• A
  • A
  • A
  • ABC
  • ABC
  • ABC
  • А
  • А
  • А
  • А
  • А
Regular version of the site

We Have to Overcome the Crisis of Trust in Education

On December 20, 2013, Yaroslav Kuzminov, HSE Rector and Head of the Russian Federation Public Chamber Commission on Education Development, participated in the discussion surrounding the draft annual report on the state of civil society in Russia. He spoke about some current problems of education.

According to recent surveys, Russian citizens believe education to be a priority area of public spending. At the same time, society is growing more and more dissatisfied with education: according to the Levada Centre, 72% of the population are not satisfied with how the education system currently works, and 38% believe that it is getting worse, despite increased funding.

According to the HSE Rector, today we should raise the question of responsibility, whether it be among the state, the region, or the teams of professional education workers.. It’s necessary to make sure the teacher fulfils his contract and moral commitments, he shouldn’t merely work for the stated number of hours in his contract, but work with all his heart, to help the low achievers, to go with children on excursions to museums, etc.

Citizens and government officials have a different understanding of the problems in education and the tasks needed to develop it. Society is still not involved enough in discussing and setting priorities; There aren’t enough feedback mechanisms, and there is often a lack of trust between parents, school directors, teachers, and officials.

How to overcome the crisis of trust?

We need to improve information transparency in the educational system.

The new law ‘On Education in the Russian Federation’ obliges educational institutions to publish a lot of data in open access, but the quality of their websites is still low. Professional communities in education should develop. If they are active and bring together professionals, then both citizens and the government will have more trust in the education system and discussions will can begin. This association must be based on a hierarchy of achievements, not positions.

We need to lessen the administrative pressure on educational institutions, which currently nullifies the autonomy announced in the new law.

It’s necessary to support innovations and independence in education, Yaroslav Kuzminov believes

HSE News Service

See also:

Inverse Relationship Found between Propensity to Innovate and Academic Success

Mariia Evdokimova and Anastasia Stepanova, employees of HSE University’s Faculty of Economic Sciences, studied the connection between students’ personal characteristics and their desire to create something new. The researchers have found that students’ propensity to innovate lowers their GPA. The results of the work were published in the preprint ‘Students’ Propensity to Innovate: Correlates, Determinants, and Impact on GPA.’

Social Connections Help Women Achieve Academic Success

Social integration has different effects on the academic achievement of women and men. Researchers from HSE University’s Institute of Education studied the connections between academic performance and social integration among 4,500 young Russians. It turned out that this connection is much stronger than it might seem at first glance, and that it is more important for women. The results of the work were published in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships.

A University's Special Status Is Correlated with a Substantial Increase in Salaries for Graduates

A university education is a highly sought-after commodity in Russia, yet the quality of universities and their programmes varies significantly. This gives rise to risks of inequality, both in the realm of education and in the labour market, and subsequently impacts the returns on higher education, which are manifested in the salaries earned by graduates. According to a study by Ilya Prakhov, Assistant Professor of the HSE Faculty of Economic Sciences, graduates from Russia’s top-tier universities enjoy a distinct advantage. The paper has been published in the International Journal of Educational Development.

HSE University and Moscow Planetarium Sign Cooperation Agreement

The parties will work to popularise science and conduct educational and research activities, including in the fields of astronomy, cosmonautics, and Earth science. The agreement also covers the implementation of joint practical programmes and internships for students.

HSE University and Agency for Strategic Initiatives Sign Cooperation Agreement

HSE University and the Agency for Strategic Initiatives (ASI) have agreed to cooperate in the development of new technologies, the digital transformation of the economy, and the social development of the country. The agreement was signed by HSE University Rector Nikita Anisimov and ASI Director General Svetlana Chupsheva at the St Petersburg International Economic Forum.

Basic, General, and Home-based: Why Families Choose to Homeschool and What Challenges They Face in Doing So

There are many reasons why families choose to homeschool their children, from wishing to personalise their education to protecting them from bullying to strengthening the family bond. Those who decide to switch to homeschooling can face quite a few challenges, both logistical and psychological, including criticism from family members. IQ.HSE presents a few facts on homeschooling in Russia based on a paper by researchers of the HSE Institute of Education.

Card Index: Uberisation of Education

Education is in the process of being partly reformatted into an on-demand service, with digital platforms quickly and efficiently matching teachers to students. This can make education more personalised and accessible and open up new professional development and money-making opportunities for teachers. But is an Uber-like model really good for education? The following discussion of uberisation in education is based on a paper by philosopher Timur Khusyainov, Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Humanities at the HSE Campus in Nizhny Novgorod.

HSE University and Sberbank Sign Cooperation Agreement

HSE University and Sberbank have entered into a cooperation agreement. The document was signed by Herman Gref, CEO and Chairman of the Executive Board of Sberbank, and HSE University Rector Nikita Anisimov. The agreement is aimed at the implementation of shared educational, research, career-guidance, awareness-raising, and informational projects.

Shattering the Family’s ‘Glass Ceiling’: Why Young People Go to University

Attitudes towards education are often inherited, with parents explaining to their children what university education can give them. They offer very pragmatic arguments—that higher education ensures a more successful career, interesting work and a good income. But there are also other arguments that should not be underestimated. At this time when many universities are holding open house, IQ.HSE draws on a study by HSE scholars Tatiana Chirkina and Amina Guseynova to explain the attitudes towards education that parents give their children and which considerations they might have overlooked.

Collective Conscious: Advantages and Drawbacks of Studying in Small Groups

Students can learn difficult material much more efficiently by collaborating than by studying individually. They help each other, share information, and build collective knowledge. However, things are not as simple as they may seem. Cooperation between students is effective for certain activities, but not others. As researchers from the HSE Institute of Education have shown, knowledge is absorbed more effectively through group work, but the same benefits are not found when it comes to the practical application of knowledge.