When an applicant is faced with the question of choosing an educational institution that can meet the educational needs of a future student, there is often a doubt about which university is better - an institute or a university. And is there a fundamental difference?

An institute is a specialized educational institution where, just like at a university, you can study under higher education programs. Most often, institutions are narrow-profile, i.e. carry out professional training of specialists for a particular industry - economics, law, psychology, medicine, construction, culture, management, as well as in the specialties of related industries. This is the main and main difference of this type of university.

At the institute, you can complete a bachelor's program or enter a master's program, as well as become a graduate student. In addition, colleges, pre-university training centers, student centers can operate at institutes. Institutes can exist both on their own and carry out their activities at universities, being its integral part or subdivision.

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The concept of university

In turn, the university is an earlier version of the educational institution: historically, universities have a longer existence as organizations that provide fundamental education. The first "universal" educational institutions appeared in the 9th century and were available only to the elite, but today their number has grown many times, allowing them to provide professional training to all applicants applying for a university education.

A modern university is an educational organization of higher education that provides training for specialists in a variety of fundamental and applied sciences. The number of faculties at the university can usually be at least 7, and the specialties themselves can be many times more.

In an educational institution of this type, you can get training in a wide variety of areas, often in professional activities that are not related to each other, be it marketing, law, linguistics, design, psychology, banking, management, information technology. This is the universality of the educational institution called "university".

The main points of difference between the institute and the university

Despite the fact that any educational institution is required to have its own charter, as well as a state license and accreditation confirming the right to conduct educational activities, an institute and a university have differences established at the legislative level. The main criteria by which the types of educational institutions differ are the number of departments and areas of training, the percentage of graduate students in relation to the number of students, the period of existence of the university, the range of teaching formats, the level of education of the teaching staff itself, the attitude of the educational institution to innovation, the amount of the amount allocated to the educational research funding organization. In total, there are more than a dozen such criteria, but the most important of them, which primarily affect the status of a university, are listed above.

At the same time, there are common points. Both institute and university:

Provide training for students in undergraduate, graduate, postgraduate programs;

Engaged in professional retraining of personnel;

Conduct training courses.

Structural educational differences

It should be noted that the status of an educational institution is determined by law and is confirmed once every five years by a special attestation commission of Rosobrnadzor. The lowest level in the hierarchy of educational institutions is occupied by the institute, while the university is the pinnacle of development of any university. An educational organization of higher education has the right to be called a university if:

For 4 of its graduate students, there are no more than a hundred students studying;

At least a quarter of graduate students completed their postgraduate studies with a Ph.D. degree within a period not later than one year from the date of graduation;

The university has a developed material and technical base for the implementation of both research and scientific and practical activities in at least 5 professional industries and scientific areas, and also makes certain expenses to finance these studies;

The university actively introduces the latest educational methods and innovative technologies, improves the educational process and modernizes educational programs;

The educational institution has at least 7 diverse areas of training.

In turn, an institution is considered an educational institution that:

Has at least 2 postgraduate students per 100 students pursuing higher education at other levels;

Has at least 30 full-time teachers (for universities under 5 years old);

Carries out scientific activities within the framework of his specialization;

Uses innovative educational methods within the established scope.

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Differences in the teaching staff between the university and the institute

There is another important criterion by which an educational institution belongs to one of the mentioned types. This is the teaching staff, or rather, its quality and quantity. As for institutions, the number of full-time teachers should be at least 30 - for educational institutions aged 3 to 5 years, and the number of candidates and doctors of science in percentage terms - at least 55%. The requirements for universities are stricter: teachers - holders of academic degrees - in an educational institution of this type should be at least 60%, and the number of teachers in the state in comparison with institutions increases significantly. This provides more serious training in the disciplines of the taught specialties and a greater depth of students' research work. In addition, thanks to stronger financial support at universities, it becomes possible to attract third-party experts to scientific developments and projects.

Thus, the characteristics of the educational institution from the point of view of the teaching staff are as follows:

Institute - subject to 55% of teachers with academic degrees;

University - subject to 60% or more teachers who have defended a candidate and / or doctoral dissertation.

Employment with a university or institute diploma

There are two fundamentally different opinions about whether the status of the educational institution in which a specialist undergoes professional training affects employment prospects. Some are convinced that there is no difference between an institute diploma and a university diploma, because the future employer is primarily interested in the work experience of a potential employee. However, this belief is more often held by applicants and graduates who do not aim to achieve special career heights. Indeed, the institute, just like the university, provides basic vocational training, training in one or another educational institution guarantees a diploma. At the same time, in a number of narrow areas of activity, education received at a particular institute specializing in the professional training of workers for this area can be valued. These can be cultural institutes, medical institutes, transport institutes, technical institutes.

At the same time, the university has great opportunities for quality education, among which, as mentioned above, are more modern material and technical base, stronger teaching staff, and opportunities to improve the educational level. That is why future students who are aimed at serious career growth, planning to achieve special achievements in their career, should strive to enter an educational institution with the status of a university. This is not only a matter of prestige and reputation, but also the prospect of deeper training and the possibility of obtaining more versatile and practically applicable knowledge from experts in the sciences taught.

Higher education is education obtained in the process of studying in higher educational institutions, as well as in special courses. Institute, university, academy - higher educational institutions that implement educational programs of higher professional education, as well as educational programs of postgraduate professional education. External studies - independent study of disciplines by students in accordance with the main educational program of higher professional education in the chosen area of ​​​​training (specialty) with subsequent current and final certification in a higher educational institution.

The levels of higher professional education are bachelor, graduate and master. Those who pass the final certification are assigned the appropriate qualification.

The structure of the system of higher professional education is a set of state educational standards and educational programs for higher and postgraduate education; having licenses of higher educational institutions and educational institutions of the corresponding additional higher professional education; scientific, design, industrial, clinical, preventive medical, pharmaceutical, cultural and educational enterprises, institutions and organizations that conduct scientific research and ensure the functioning and development of higher professional education; management bodies of higher professional education, as well as enterprises, institutions and organizations subordinate to them; public and state-public associations: creative unions, professional associations, scientific and methodological councils and other associations.

Correspondence form of higher education

This form of education, or a form of self-education, is regulated and implemented by the state on the basis of a single national educational standard. At the same time, students study twice during the academic year in the classrooms of the university at the installation sessions. They give lectures to students, give consultations, test results.

For part-time students, special teaching aids, teaching and control materials have been developed. There are very original methods for managing the process of self-study - part-time students spend 70% of their study time away from the teacher.

The development of correspondence education is seen as a peaceful revolution that can radically change the entire process of education and training, because it is it that is distinguished by the individualization of education, accessibility for various segments of the population, economic profitability, speed of mastering knowledge, and practical activities. Correspondence education was originally introduced only for those who could not regularly attend regular educational institutions. Correspondence students, like diaries, have a common curriculum for all, common deadlines for passing control tests Computerization brings distance education closer to distance education.

The structure of higher education in the Russian Federation

At present, in the structure of higher technical, for example, education in Russia, there are three stages, as shown in the figure.

higher professional education

The first stage is an incomplete higher education, the receipt of which allows you to continue education at the next levels.

The second stage with a term of study of at least 4 years provides for obtaining an academic degree of a bachelor of science in the chosen direction. All graduates of the bachelor of science degree can continue their education to obtain a qualification or degree corresponding to the third stage.

The third stage of higher education allows you to acquire the qualification of an engineer in a chosen specialty or a master's degree in science in a field.

Receiving education in accordance with the master's program, each student has the right to simultaneously, having completed the required tasks and the graduation project, receive an engineering diploma.

In other cases, studying for the purpose of obtaining a diploma in the presence of a diploma of third-level education is considered as obtaining a second higher education and can be carried out on a paid basis.

The versatility of ways to obtain higher technical education requires the development of clear norms and requirements for graduates and educational programs.

Higher education institution - (abbreviated university) is an educational institution that provides higher professional education.

There are public and private universities. The university may have branches and representative offices in other localities.

classic status

Today in Russia there are three types of higher educational institutions that correspond to a certain accreditation status, where you can get higher professional education: institute, academy and university.

For the status of “institute”, it is enough for an educational institution to train students in at least one specialty and conduct scientific work.

The university covers a wide range of specialties from different fields. For example, a technical university or a classical university. Research activities are carried out, as a rule, in several areas and constitute a significant part of the activities of the university. It is the universities in Russia that are the main centers for the development of scientific schools and directions.

The Academy differs from the university in a narrower range of specialties, as a rule, for one branch of the economy. For example, Samara State Agricultural Academy, Samara State Academy of Culture and Arts. The academy pays considerable attention to research activities in the profile direction.

Different university statuses imply completely different educational paths and opportunities. One and the same university, especially if it is very strong, can have several diverse statuses. And it depends on the students how reasonable they will be able to use the resources of the university when they receive an education. The current situation in the market of educational services is such that there are a lot of universities operating on it. Many of them are considered weak, they are waiting for a scheduled inspection and are afraid of closing. Also, the demographic situation is not the best: if the university does not recruit freshmen, it may cease to exist. Therefore, in order to survive, universities want to unite into something university-like. That is, simultaneously with such a spontaneous process, new statuses of universities arise.

Autonomous university

This status will be given to a significant part of Russian universities; it implies freedom and the right to dispose of extrabudgetary funds. Such universities will be managed by a supervisory board, one third consisting of representatives of the university itself, and the remaining two thirds - of employers, officials and the public. The rector will be equated with a hired manager. The idea is that at the output the employer should get a specialist who exactly meets the requirements of a modern enterprise.

academy

Stay tuned for updates from the Ministry of Education and Science: academies are about to be redefined.

Institute

So only 150 universities of regional significance will be called. Since, according to officials' forecasts, only the best universities will receive state funding in the future, the possibility of getting state-funded education at institutes remains in question. Although they say that the number of state-funded places in universities throughout the country as a whole will not decrease.

Master's University

This is a university specializing in the preparation of masters. The State University - Higher School of Economics is planning to become the first master's university in Russia.

Scientific and educational center

These are only two universities - Moscow State University and St. Petersburg State University. They have recently gained the right to develop their own curricula.

National Research University

This status was invented by the founder of Stanford University (USA), but in Russia they started talking about national research universities only in 2008. These are Moscow State University, St. Petersburg State University, Federal Technological University on the basis of MISiS, Federal Nuclear University on the basis of MEPhI. The entire list has not yet been formed. Rector of Moscow State University V. Sadovnichiy suggests that MSTU im. N. E. Bauman, and also the Polytechnic and Mining Universities of St. Petersburg. It is recommended to enter these universities for those who from the first year plan to be involved in serious scientific work, by the end of their studies at the university they want to become the author of several dozen scientific articles, and throughout their career they will conduct research that is important for Russia. This will make it possible to create a strong scientific school (or a number of schools) of the university and its programs formed on a scientific basis.

Olympic University

The Russian International Olympic University (RIOU) will open in 2012 in Sochi. This information may be useful to current applicants already for the second higher education, if there are plans to become professionals in the field of international sports management.

A particularly valuable object of cultural heritage of the peoples of the Russian Federation

This status was originally invented not for universities, but nevertheless 10 of them have it. Three of them are in Moscow (Moscow State University, Moscow State Technical University named after Bauman, Russian State Agrarian University (MSHA named after K. A. Timiryazev), four are in St. Petersburg (St. Petersburg State University, Military Medical Academy named after Kirov, Russian State Pedagogical University named after A. I. Herzen , St. Petersburg State Mining Institute named after

G. V. Plekhanov), one - in Kazan (university) and two - in Tomsk (university and polytechnic university). The territory of such universities is under state protection. Here the walls help to learn.

Applied Bachelor

Introduced from the upcoming academic year on the basis of secondary educational institutions (see the heading "Desk of the journal" BULLETIN APPLICANT "). This is an option for those who, perhaps, do not have enough stars from the sky, but want to have a higher education, a serious profession and a high salary. Already in the very idea of ​​​​such a status of educational institutions lies the desire to offer a worthy answer to the request of industrial enterprises that need highly qualified employees. Which? Today, let's say, welders with knowledge of modern work technologies are in short supply.

University

Soon there will be about 450 less. And to the question of what a university is, there will be a new answer - a new one, since new rules are being developed that will distinguish between universities, academies and institutes. Those who are going to any university, the name of which is not given on these pages, should consider the option that you will enter, maybe at the university, but graduate - perhaps already from the institute.

Federal university

There are only two of them - Moscow State University and St. Petersburg State University. They may not be subject to state standards for education. They will be able to create enterprises, launch innovative projects - and these, if you think about the future, are unique jobs. Over time, about 55 universities will become federal, which will receive maximum state financial support.

Federal University

They were invented by President Medvedev - and news agencies have already called them new types of educational institutions. The idea is as follows: one federal university per federal district.

And each university "sticks together" from a classical university and, say, a technical one. The Siberian Federal University in Krasnoyarsk was created by combining four universities, Yuzhny in Rostov combined two. These are real universities, they already exist, you can go there. Next in line is the creation of the Far Eastern State University in Vladivostok. Voronezh, Yekaterinburg, Kazan and Kaliningrad would also like to create such universities. It is expected that in 2015 training programs will receive international accreditation, and diplomas of graduates - international recognition.

In the Russian Federation, there are the following main types of higher educational institutions: institutes, academies, universities. The differences between these types of universities are specified in Article 9 of the Federal Law on Higher and Postgraduate Professional Education.

Clarifying comments on this article are tabulated:

Universities

academies

Institutes

Provide training in a wide range of specialties

Implement training of specialists in certain areas, primarily scientific and scientific-pedagogical

Provide training for practitioners in specific areas

Conduct fundamental and applied scientific research in a wide range of sciences

Perform basic and applied research, however, in a specific area of ​​science or culture

Conduct fundamental and (OR) applied scientific research

They are leading scientific and methodological centers in their fields of activity

In the field of its activity, the academy should be the leading scientific and methodological center

They are not leading scientific and methodological centers

Higher educational institution, its tasks and structure

1. A higher educational institution is an educational institution established and operating on the basis of the legislation of the Russian Federation on education, having the status of a legal entity and implementing educational programs of higher professional education in accordance with a license.

2. The main tasks of a higher educational institution are:

1) satisfaction of the needs of the individual in intellectual, cultural and moral development through obtaining higher and (or) postgraduate professional education;

2) the development of sciences and arts through scientific research and creative activities of scientific and pedagogical workers and students, the use of the results obtained in the educational process;

3) training, retraining and advanced training of workers with higher education and scientific and pedagogical workers of higher qualification;

4) the formation of a civic position among students, the ability to work and live in the conditions of modern civilization and democracy;

5) preservation and enhancement of the moral, cultural and scientific values ​​of society;

6) dissemination of knowledge among the population, raising its educational and cultural level.

3. Higher educational institutions are independent in the formation of their structure, with the exception of their branches, unless otherwise established by federal laws.

The status and functions of a structural subdivision of a higher education institution are determined by the charter of the higher education institution or in the manner prescribed by it.

Structural subdivisions of a higher educational institution may implement educational programs of primary general, basic general, secondary (complete) general, primary vocational and secondary vocational education, as well as educational programs of additional education if the higher educational institution has an appropriate license.

1. The following types of higher educational institutions are established in the Russian Federation: federal university, university, academy, institute.

1-1. The Federal University is a higher educational institution that:

implements innovative educational programs of higher and postgraduate professional education, integrated into the global educational space;

provides systemic modernization of higher and postgraduate professional education;

carries out training, retraining and (or) advanced training of personnel based on the use of modern educational technologies for the integrated socio-economic development of the region;

performs fundamental and applied scientific research in a wide range of sciences, ensures the integration of science, education and production, including by bringing the results of intellectual activity to practical application;



is a leading scientific and methodological center. (Clause introduced by Federal Law No. 18-FZ of February 10, 2009)

2. University - a higher educational institution that:

Implements educational programs of higher and postgraduate professional education in a wide range of areas of training (specialties);

Carries out training, retraining and (or) advanced training of highly qualified employees, scientific and scientific-pedagogical workers;

Performs fundamental and applied scientific research in a wide range of sciences;

It is a leading scientific and methodological center in its fields of activity.

3. Academy - a higher educational institution that:

Implements educational programs of higher and postgraduate professional education;

Carries out training, retraining and (or) advanced training of highly qualified employees for a certain area of ​​scientific and scientific-pedagogical activity;

Performs fundamental and applied scientific research mainly in one of the areas of science or culture;

It is a leading scientific and methodological center in the field of its activities.

4. Institute - a higher educational institution that:

Implements educational programs of higher professional education, as well as, as a rule, educational programs of postgraduate professional education;

Carries out training, retraining and (or) advanced training of employees for a certain area of ​​professional activity;

Conducts fundamental and (or) applied scientific research.

Questions for self-control

1. Define Higher professional education.

2. Describe the structure and forms of education at the university.

3. List the main periods for the implementation of higher education programs.

4. What are the challenges facing a higher education institution?

5. What types of universities exist in the Russian Federation?

Higher education institutions

universities, train highly qualified specialists, scientific and pedagogical personnel for various sectors of the economy, science and culture; carry out scientific work of a theoretical and applied nature, which is the basis for the training of specialists; carry out advanced training of teachers of higher and secondary special schools and specialists employed in various industries, agriculture, culture, etc.

Some higher educational institutions are called academies (K. A. Timiryazev Agricultural Academy, military academies), higher schools (N. E. Bauman Moscow Higher Technical School, higher naval engineering schools, etc.), conservatories, schools (School-studio named after V. I. Nemirovich-Danchenko at the Moscow Art Theater of the USSR named after M. Gorky), in a number of countries - College ami, etc.

Universities train mainly specialists in the humanities and natural sciences, and some also train engineering and medical personnel; in polytechnic institutes and other technical universities, the training of engineering personnel of various profiles is concentrated; branch institutes train specialists for a particular branch of the national economy, science, and culture - agronomists, economists, lawyers, doctors, teachers, artists, actors, and others.

The concepts of "higher school", "V. y. h.” were not equivalent in different eras and in different countries. A significant difference in the levels of higher education, in the goals and methods of training specialists, in the terms of their training exists at the present time, since the development of higher education in each country is closely connected with its economic and socio-political system.

Historical essay. The highest (philosophical) schools for their time arose in the 3rd-5th centuries. BC e. in Athens and Rome. The first higher school to be called a university (in the Theodosian codex, 438) was a philosophical school opened in 425 in Constantinople. As a type of higher educational institution, universities appeared much later: in the 11th-12th centuries. in Italy (Salerno and Bologna), in France (Paris, early 12th century), in the late 12th and early 13th centuries. in Spain (Salamanca) and England (Oxford).

The first higher schools on the territory of the USSR were Colchis - 4th century, Ikaltoy, German and Gelati academies in Georgia - 11-12 centuries. In the 13th-14th centuries. Universities arose in England (Cambridge, 1209), Italy (Naples, 1224, Rome, 1303), Portugal (Coimbra and Lisbon, 1290), Spain (Valladolid, 1346), Czech Republic (Prague, 1348), Poland (Krakow, 1364) , Austria (Vienna, 1365), Germany (Heidelberg, 1386, Cologne, 1388) and others. ), Munich (1472), Uppsala (1477), Madrid (1508), Jena (1558), Geneva (1559), Edinburgh (1583), Dublin (1591), Ljubljana (1595), etc.

In 1579, the Vilnius Academy was opened, endowed with university rights and privileges (later reorganized into a university).

In the 1st half of the 17th century. universities are created in Cordoba (1613), Amsterdam (1632), Budapest (1635), Cambridge - Harvard College (1636). The Kiev-Mohyla Academy was founded in 1632, the Lvov University in 1661 and Zagreb University in 1669, and the Slavic-Greek-Latin Academy in Moscow in 1687.

At the end of the 17th - beginning of the 18th centuries. the general progress of knowledge necessary for the needs of material production, trade, navigation, the emancipation of science from the power of religion, the formation of the natural sciences, the achievements of mathematics, physics, astronomy, the rapid growth of industry and culture contributed to the development of universities (Yale, 1701, Caracas, 1725, Havana, 1728, Göttingen, 1737, Pennsylvania, 1740, Columbia in New York, 1754, Bonn, 1786, etc.) and led to the organization of higher specialized schools for that time: the School of Mathematical and Navigational Sciences in Moscow (1701), the Naval Academy in Petersburg (1715), the Higher Mining School in Ostrava (1716), the National School of Bridges and Roads in Paris (1747), the Freiberg Mining Academy (1766), the Mining School in St. Petersburg (1773, now the Leningrad Mining Institute), the Surveying School in Moscow ( 1779, the history of the Moscow Institute of Geodesy, Cartography and Aerial Photography and the Institute of Land Management Engineers, the Medical and Surgical Academy in Peter burge (1798). In 1725, the first Russian university was founded at the Academy of Sciences in St. Petersburg - the Academic University, and in 1755, on the initiative of M. V. Lomonosov, Moscow University.

With the development of capitalism and large-scale machine industry in the 19th and early 20th centuries. universities, engineering and other specialized universities were established in many countries of the world, for example, universities: in Buenos Aires (1821), Toronto (1827), Athens (1837), Santiago (founded in 1738, reorganized in 1843), Montevideo (1849 ), Sydney (1850), Zurich (1855), Bombay and Calcutta (1857), Bucharest (1864), California (1868), Tokyo and Stockholm (1877), Algiers (1879), Beijing (1898), Cairo (1908) and etc.; polytechnic institutes in Athens (1836), Delft (1842), Budapest (1856), the Institute of Technology in Massachusetts (1861), etc.

in Russia at the beginning of the 19th century. were founded: Derpt (Tartu) University (1802), Forestry Institute in St. Petersburg (1803), universities in Kazan (1804), Kharkov (1805), Lazarev Institute of Oriental Languages ​​in Moscow (1815). The following opened in St. Petersburg: the Institute of Railway Engineers (now the Leningrad Institute of Railway Transport Engineers) - in 1809, - in 1816, the university - in 1819 (now the Leningrad University named after A. A. Zhdanov), the Technological Institute (1828). The Moscow Higher Technical School was founded in 1830. During the years of political reaction following the defeat of the Decembrist uprising (1825), the autonomy that the universities had enjoyed since the beginning of the 19th century was abolished; in 1832 Vilnius University was closed. In the next two decades, only a few universities were founded: the Institute of Civil Engineers in St. Petersburg (1832, now the Leningrad Civil Engineering Institute), Kiev University (1834), veterinary institutes in Dorpat (1849), Kharkov (1851).

Revolutionary-democratic movement of the 60s. The 19th century, the abolition of serfdom, and the development of industry contributed to the organization of new universities: the Riga Polytechnic Institute (1862), the Petrovsky Agricultural and Forestry Academy in Moscow (1865, now the K. A. Timiryazev Agricultural Academy), Novorossiysk University in Odessa (1865), the Institute of History and Philology in St. Petersburg (1867), and others. According to the statute of 1863, autonomy was returned to the universities. In the 70-80s, despite the reaction that suspended the development of higher education (according to the charter of 1884, university autonomy was again abolished), several more universities were opened: the Kharkov Technological Institute (1885), Tomsk University (1888), Yekaterinoslav Mining Institute ( 1889) and others, as well as the Higher Courses for Women. Revolutionary movement of the late 19th - early 20th centuries. revived the activities of higher education. The tsarist government was forced to allow student organizations, introduce the election of the rector and deans. Polytechnic institutes were founded in Kiev (1898), St. type), the Women's Pedagogical Institute (1903) and the Pedagogical Academy (1908) in St. Petersburg, in Moscow (1911). In 1908, the People's University of Shanyavsky was opened in Moscow with private and public funds (see Shanyavsky University). However, universities still did not meet the country's needs for specialists and remained inaccessible to the people. In the 1914/15 academic year, there were only 105 universities in Russia (127,400 students), which were located mainly in Petrograd, Moscow, Kiev, and Kharkov.

Universities in the USSR. The Great October Socialist Revolution radically changed the system of higher education, the class and national composition of the students. The Soviet government set the higher education institutions the task of preparing highly qualified specialists from the working people for work in various branches of the national economy, science, and culture. By a decree of the Council of People's Commissars of the RSFSR of December 11, 1917, signed by V. I. Lenin, all educational institutions, including universities, were transferred to the jurisdiction of the People's Commissariat for Education. To help young workers and peasants complete their general secondary education and prepare for entry to universities, workers' faculties were opened, which played a significant role in changing the class composition of the student body (for example, in 1925-26, graduates of workers' schools made up 40% of all those admitted to universities).

Particular attention was paid to universities as scientific, educational, cultural and educational centers. In 1918, universities were opened in Nizhny Novgorod (now Gorky), Dnepropetrovsk, Voronezh, Irkutsk, Tbilisi, Tashkent, Baku, Yerevan, Sverdlovsk, Minsk, and others. At the same time, specialized universities of various profiles began to be created. Already in the 1922/23 academic year, there were 248 universities in the country (216.7 thousand students). In 1925, postgraduate studies were organized at higher educational institutions for the training of scientific, pedagogical and scientific personnel. In 1928, the Main Directorate of Higher and Secondary Technical Educational Institutions (Glavvtuz) was established under the Supreme Economic Council of the USSR. In 1928-30, in order to bring the universities closer to the national economy, they were transferred to the jurisdiction of the relevant people's commissariats. By the end of the first five-year plan, in the 1931/32 academic year, the number of universities in the USSR reached 701 (405,900 students). On the basis of large multi-faculty universities in the early 30s. sectoral institutes were created, for example, on the basis of the Moscow Mining Academy (founded in 1918 on the initiative of V. I. Lenin) - mining, geological exploration, oil and peat institutes, the institute of steel and the institute of non-ferrous metals and gold; on the basis of the Moscow Higher Technical School - mechanical engineering, aeromechanical, energy and other institutes. Mining and metallurgical institutes and faculties were opened in Siberia, Donbass and other regions of the country; aviation, machine-tool, transport and communications, chemical-technological institutes in Moscow, Kiev, Kharkov, Odessa, Gorky, Rostov-on-Don, Dnepropetrovsk and other cities. Along with branch institutes, polytechnic institutes began to be created, for example, in Kuibyshev and Yerevan. Construction universities were organized in 1930. In 1932, the All-Union Committee for Higher Technical Education (VKVTO) was created under the Central Executive Committee of the USSR for the general management of technical colleges. On the basis of universities in the early 30s. more than 40 pedagogical, medical, economic and other institutes were founded, evening and correspondence faculties and departments began to be created at universities (mainly humanitarian ones), the first independent evening and correspondence institutes were opened. In the 20-30s. the activities of higher education institutions were regulated by the Regulations on higher educational institutions of the RSFSR, approved by the Council of People's Commissars of the RSFSR on July 3, 1922. In 1936, in connection with the broad development of all branches of higher education, the All-Union Committee for Higher Education was established instead of the VKVTO. In 1938, a model university charter was approved, which determined its structure and the content of its work.

The formation of the Soviet higher school is inextricably linked with the name of V.I. Lenin, its development in the 20-40s. - with the names of A. V. Lunacharsky, N. K. Krupskaya, G. M. Krzhizhanovsky, M. N. Pokrovsky, A. S. Bubnov, I. I. Mezhlauk, F. N. Petrov and other prominent statesmen and figures of public education and culture.

In the 1940/41 academic year, 811,700 students studied at the higher educational institutions of the USSR, of which 558,100 were in full-time departments, 26,900 in evening departments, and 226,700 in correspondence departments. The output of specialists in 1940 amounted to 126.1 thousand people.

During the Great Patriotic War of 1941-45, the Nazi occupation inflicted significant damage on Soviet higher education. Many universities were destroyed, some of the universities were relocated to the eastern regions of the country. In order to prevent a decline in the training of specialists with higher education, already in the 1943/44 academic year, more than 50 universities were opened in the eastern regions of the USSR.

In the 50s. in order to improve the quality of training of specialists, some institutions that did not have the material, technical, educational and scientific base corresponding to the new stage in the development of Soviet higher education were merged with large universities (for example, some legal and pedagogical institutes - with universities, teachers' institutes with pedagogical ones) , at the same time new universities, polytechnics and industry institutes were founded. Scientific and technological progress, automation of production, the rapid development of industry and agriculture in the 50-60s. led to the organization of universities, faculties, specialties of new profiles - in radio electronics and electronic engineering, automation and computer technology, biophysics, biochemistry, etc. Specialized institutes were opened in Moscow, Tomsk, Kharkov, Minsk, Novosibirsk, Taganrog and other cities - radio engineering, electrical engineering. , engineering-physical, physical-technical, electronic engineering; on the basis of large industrial enterprises, technical colleges were organized. The training of personnel with higher engineering, construction, economics, chemical and technological education, specialists for the public service sector, etc., has expanded. New universities of the corresponding profile, as a rule, are created in the industrial and economic centers of the country.

In 1970, there were 805 universities in the USSR (4580 thousand students), including 457 (2671 thousand) in the RSFSR, 138 (806.6 thousand) in the Ukrainian SSR, 28 (140.1 thousand) in the BSSR, and 28 in the Uzbek SSR - 38 (232.9 thousand), Kazakh SSR - 44 (198.9 thousand), Georgian SSR - 18 (89.3 thousand), Azerbaijan SSR - 13 (100.1 thousand), Lithuanian SSR - 12 (57.0 thousand), Moldavian SSR - 8 (44.8 thousand), Latvian SSR - 10 (40.8 thousand), Kirghiz SSR - 9 (48.4 thousand), Tajik SSR - 7 ( 44.5 thousand), the Armenian SSR - 12 (54.4 thousand), the Turkmen SSR - 5 (29.1 thousand), the Estonian SSR - 6 (22.1 thousand). The network of universities included: 51 universities, 201 branch universities of industry and construction, 37 - transport and communications, 98 - agriculture, 50 - economics and law, 99 - health and physical education, 216 - education and culture, 53 - arts and cinematography.

In the 1969/70 academic year, 2,139,000 students studied in the daytime departments of universities, 668,000 in the evening departments, and 1,742,000 in absentia. transport, radio engineering and communications - 251.9 thousand, agriculture - 432.6 thousand, economics and law - 334.2 thousand, health and physical culture - 309.2 thousand, education - 1374.4 thousand ( including at universities - 489.5 thousand), art and cinematography - 41.8 thousand.

In 1970, higher education institutions graduated 630,600 specialists and enrolled 911,300 people. (including day departments - 500.7 thousand people); More than 57 thousand people studied in postgraduate studies at universities. (including about 20.5 thousand on the job), in the same year, about 15.2 thousand people graduated from graduate school. In 1918-69 the higher school trained 8.5 million specialists.

As of January 1970, St. 7.5 million people with higher education. For success in training specialists and in the development of science, technology, and culture, 93 universities were awarded orders of the USSR (1971).

The right to study in universities is guaranteed by the Constitution of the USSR to all citizens regardless of race, nationality, gender, property and social status and religion and is ensured by the extensive development of the network of universities, free education (including all types of studies), a system of state scholarships (the vast majority of students receive them). - over 70%), appointed for excellent and good academic performance. Nonresident students, as a rule, are provided with a hostel. In the USSR, there are uniform rules for admission. Higher education institutions accept persons under the age of 35 (for evening and correspondence universities and faculties - no age limit) who have completed secondary education. All applicants to universities take entrance competitive exams in subjects closest to their chosen specialty, their native language and literature, as well as one of the foreign languages ​​(for admission to philological and some other humanitarian specialties). In conservatories, universities of arts and physical culture institutes, in addition, an exam in the specialty is taken. To help those entering universities, various types of reference books and textbooks are published annually in mass circulation, numerous preparatory departments and courses are organized at universities, at enterprises, construction sites, etc. Entrance exams to universities are usually held in August, and to correspondence and evening universities with a seasonal nature of work - at different times from October to February. Some advantages when enrolling in a university are enjoyed by persons who have at least 2 years of practical work experience, demobilized from the Soviet Army, sent to full-time education by enterprises, organizations, collective farms, state farms, etc., as well as those who graduated from high school with a gold medal or secondary special educational institutions with honors. Persons who successfully passed the final exams at the preparatory departments created at universities (decree of the Central Committee of the CPSU and the Council of Ministers of the USSR of August 20, 1969) for young people from workers, collective farmers and demobilized military personnel are enrolled without entrance exams (by the beginning of the 1970/71 academic year, about 500 preparatory departments, to which more than 60 thousand people were accepted). Foreign citizens permanently residing on the territory of the USSR enter universities on a general basis. Reception of foreign citizens is also carried out on the basis of relevant contracts and agreements.

The structure and content of the work of universities are determined by the Regulations on higher educational institutions of the USSR, approved by Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the USSR of January 22, 1969, No. 64. The Rector is at the head of the university. The educational and scientific work of the university is led by Vice-rector s. Universities consist of faculties that train students and graduate students in one or more related specialties, improve the skills of specialists in the relevant sector of the national economy and culture, and also manage the research activities of departments (see Department) that conduct educational, methodological and scientific research. research work in one or related disciplines. A number of universities have general technical faculties - for general engineering training of students, the faculty is headed by the Dean. The structural subdivisions of higher education institutions are also their branches and educational and consulting centers (See Educational and consulting centers), organized to provide educational assistance to part-time students at their place of work and residence. To consider the main issues of the activities of the university (faculty), the rector (dean) organizes a council of the university, faculty (see Council of the university and scientific institution). Councils for the award of academic degrees have been set up in higher educational institutions that have been granted the right by the Higher Attestation Commission (see Higher Attestation Commission) to accept candidate or doctoral dissertations for defense.

For the teaching staff of universities, the following positions have been established: head of the department, Professor a (as well as professor-consultant), Associate professor a, senior teacher, teacher (See Lecturer), Assistant a, which (except for the position of professor-consultant) are replaced by competition through every 5 years (all decisions on the competition are made by the council of the university by secret ballot). In 1970, 883,400 professors and teachers worked in higher education institutions, research and other institutions of the USSR, including 21,800 doctors of science and 205,400 candidates of science.

Higher educational institutions organize the educational process according to curricula and programs that are developed by leading scientists, discussed by higher educational institution councils, and approved by the USSR Ministry of Higher and Secondary Specialized Education. Some of the largest universities in the country work according to individual plans, which allow training specialists based on the best practices of the scientific schools that have developed in these universities.

School attendance is compulsory. The academic year (42 academic weeks) consists of two semesters ending with examination sessions. The weekly load of students with compulsory training sessions (lectures, workshops, seminars) is limited to 24-34 h. The course of study at universities (designed for 4-6, mostly 5 years) ends with the passing of state exams or the defense of diploma projects (works), at universities and some branch universities, along with state exams, theses are also defended. (For the content of education and the organization of the educational process in universities, see Higher education and articles on branches of special education, for example, Architectural education, Surveying education.)

Graduates of the university are awarded a qualification corresponding to the specialty received: physicist, radiophysicist, mathematician, chemist, physicist and teacher of physics, philologist and teacher of Russian language and literature (at the university), teacher in a certain subject (at pedagogical institutes), doctor, agronomist, radio engineer , mechanical engineer (technologist, power engineer, physicist, geologist, metallurgist, economist, builder), architect, actor, director, etc.; in 1971 there were over 400 university specialties. In terms of scientific level, this qualification is usually equivalent to the academic degree of a Master of Science (or another corresponding to it) awarded to graduates of foreign universities. Graduates of universities (regardless of the form of education - full-time, evening, part-time) receive a diploma of a single sample, giving the same rights to specialists.

Universities carry out advanced training of specialists. At 120 faculties and in 6 institutes (1971) created at higher educational institutions, advanced training is being carried out for teachers of higher education. In addition, there are 70 faculties for advanced training of specialists in the national economy. Higher education institutions have scientific research departments, problematic (in 1971 over 400) and industry-specific (in 1971 over 500) laboratories for solving the most important problems of science and technology. Research institutes and design bureaus operate within the largest universities (in 1971 there were 48 such research institutes). Significant development was received by research and design work of students. Almost every university has a scientific student society, where students, under the guidance of professors and teachers, are engaged in experimental and scientific research, abstract new scientific papers, etc. Many universities have organized student design and technology bureaus. In 1971 more than 600,000 students worked in scientific societies, bureaus, and circles. Scientific and other student societies are an effective form of student participation in the research and practical work of departments. They operate under the leadership of party, trade union and Komsomol organizations on the basis of self-government, development of the initiative and activity of students; their activities are coordinated by the All-Union, republican and city councils for the scientific work of students.

Students are involved in the management of universities - representatives of student organizations are members of the councils of universities (faculties), are members of student commissions for the distribution of scholarships. Student construction teams and student clubs, theaters, ensembles, and sports societies have been widely developed in many universities (in 1971, over 1 million students were members of the Burevestnik society). All-Union student sports and athletics and various competitions are held annually. Public and scientific organizations that unite students, graduate students, faculty and other workers operate on the basis of their charters. Soviet students actively participate in the international youth and student movement. The coordinating body of the Soviet student associations of the USSR, representing the Soviet students in the International Union of Students, is the Student Council of the USSR.

The activities of universities are directed and coordinated by the republican ministries of higher and secondary specialized (people's) education, as well as the relevant sectoral ministries and departments, taking into account the characteristics and needs of the national economy of the republic or the country's sector of the economy in specialists. General management of higher education is carried out by the Ministry of Higher and Secondary Specialized Education of the USSR. Scientific works and the experience of universities are covered in the journals Izvestia of Higher Educational Institutions, Scientific Reports of Higher School and Bulletin of Higher School, in Scientific Notes and Proceedings of Universities and Institutes. In 1971, 426 high-circulation university newspapers were published. Textbooks and teaching aids for universities are published by the Higher School, Prosveshchenie and other industry publishing houses.

In 1971 about 30,000 students, graduate students, and probationers from 126 countries studied at the higher educational institutions of the USSR. Student exchange is carried out with the USA, Great Britain, France, Italy, Germany and other countries of Europe, Asia, America and Africa. In 1960, the Patrice Lumumba Peoples' Friendship University was opened in Moscow to train national cadres from the countries of Asia, Africa, and Latin America. In a number of universities, special preparatory faculties have been opened for foreign students to master the Russian language and knowledge in the volume of a secondary school.

Friendly ties between Soviet higher education and higher education institutions in many countries of the world are developing. Outstanding foreign scientists, progressive and public figures are honorary professors and doctors of Soviet universities. Soviet scientists have been elected honorary professors and doctors of universities in many foreign countries. Some of the largest Soviet universities are members of the International Association of Universities (IAU). The Soviet higher school is represented in the International Association of Teachers of Russian Language and Literature (MAPRYAL). With the help of the USSR in the 50s-60s. the Bombay Institute of Technology in India, the Rangoon Institute of Technology in Burma, the Polytechnic Institute in Conakry (Republic of Guinea), and others were built.

Higher educational institutions have also been greatly developed in other socialist countries, where, as in the USSR, they are under state control. New universities and branch institutes have been opened that make it possible to train specialists in accordance with the needs of the national economy and culture. The class composition of the student body has changed; women are trained equally with men; education is free, students are provided with a state scholarship, a hostel.

In capitalist countries, an educational institution that trains specialists on the basis of a general secondary education is usually considered to be the highest; As a rule, there is no clear boundary between higher and secondary specialized educational institutions. Along with state institutions, many countries have universities owned by private individuals, large monopolies, religious and other communities. See Higher education, Secondary specialized education.

S. I. Zinoviev, V. G. Panov, A. N. Gorshenev.


Great Soviet Encyclopedia. - M.: Soviet Encyclopedia. 1969-1978 .

1. The following types of higher educational institutions are established in the Russian Federation: federal university, university, academy, institute.

(as amended by Federal Law No. 18-FZ of February 10, 2009)

(see text in previous edition)

1.1. The Federal University is a higher educational institution that:

implements innovative educational programs of higher and postgraduate professional education, integrated into the global educational space;

provides systemic modernization of higher and postgraduate professional education;

carries out training, retraining and (or) advanced training of personnel based on the use of modern educational technologies for the integrated socio-economic development of the region;

performs fundamental and applied scientific research in a wide range of sciences, ensures the integration of science, education and production, including by bringing the results of intellectual activity to practical application;

is a leading scientific and methodological center.

(Clause 1.1 was introduced by Federal Law No. 18-FZ of February 10, 2009)

2. University - a higher educational institution that:

implements educational programs of higher and postgraduate professional education in a wide range of areas of training (specialties);

carries out training, retraining and (or) advanced training of highly qualified employees, scientific and scientific-pedagogical workers;

performs fundamental and applied scientific research in a wide range of sciences;

is a leading scientific and methodological center in its fields of activity.

2.1. In relation to universities under the jurisdiction of the Russian Federation, equally effectively implementing educational programs of higher professional and postgraduate professional education and performing fundamental and applied scientific research in a wide range of sciences, the category "national research university" may be established. The category "national research university" is established by the Government of the Russian Federation for 10 years based on the results of the competitive selection of university development programs aimed at staffing priority areas for the development of science, technology, technology, economic sectors, the social sphere, the development and introduction of high technologies into production. Regulations on the competitive selection of university development programs (including the procedure and conditions for their financing) are approved by the Government of the Russian Federation. The list of indicators, criteria and frequency of evaluating the effectiveness of the implementation of such programs are established by the federal executive body responsible for developing state policy and legal regulation in the field of education. Based on the results of the assessment of the effectiveness of the implementation of development programs, the University may be deprived of the category "national research university" by the Government of the Russian Federation.

(Clause 2.1 was introduced by Federal Law No. 18-FZ of February 10, 2009)

3. Academy - a higher educational institution that:

implements educational programs of higher and postgraduate professional education;

carries out training, retraining and (or) advanced training of highly qualified employees for a certain area of ​​scientific and scientific-pedagogical activity;

carries out fundamental and applied scientific research mainly in one of the areas of science or culture;

is a leading scientific and methodological center in the field of its activities.

4. Institute - a higher educational institution that:

implements educational programs of higher professional education, as well as, as a rule, educational programs of postgraduate professional education;