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University Management: Practice and Analysis

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No 5 (2015)

EDITOR’S COLUMN

UNIVERSITY SOCIAL MISSION

106-114 445
Abstract
The author not only presents the experience of organizing professional orientation activities at Petrozavodsk State University but also attempts at describing the technology of managing change process in this area of university life and its practical implementation. The aim of the article is to identify methods of improving education quality at a "ground" level of working with future students, define challenges and perspectives for university managerial activities in the field of early professional orientation of trainees. The article looks into real examples of planning and introducing changes in the content and form of professional orientation. In the beginning of the article the author presents general characteristic of existing practices of interaction between universities and prospective students and demonstrates that basically their efforts are aimed at information and advertising activities and rendering paid services in the field of pre university training for future students. But such approach does not fully meet the requirements of improving student quality. The authors demonstrate that Petrozavodsk State University effectively solves this task by means of merging professional orientation and pre university training into a single process. Project methodology and in professional orientation at the university is shown. A lot of attention in the arti- cle is paid to developing content and forms of university and school interaction. The author provides characteristics of main factors and problems related to organizing enrollment process that influence student enrollment results and quality. The need for sociological research into quality contents of future students and their motivation as the basic instrument for designing managerial measures and professional orientation activities analysis for further managerial decisions is supported. The article also looks into university communication in the educational environment and describes forms of interaction between university and school, university and teacher community, university and supplementary education institutions. The authors analyses introducing network interaction forms into the process of implementing supplementary educational programs. The author believes that desire to improve current end future performance of students can be a defining motive in the partnership between university and school. The scope of the article is broad enough: besides describing experience of organizing professional orientation activities the author presents university management practice using the example of organizing school and student unions. The article demonstrates managerial activities taken by the university in order to form sustainable interest among students to engineering specializations and forming necessary competencies for working in hi tech industries. In the conclusion the author states that professional orientation activities of the university present a complex multifac-tor process requiring modern university management methods.
115-122 529
Abstract
This case type article is devoted to the analysis of university discipline management system on the basis of program target approach on the example of PSU. The article presents examples of several managerial solutions on devel- oping trainees' activities: science, innovation, professional competencies, culture and creativity, sport and healthy life, volunteering and social design, historic and patriotic development, cross-cultural dialogue, student information resources, international cooperation, social standards and student rights. The article contains results of analysis on efficacy of program target approach in organizing discipline control at PSU during five years.

RESEARCH AND INNOVATION MANAGEMENT

30-38 493
Abstract
The article analyzes the experience of creating the institute s in interdisciplinary studies (ICMI). They were established in PetrSU within the framework of realization of Program of strategic development of the University for 2012-2016. ICMI became the organizational form, which allowed to achieve an organic combination of classical organizational structure of the University innovative cluster approach. They provided organizational, material, financial and personnel conditions for effective research work. New organizational forms of scientific activity contribute to the increase of publication activity, success in attracting additional sources of research funding, the successful implementation of the state assignment of the Ministry of education and science in the sphere of scientific activity. ICMI allowed for concentrating available resources on the most promising, interdisciplinary research, addressing both fundamental and applied scientific problems, allowing the University to strengthen its position as one of the leading research centers of the European North of Russia and northwestern Federal district. Institutes that integrated interdis ciplinary research are considered in the article as an innovative method of management of scientific-research work at the University. This experience can be useful for modelling the development of science at other universities in Russia.
39-44 528
Abstract
In order to solve tasks related to planning and evaluating research results as well as personnel training for such research within the framework of priority academic, technical and technological development areas in the Russian Federation we need tools allowing for defining whether thesis research falls under one of priority areas or not. Analysis of data from Dissertation Councils reports demonstrates that this data cannot be used for evaluating thesis research input into priority areas. We suggest two stage method of automated solution for the stated problem using the structure of information materials accompanying thesis research as well as text classification methods. In order to im- plement this approach we built matrices demonstrating correlation between research specializations and priority areas and also thesaurus that contains morphemes for each priority area characterizing research topics. We used sample thesis collection to test this method and got good results. Using this method for five priority areas we discovered that about 8 % of thesis research conducted during the last four years fall under one of five priority areas. This method can be a useful tool for both Dissertation Councils created at educational and research institutions and academic funds supporting priority areas research, as well as for administrative bodies working in educational and economic management areas when making decisions concerning postgraduate enrollment numbers.
45-59 507
Abstract
The article describes the experience of organizing university innovation activities management by demonstrating implemented managerial approaches and technologies, practice of using project and innovation management on the example of Petrozavodsk State University. The aim of the article is to sys-temize factors influencing innovation complex development, creation of smaller enterprises under university umbrella, development of interaction with industrial companies; analyze management methods aimed at forming innovation chains for university products commercialization, development of full scale academic and technical infrastructure and innovative environment. 2010s witnessed strengthening competition between Russian universities for obtaining budget financing, Russian and international grants and projects. Innovation and production activities became the basis for university sustainable development for those structures that saw themselves as entrepreneurial universities. In this context universities wishing to solve practical development problems need to implement new managerial approaches and solutions, diversify financing sources based on obtaining and applying new knowledge and technologies, innovation development. Petrozavodsk State University also faced the challenges of forming innovation management system that would help university not only maintain stable leading positions but also become more competitive in the modern context. The article describes managerial approaches of PSU to solv­ing innovation activities development problems by means of priority trends cluster differentiation, modern project and an­alytical information technologies in management. Research and production activities are seen as management object con­sisting of multiple components and correlation of its aims with university strategic objectives. The article provides examples of theoretical description of university innovation potential man­agement models, compares different approaches to innovation activity as a manageable system, looks into management objects and subjects in university innovation system. Using PSU example the author shows the scheme of inter­action between management subjects and objects in innovation system and points out different aspects of innovation manage­ment technologies use. Particular attention is paid to the con­cept of forming educational academic and innovation clusters. There are examples of innovation chains involving Russian and foreign partners. Separate chapters are devoted to practical aspects of using project oriented and informational and analytical approaches in research and production activities management. Matrix structure of development program management used at PSU is analyzed. In order to analyze the efficacy of project ap­proach efficacy the author suggests structural scheme of innova-tionprograms and projects system. The article contains examples of complex use of information systems, electronic educational re­sources, web resources for innovation and production activities. The article identifies problems influencing university inno­vation complex development and recommends ways of solving these problems. The results of innovation and production ac­tivities management methods used at PSU are demonstrates. The importance of the article is that the Russian univer­sities can look at the results of PSU in the field of innovation system effective development in the context of "innovative en­trepreneurial" university, constantly changing innovation en­vironment and increasing competition between the Russian universities.

INFORMATIVE ENVIRONMENT OF THE UNIVERSITY

95-105 871
Abstract
The article "PetrSU Information Analytical Integrated System (IAIS): approaches, solutions, development trends" is a review of the approaches, software and technology solutions and functionality of IAIS as a university management system. The goal of the article is to systematize the large amount of information about PetrSU IAIS, highlight the advantages and the uniqueness of the original approaches to projecting and of the ready solutions of this system in comparison with the most wide-spread automated systems of management of higher educational institutions. To achieve the goal, the authors justify the topicality of the development of the management information system against the background of the current trends in educational system development and provide the review of the most wide-spread systems available in the market. Based on the brief analysis of the maj or selection criteria, they justify the choice of PetrSU and the reasons, why the university embarked on the independent development of the information analytical system considering the previous experience, started with the ASU VUZ (Automated System of Management of the Higher Educational Institution). The article contains the description of the functions of PetrSU IAIS, interaction of the main components and the whole architecture. The results of the original research that lead to the creation of the unique and special approaches to the data basis development are presented. Besides, the article dwells upon the list of unregulated tasks that are implemented only in PetrSU IAIS. Another advantage of PetrSU IAIS presented in the article is integrability of IAIS and other significant information systems of PetrSU, such as official website, educational portal, e-library and others. The integration has been possible due to the fact, that initially IAIS was developed with the consideration of major requirements to the management information systems, among which the top priority were the following: integrability (both on the level of data bases and on the level of business processes); industry specific approach (with all the variety and expansion of the activity, educational process being the leading one); flexibility and customizability (adaptability) to the peculiarity of the modern university development, its business processes and organizational structure. It's important to emphasize, that on top of input, upgrading and maintenance of a large amount of data by PetrSU administrative divisions, PetrSU IAIS implements the option of the distributed input of extended information by faculty, staff and students within the IAIS portal environment. The article allows Russian universities to learn the results of the long-term research and practical work of Petrozavodsk State University in the area of creation and development of the university management information system on the basis of its unique approaches and solutions while utilizing the options of Oracle products. It is crucial, that the availability of such a system in the university allowed not only to automate the major business processes, increase the quality of information support to administrative decision-making, but also to provide the data topicality, access and reliability. This, in its turn, has eased the solution of the important task of information openness and availability of the topical and regularly updated information to the maj or stakeholders of the educational process and external world.

MANAGING EDUCATIONAL PROCESS

60-68 391
Abstract
Because of higher education system reform there is an active ongoing discussion concerning different aspects of correlation between training system and certification system for scientific and scientific pedagogical personnel. This article presents methods of evaluating the correlation between these systems from the point of view of prognosticated need for highly qualified scientific personnel. The method is based on comparing the results of prognosticated need for highly qualified scientific personnel and actual enrollment numbers for post graduate courses. Prognostication need is calculated on the basis of annual additional need caused by natural age related personnel rotation. Rotation coefficient (total number of personnel finishing their labor activities) is given for different branches of science and basically is about 0,032 for candidates and 0,052 for doctors of sciences. Control numbers for post graduate enrollment calculation is done considering part time post graduate courses and post graduate courses efficacy indicators (enrollment and graduating with successfully defended thesis during 4 years after completing the course) also for different branches of science. Comparative analysis of target enrollment numbers necessary for covering annual additional need and actual enrollment in 2014 demonstrated that at current level of post graduate courses efficacy it would take 8300 more postgraduate students to provide required number of highly qualified scientific personnel for prognosticated need. We must also mention that current enrollment does not cover the need for highly qualified scientific personnel in specializations falling under priority development trends of technology and science in the Russian Pederation. Among the solutions to altering current imbalance the most perspective, but also the most difficult one is formulation of measures on upgrading post graduate courses performance efficacy. The article demonstrates minimal postgraduate courses performance efficacy numbers required for covering annual additional need for highly qualified scientific personnel.
69-79 495
Abstract
The article discusses the experience of higher education institution management from the perspective of improving the quality of the educational process through the formation of an integrated assessment system of learning outcomes. Being a case study, the article reveals the stages of designing the system on the example of master's program with major "Computer Science and Engineering", implemented at Petrozavodsk State University. The aim of the article is to describe the stages of designing a flexible system of educational process quality con­trol in particular of the learning outcomes assessment system that meets the basic requirements of the Federal State Educa­tion Standard (FSES). The methodological basis of this work is the set of standards of a worldwide CDIO initiative. Despite the standards' commitment to the reform of engineering edu­cation, it is shown that their criteria do not contradict the new generation requirements of the FSES for all majors and allow forbuilding a complete system of learning outcomes assessment based on self-evaluation of university educational programs by main stakeholders: students, teachers, employers, graduates. The process of designing the system of learning outcomes assessment inevitably raises some issues related to the lack of methodological recommendations and practical experience of the majority of teachers, complexity of the process and every­one's high responsibility for the result. There were some prob­lems with assessment tools of learning outcomes on the compe­tence approach in the implementation of educational programs (EP), with the assessment of learning outcomes during the na­tional accreditation and mechanisms of consideration of pub­lic and professional-public educational programs evaluation. According to the authors, it is necessary to develop recom­mendations for the compilation of local regulations for assess­ing the quality of educational programs in terms of common approaches to the definition of the stages of formation, proce­dures, indexes, forms and methods, the scale of evaluation of assessment tools complex. The article formulates practical recommendations on the description of the stages of designing the educational programs evaluation system: definition of evaluation objectives, evalu­ation criteria (indicators); presentation form of the results of achieving the objectives for the program as a whole, as well as for each of the disciplines of the curriculum; the choice of ef­fective methods of learning evaluation, corresponding to dif­ferent categories of educational outcomes. The article's practical results are shown on the example of learning outcomes assessment of educational program "Com­puter Science and Engineering" (Master). The value of this paper is a detailed description of experi­ence in the development and implementation of the learning outcomes assessment system, as well as of experience in man­aging such a system. The authors pay attention to the impor­tance of the annual self-evaluation of the university for the con­tinuous improvement of the educational process
80-94 459
Abstract
The article is written with the aim of actualizing continuous education development challenges at the universities and contains PSU experience in this area. The analysis uses systematic approach. Introduction to the article contains basis, prerequisites and conditions for continuous and lifelong learning at the universities. It presents approaches to "lifelong learning concept in national and international theory and practice, identifies horizontal, vertical and in depth development vectors of continuous education as potential areas for university development. The article describes indicative project approach to managing continuous education development, presents trends, criteria and performance indicators and gives a list of main projects for 2012 and 2015 aimed at developing lifelong learning. The article also describes measures for developing supplementary professional programs for regional personnel, professional development of regional teaching staff including area of lifelong learning. The article identifies the problem academic and methodic support of lifelong learning at the university using PSU experience. Conclusions present key requirements for developing lifelong learning at the university on the basis of project indicative approach identified during project work in 2012-2015. Results obtained can be used in the work of regional universities on creating and developing continuous education systems in the regions.

STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT AT THE UNIVERSITY

8-18 425
Abstract
At modern volatile times university heads need to work in such a way that would allow "thinking for perspective" using different analysis and prognostication tools. This article is devoted to the description of main principles and planning and control measures sequence as well as activities results control at PSU which is based on key performance indicators. Planning system covers all types of activities and hierarchic level of the university (planning overall university activities, structural unit planning, individual planning for each staff member). Thus allows for motivating staff members towards end results which is directly related to material stimulation and career growth. The right choice of key performance indicator (KPI) is one of the main tasks that lead to good results. This article presents detailed description of main KPIs depending on their source, consequence scope, period of influence on the result, changes options related to the degree of achievability. We see that activities of several departments are mainly evaluated by external environment in the form of ratings and monitoring whereas other departments present KPI which are manly internal. The article contains examples of such departments and their KPIs as well as the roadmap of measures for achieving required KPI level. During the period of PSU activity planning and control system functioning (since 2012) there have been several positive trends (seven out of seven possible efficacy monitoring criteria according to Ministry for Education and Science monitoring). University has also improved its positions in main ratings (39th place in Russian and 5th place in the North western Federal area according to national university rating for 2014/2015). We identified problems that can be encountered, particularly in the field of human factor. The value of this work is related to the fact that it shows PSU experience in creating planning system, KPI choice and university activities control.
19-29 507
Abstract
The necessity of solving national security issues, economic and other strategic goals in the Arctic zone which are considerably important for Russia, raises high demand for quality and quantity of the Arctic human resources. The article deals with Russian Arctic Universities' potential capacity in terms of both Arctic macroregion strategic priority development and recruitment needs. The research is based upon comparative predicted values analysis for the recruitment needs calculated in terms of the Arctic priorities development and university and university remote branches graduates. Based upon that recruitment needs coverage is being evaluated by means of university graduates as a whole and according to different specializations. Graduates' migration influence upon regional recruitment needs is also considered. The importance of interregional со operation with the areas adjacent to the Arc- tic zone in terms of staffing needs at the example of the Karelia Republic is shown. Based on the research results recruitment needs disproportion in terms of graduates' quality and quantity for the Arctic priorities development was outlined. Conclusions and recommendations for universities and authorities demonstrate some specific directions for overcoming structural disproportion in providing Arctic region with highly qualifies staff. Issues of demand for university graduates, their employ-ability in a labor market have been reflected in the journal several times. However, university potential analysis in terms of recruitment needs for the Russian Arctic Zone priority developments is introduced for the first time ever. The research is based upon documents related to Russian Arctic Zone strategic development, state statistical reports in economics, labor market and higher education system, university graduates employability data from the Pension Fund, Ro-sobrnadzor, and educational organizations.


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ISSN 1999-6640 (Print)
ISSN 1999-6659 (Online)