The Next Step in Reforming Russia’s Higher Education: Creating National Research Universities

IMGXYZ1452IMGZYXRussian President Medvedev recently launched a pilot program to create national research universities across Russia as part of a larger national effort to modernize Russia’s educational system. Sergei Lebedev from the Russian Ministry of Education and Science spoke at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington, D.C. about the creation of a new type of university and emphasized new opportunities for cooperation with American universities on many levels, including student, faculty, and management exchanges.

• The goal of this project is to enhance the quality of Russia’s higher education and research, create opportunities for technological advancements, and boost Russia’s economic growth. 


• A nationwide competition resulted in the selection of twelve universities that received the status of National Research University. Two more, Moscow State and St.Petersburg State Universities, became “special status” universities, which under federal government budgeting may implement higher professional and post-graduate educational programs based on independently determined educational standards. In addition, President Medvedev signed a law to create the National Nuclear Research University and the National Research Technological University, in order to advance study and training in the areas of science, technology, and engineering.


• Each selected university will receive state funding of approximately R 3,5 billion (or approximately USD 110 million) within 5 years, essentially doubling their budgets. At the same time, these universities must secure an additional 20 percent of the amount either from their own funds or local business communities. Fifty to sixty percent of the total funding must be spent on purchasing equipment and tools to establish several state-of-art laboratories in each university. Most of the remaining money will be used to train management, researchers, and instructors.


• To ensure that the money is not wasted, funding will be delivered in tranches, with new funding dependent on results. Among the key indicators are: the promotion of younger researchers and instructors, development of new technology and new pedagogical methods, publications in internationally recognized journals, and the transfer of university intellectual property to the market. The status of national research university can be revoked if a university does not meet established standards.

Timothy E. O’Conner from the National University of Science and Technology in Moscow also spoke at the panel. He stated that this project demonstrates that Russia is looking in new directions to enhance its educational system. He emphasized that the goal of the project should not be merely to purchase more equipment, but to establish substantial faculty development programs, including exchanges of administrators at the working level. He also noted that the American approach to development of intellectual property and its commercialization could be very effective for Russia. In his opinion, the establishment of “organic connections” between universities of both countries involving learning, communications, and technology exchange are crucial. He concluded his remarks by saying that a great challenge lies ahead for the Russian Federation to modernize, and that Russia is very interested in integrating not only into the world economy, but into a greater world society.

Mark Pomar, President and CEO of the U.S.-Russia Foundation, summarized the prospects for mutual U.S.-Russia benefits from the project, emphasizing that the creation of research universities in Russia would create opportunities for new partnerships with US universities through exchange programs. The Foundation would be interested in promoting educational and management exchange programs, and working with an established NGO or consortium of NGOs, as well as with universities. It sees its role as supporting a project that is Russian driven and Russian funded where the Russian universities will be able to adapt those practices that are most appropriate for their system of higher education.