Being part of the international research project "The Role of Universities in the Transformation of Societies" I propose to combine elements of institutional, national and thematic case study.
 

Elements of thematic case study (July - August 2002):

• the effects of globalisation on the social role of the university

As a part of the national case study I would like to examine (September - mid November 2002):

• historical, social and political context (‘removing the old’)
• historical, social and political context (‘building the new’) and
• characteristics of the higher education system in both periods.

Methodology: literature review.
 

Elements of the institutional case study (mid November - mid February 2003):

I will examine changes within universities (in my case - within MGIMO in particular) and university systems in each of the following respects:

(i) programme and curriculum changes;
(ii) changes in the composition of students;
(iii) changes in research policies and funding;
(iv) changes in governance and decision-making.

Institutional aspects of changes (within MGOMO in particular) are connected with the global changes, understanding of relations between universities and society in historical perspective.
 
 

I will pay attention to some wider historical and political contexts

•  Since contemporary events will need to be set within those of recent history I propose to give considerable attention to the role played by universities in the period of ‘removing the old’ (and the roles played by universities in the ‘old order)’.

Methodology: literature review, public documents analysis.
 

Analysis of reforms in education in Russia (March -  June 2002).

The proposed in Russia reforms of educational system is driven by both external and internal factors. I would like to understand how international context affects educational reforms and what are the internal forces, influence of globalisation on educational processes, what is going to be unchanged.

I intend to analyse both the debates over the reforms and the contents of the reforms and evolution of official position as well.
 

I intend to lluminate the normative issue of what the role of MGIMO (in particular) and universities (in general) should be in social transformations (mid February-March 2003).

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