Irkutsk,
Russia
The
Project Objectives.
The
transformation of all fields of social life taking place in Russia today
put the question about possible alternatives of this transformation and
its consequences. Russia, despite all changes during the past 15 years
yet is not a democratic country in strong sense of this word. As
in the past, an authoritarian and nationalistic tendencies are rather influential
here; so far, there is a kind of ideological vacuum, that could be filled
with extreme right (or left) wing/ideology. That is why the creation
of the sustainable basis of democratic consciousness is, actually, one
of the most important tasks in today’s Russian society. “Each real democracy
is based on the appropriate tradition”, with the words of Edward Shils,
- that is why an elaboration of such a tradition should be an objective
of each day andeach social institute.
In
this process the role of University is hard to underestimate. A University
is a space where the second socialization of young people is taking
place. Just here, through the significant others the background
of this or that mentality and ideology is being created. At the same time,
Universities always were the placeof
realization of youth’s social activity. In a circumstances of a radical
social changes, of transformation from authoritarian to democratic framework
the role of Universities rises incredibly. What is more, while a state
itself is not sure about any particular ideological system, while moral
and ethic norms become more and more relative (or are eliminated at all),
just Universities should accomplish a function ofsignificant
agent of democratic socialization. I believe it could and should be
accomplished through the democratic oriented professors and teachers, and
it, undoubtedly, ought to be an official policy of the management of University.
In this connection there is a necessity of conscious and oriented policy
in
and
around
University
towards elaboration and incorporation of ideas of a real democratic character.
The youth is indeed tomorrow of country, and it is rather important
what kind of ideas the young people will bring with them in this tomorrow.
Certain sort of ideas will create certain sort of country.
In
this light, the main goals of the project are subdivided into the two units:
I.Studying of the external and internal circumstances of University in a transition society.
(i)changing
culture: the production and dissemination of ideas, exerting influence
upon the system of Higher Education.
(ii)program
and curriculum changes;
(iii)changes
in the composition of students;
(iv)changes
in the composition of staff;
(v)changes
in the destinations of graduates;
(vi)development
of or changes in ‘outreach’ activities;
(vii)changes
in research policies and funding;
(viii)changes
in governance and decision-making
(ix)an
elaboration of a scheme of suggestions regarding innovations and
reforms
in the sphere of Higer Education in the Irkutsk region
II.Studying
of the transformative incentives.
(i)changes
taking place in ‘old’ universities; (ii)the
creation of ‘new’ universities; (iii)the
role of ‘private’ or ‘transnational’ institutions; (iv)the
role of non-university institutions and sectors; (v)the
role of quality assurance; (vi)the
role of funding policies of the state and the extent of the diversification
of funding sources; (vii)the
extent, contents and implementation of new legislation.
The
results of the project will
be applied in practice as a number of elaborated corrections and innovations
in the sphere of public policy on Higher Education in Irkutsk region. I
intend to utilize these innovations in a strong collaboration with the
management of Universities, government officials, and non-governmental
organizations. It is planned that as the first base for research itself
and then for innovation testing leading in East Siberia Irkutsk State University
(12000 students), will be used. The ultimate goal of the given project
is to draft appropriate legislation, write a research and policy paper
in coordination with mentors to be presented to Irkutsk State University,
the Board of Rectors of the Irkutsk Region Universities, and the Department
of Higher Education and Science of the Government of Irkutsk. PROJECT
TIMETABLE The timetable of the given project
is determined by the main research goals, and manifested as following:
The
first stage (1st
– 3rd quarters of 2002)