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(Last updated: 7 Jun 2010)
Trends and opportunities
The market
Russia’s education system has been going through a transition period since the early 1990s, when the centralised system was gradually replaced by a more contemporary model. A series of strategies were developed by the Russian Ministry of Education and Science to allow wider academic freedom for education institutions and to move towards a common system of degrees and academic standards. This resulted in the establishment of private institutions that have helped make the education sector more competitive and results-oriented.
While the major focus of reform remains ensuring access to a higher quality of education and bringing existing education infrastructure and academic curriculum in line with international norms and market demand, new priorities have been set around supporting the development and diversification of the Russian economy. This new approach underlines the expectation of increased interaction between education, science and industries to help modernise the Russian economy.
In Russia, there is a well-established system of tertiary education institutions, which is gradually developing along the lines of Bologna model. From 2010, new degrees are reportedly being awarded with the Diploma supplement and European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits to comply with international standards. To make the system of higher education more responsive to market needs and increase quality, the Russian Ministry of Education plans to decrease the number of higher education institutions. This will be done through implementing more rigorous accreditation and quality assurance mechanisms.
Vocational education and training has become a vital area of education reform. New standards are being implemented to comply with industry demand, including the development of new curricula. Additional financial resources have been allocated to support the leading and innovative VET institutions.
The number of Russian universities in international ratings remain modest, with Moscow State University, St Petersburg State University, Tomsk and Novosibirsk universities the key contenders. A number of well-established and recognised institutions also have strong research traditions and high-profile students. The Ministry of Education has announced a program to help these second-tier institutions attain the status of ‘national research universities’ with higher levels of funding. Some 12 universities have already received this status, but more are scheduled to be announced in 2010 and 2011.
In the 2009-10 academic year, Russia had 180,000 educational establishments with about 7.5 million students enrolled in higher education. The number of vocational education students is about 3.4 million students. Due to Russia’s demographic problem (low birth rate over the past 25 years), the number of students is falling. The Education Ministry has introduced additional state-funded places for students who demonstrate excellent academic records and offers low-rate student loans.
The number of Russia students to Australia has been steadily growing with a 22 per cent increase from 2008 to 2009 to 1,247 students (excluding short-term English courses undertaken on tourist visas). Of that number, higher education experienced a 31 per cent increase, with growing interest towards postgraduate and research programs. VET and school enrolments grew by 1.5 per cent and 9 per cent respectively. The VET sector offers considerable potential for growth, particularly as a pathway to low-cost entry to higher education system. ELICOS enrolment numbers have also continued to grow, with a 21 per cent rise in 2009.
From April 2010, Russian students have access to the full suite of Endeavour Award scholarships under the Australian Awards available in Europe. This opens new opportunities for outstanding Russian students, including:
- Masters and PhD level (Endeavour Europe Award)
- Researchers (Endeavour Research Fellowship Award)
- Vocational education applicants (Endeavour Vocational Education and Training Award)
- Professionals (Endeavour Executive Award)
Russian students have exhibited strong interest towards international scholarships, a trend fuelled by demand for international qualifications, which can help improve career prospects, facilitate access to better quality programs, enhance professional engagement and networking, provide experience in living overseas and sharpen English language skills.
In Russia, graduates with more than one higher education qualification have seen their employment prospects strengthen significantly during the financial crisis. Australian students and professionals will also have access to Endeavour Research Fellowship and Executive Awards.
Opportunities
While the Russian tertiary education system remains strong in some areas, the key fields where Russian students often prefer international study include: economics and finance, management, law, public relations, marketing, sociology, creative arts, hospitality and tourism. Additional sectors with high potential for engagement are resources and mining, banking and finance, energy, construction, transport engineering, ICT, manufacturing and logistics.
Opportunities for Australian education institutions exist across a range of education sectors. Some key areas include:
Higher education (Research, undergraduate and postgraduate)
- Marketing research programs to Russia’s newly announced national research universities and network universities and providing expertise in developing commercial research projects.
- Cooperating with local education institutions in staff training projects, academic programs and academic/students exchange programs.
- Participating in locally announced scholarship programs, such as Algarysh in Tatarstan and Study Abroad Scholarship in Bashkortostan (as well as the Bolashak program in Kazakhstan).
- Marketing academic programs that are lacking in many Russian institutions. Programs with high student demand, especially in the Russian Far East, include English language, business, hospitality and tourism, accounting and finance, sales and marketing, engineering and marine biology.
- Cooperating with local institution in developing double-degree programs and collaboration in non-award programs – institutional linkages in this area are growing.
VET and ELICOS
- Working closely with local education authorities to share expertise in curriculum development to bring Russia in line with international standards (priority areas include tourism and hospitality, community service and English language).
- Marketing VET courses as a pathway to university programs.
- Marketing short-term courses for professionals in addition to full-time students.
MBA and business programs
- Marketing MBA and short-term business programs for professionals (including by correspondence).
- Priority areas include finance, enterprise leadership and risk management, IT and general management.
E-learning
- Offering e-learning academic and business programs as an effective low-cost alternative.
Opportunities for Australian investors
Although there is little inter-governmental cooperation in education between Australia and the Russian Federation, some Australian universities and colleges are actively collaborating with Russian counterparts at an institutional level (currently 10 cooperation programs). The Russian Ministry of Education also annually provides two state scholarships for Australian students to study in Russia.
Russian education institutions, especially those with the status of national research universities, are seeking international partners. Collaboration in establishing research centres and developing joint research projects and academic programs can help build long-term relations and bring significant academic and financial value to Australian institutions.
Australian education institutions should promote programs more actively via engaging with local education and industry providers, local education agents and targeted participation in student fairs and exhibitions.
IDP is now a major investor in Russia with three accredited IELTS testing centres in Moscow, St Petersburg and Vladivostok. This network is creating more opportunities for Australian institutions to engage with potential students and education providers in the Russian Federation.
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