State policy in the field of higher education in the Russian Federation: aspects of its implementation in Central federal district universities

Within the framework of the sociological study presented in the article, priority areas of educational policy in the Russian Federation are studied. As part of the study, representatives of faculty (associate professors, professors, head of departments, deans) from head (basic, classical) regional universities of the Central Federal District were selectively interviewed. The data of the Federal State Statistics Service of Russia, the results of sociological research conducted by employees of the Institute of Sociology of the Federal Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and regulatory legal and by-laws governing the field of higher education were studied. In addition, the federal budget expenditures for the implementation of particularly significant measures in the field of higher education were analyzed. It was established that regardless of gender, age, job characteristics, the attitude towards the reduction (unification) of universities is negative. Moreover, that part of the teachers who worked at the university, annexed (liquidated) as institutes or faculties, is more satisfied with the unification of universities than that part of the teachers working at the university to which they joined. It is believed that the main criterion for assessing the university is the research conducted by teachers (articles, books, monographs, etc.) and the number of doctors and candidates of sciences. It was revealed that a significant part of the respondents have a negative attitude towards the accession of the Russian Federation to the Bologna process. The higher the age and position held at the university, the more negative the attitude towards the two-level training system (bachelormaster). In addition, it was established that the majority, regardless of their positions, gender and age characteristics, as well as the specialization of the university, earn extra money. Measures are proposed to improve Russian state policy in the field of higher education.