability, efficacy and development opportunities of existing practices in the macro-region. Theoretical importance of the research is in the use of institutional approach to the analysis of the connection between enterprises and higher education, reviewing institutional functions of interaction between regional enterprises and universities (functions of social, economic, innovational and sociocultural development, reproduction and regulation of professional/personnel structure) The article presents the results of an expert poll. Respondents included executives, top - managers, vice - directors of the leading regional enterprises functioning in five administrative districts (N=124). Expert poll covered no less than 90 % of enterprises supporting regional labor market and being main employers in all administrative districts of Mid-Urals. The novelty of the research is in the analysis of modern rends, forms and areas of interaction between universities and regional enterprises, structural differences of existing practices of their cooperation, critical evaluation of perspectives and prerequisites of its effective development. Analysis of expert opinions allowed for making several conclusions: 1) The most effective and efficient cooperation practices between universities and enterprises of Sverdlovsk region are traditional forms where enterprises act as employers. 2) Enterprises and universities do not see each other as innovative development factor and are not ready for mutual cooperation as a way of forming regional innovative environment. Experts do not expect serious changes in integration processes uniting education, science and manufacturing in the macro-region (nearest and remote perspective). 3) Real employment sector in major industrial region represented by enterprises management does not see universities as a factor of social and cultural development of professional business - community and there is no context for social development of the territory. 4) A peculiar feature of Sverdlovsk region enterprises management culture is its unpreparedness to establish horizontal links with universities and lack of understanding which resources can be exchanged during such interaction right now. It does not want to see universities in a functional role of knowledge and innovation practices bearer and a full - scale participant of manufacturing process. Practical importance of the process is defined by the fact that we get an understanding of real partnership between higher education and business in industrial Russian region complemented with the analysis of expert solutions aimed at creating environment for successful development of network interaction between universities and enterprises as key stakeholders in the regional space. Conclusions made during the research can be applied to other old industrial regions of the country.