For three years, the number of universities and their branches in Russia has decreased by almost half - by 1097 organizations. Thus, the "cleansing" of higher education in Russia, announced by the previous leadership of the Ministry of Education and Science, has actually been completed. It assumed a reduction in the number of universities by 40%, and branches - by 80%. The expert community notes that now the system for assessing the quality of higher education in Russia should focus on inspections only where the risks are highest. Kommersant's interlocutors do not exclude that this issue may be raised in the near future in connection with the "possible change of the cabinet of ministers."
At the disposal of Kommersant was a departmental analytical reference, from which it follows that in 2017 the Federal Service for Control in the Sphere of Education and Science (Rosobrnadzor) suspended the licenses of 35 higher education organizations. In 68 universities and their branches, the admission of applicants was prohibited. 58 universities were deprived of the state license for educational activities. In 125, the state accreditation was suspended (in 70 of them, after the elimination of violations, the license was renewed). By decision of arbitration courts, licenses were annulled in 32 organizations (18 of them in Moscow).
Accreditation confirms the level of educational programs being implemented and the compliance of the content and quality of graduate training with federal state educational standards. The license gives the educational organization the right to carry out educational activities.
Thus, from 2014 to 2017, the number of universities and branches in Russia decreased by 1097 (from 2268 to 1171; data for January 2018). The reduction most of all affected the branches of state and non-state universities: the number of the first decreased from 908 to 428, the second - from 422 to 81. State head universities also suffered losses over three years, they decreased by 83 (from 567 to 484), non-state - by 193 (from 371 to 178). From 2014 to 2017, based on the results of inspections, 2,850 cases of administrative offenses were initiated against legal entities and officials educational organizations, who were fined a total of 48.3 million rubles.
In fact, these indicators correspond to the plans of the Ministry of Education and Science, where they previously announced their intention by the end of 2016 to “complete the cleaning of higher education from universities and branches that do not quality education". As Kommersant reported, in March 2015, Dmitry Livanov, who was then Minister of Education, stated that the concept of the Federal Target Program for the Development of Education for 2016-2020 provides for a reduction in the number of universities by 40%, and their branches - by 80%. “We are talking primarily about the reduction of non-state universities that provide low-quality education,” Mr. Livanov emphasized. “We have about 100-150 good non-state universities. Nothing threatens them, on the contrary, we will help them, including access to state budget places. But everything that concerns low-quality education should go out of our lives. And this is what this means for us to reduce the network of higher educational institutions". According to the minister, the Ministry of Education and Science "declared war" on weak universities.
“Of course, it is impossible to solve all the problems, but I see tangible progress in this area,” Gennady Onishchenko, the first deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee on Education, told Kommersant. “When completely far-fetched faculties or universities are closed, where, in essence, they just buy fake diplomas” . According to the deputy, the problem of assessing the quality of education is now especially relevant in connection with the arrival of business in education: “Rosobrnadzor has taken a serious step towards putting things in order in this area.”
Now the mechanism of control and supervision in higher education in Russia must change, the rector of the Moscow City Pedagogical University Igor Remorenko: “Rosobrnadzor has done a lot within the framework of the existing regulatory framework in the field of higher education, but the university accreditation mechanism itself is outdated, formal requirements are being evaluated that cannot speak about the quality of education in general. Rosobrnadzor understands that a radical restructuring of the assessment system is required.” According to him, the new system for assessing the quality of education must meet the requirements of employers. “I think that this issue should be on the agenda in 2018, especially considering the possible change of the Cabinet of Ministers,” said Mr. Remorenko.
Earlier, Rosobrnadzor reported that a large-scale reform of control and supervision activities is being prepared in Russia, which will also affect higher educational institutions. It is assumed that all universities will fall into one of four categories according to the level of risk in accordance with the violations identified during the audit. The department expects that the transition to new system help “focus on inspections where the risks are highest.” In the university environment, it is noted that new model inspections will “save nerves” for universities with a good reputation and lead to a further reduction in the total number of higher education institutions in Russia (see Kommersant of June 20, 2017). It was expected that the law establishing new rules for control and supervision would be adopted before the end of 2017, but this has not yet happened.
Higher education in Russia will undergo some modernization in the near future. More precisely, the Ministry of Education decided to cut the number of budget places at most universities throughout the country. What was the result of all this? Let's discuss.
Basic information
Not so long ago, information appeared in the media that several large higher educational institutions of the Chernozem region lost a significant number of budget places. To date, it is known that changes in the status of student admission have affected the Oryol State University, Tambov and Lipetsk Technical Universities. The government of the listed universities is at a loss, because we are talking about financing a number of technical specialties and master's programs. In addition, the demand for graduates of these institutions is increasing every year among local enterprises. What is the reason for such a decision of officials? Why did such undesirable changes take place right now, and who else was affected by the reduction of budget places at universities for 2019-2020?
Basic information
This year, the Ministry of Education sent new data on the quotas for the next year's admissions campaign to the universities of the Russian Federation. The result is a reduction in the number of state-funded places at the level of 10%. According to the rector of the Leningrad State Technical University, the enrollment of applicants to the university in 2018-2019 is 1.18 thousand places, while next year this mark will drop to 1 thousand positions. At the same time, the reduction affected not only the humanitarian areas of education. Places were also cut in technical areas, the main one for the university. Such as, for example, mechanical engineering. It is important to note that the noted industry is considered very important for the region, and in last years is actively developing, and therefore the need for appropriate personnel is quite logical. Needless to say, that specialists in mechanical engineering are now in high demand?!
A possible reason for such an unprecedented decision by the government is the optimization of state funding by the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation. But in fact, not only the number of budget places allocated to the university, but also its own income will be significantly reduced. Most of the funds go to the “treasury” of universities as a reward for fulfilling the task set by the state - attracting and educating students on a budgetary basis. 
So far, most of the places of universities that fell under the reduction of 2019 belong to the magistracy. According to the rectors, these are very serious changes, because the indicated stage of education is the next step towards graduate school, where the personnel required by the educational institutions themselves are trained. The bottom line is that the reduction of places in this direction will sooner or later affect the work of the teachers themselves.
Orlovsky had to face a similar problem. state university, which in 2016 acquired the status of a reference in the region. According to the rector of OSU Olga Pilipenko, the reduction in places in the university amounted to only 5%. First of all, the reduction affected construction specialties, which in recent years have ceased to be in significant demand. The economic and legal sectors also fell under the modernization of higher education, however, within the framework of reasonable optimization. According to the management of OSU, the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation will never implement such a solution without strict monitoring of the needs of the labor market.
Lost some of the budget places and Tambov Technical University mostly in graduate school. The changes in 2019 affected jurisprudence, while in fact the number of budget places upon admission increased.
Earlier, Voronezh University, the largest university in the region, also faced the problem of reducing budget places. Even this year, the institution did not receive a single state place in several disciplines, for example, in the faculty of journalism.
Educational reality
Based on the approved order of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation of January this year, the number of budget places in universities for 2019-2020 academic year will be 549478, while now this mark is 601169 places. Most of the places are provided by the state for the bachelor's program - 312440. 77110 places are allocated for the specialist, while 128848 for the master's program. The reason for this decision is the global decline in funding for the master's program (almost 40%). 
What will be the further reality of receiving free higher education in Russia is still unknown, but, according to analysts, similar solutions will force modern students to be more diligent about their own education. After all, it is possible that soon free education in universities will be provided only to the best.
This year, the reduction in enrollment in the humanities in favor of an increase in technical
Admission Campaign in universities actually started, despite the fact that many applicants have certificates and USE results not received yet. Documents are submitted to universities by graduates of previous years. Enrollment has declined this year: at first glance, slightly from 16,056 places in 2016 to 15,806 this year, but this is the figure as a whole. If you look only at the bachelor's degree, then the universities will accept 650 people less, but the enrollment in the master's program has been increased. Contract groups have always been an option for those who did not enter the budget. This year the cost of education has increased by 30%. In KFU, for example, a year ago the most budgetary specialty cost 64 thousand rubles a year, in this one - 102 thousand. Details are in the material of Realnoe Vremya.
Lawyers and linguists are needed less than engineers. The demand for artists is stable
Higher education continues the course towards the reduction of humanitarian specialties. This year, Economics and Management, Jurisprudence, Political Sciences, Funds mass media and information and librarianship”, “Service and tourism”, “Linguistics and literary criticism”. At the same time, the economy international relationships, especially their linguistic direction, the Faculty of Law are in great demand.
But on technical directions the control digits of admission, on the contrary, are increased: by " Information security» by 30%, «Chemistry», «Electronics, radio electronics and systems» by 16%, «Physical culture and sports» by 9%, «Earth sciences» by 8%, «Electrical and thermal power engineering» by 3%.
The target enrollment figures for Industrial Ecology and Biotechnology, Health Science and Preventive Medicine, Nuclear Energy and Technology, Performing Arts and Literary Creativity remained unchanged.
"The judiciary, the prosecutor's office, investigative committee“Bachelors cannot hold positions there, so enrollment for master's programs has been increased,” explains Riyaz Minzaripov. Photo by Roman Khasaev
Enrollment for the bachelor's degree (which is most of all of interest to school graduates) this year was reduced from 9,957 places to 9,307. But enrollment for the master's program was increased from 5,002 to 5,252. This is associated with the demographic situation, the number of graduates of the 11th grade - is becoming smaller and with increasing interest in continuing education in the magistracy.
This is due to where the students are going to work: the judiciary, the prosecutor's office, the investigative committee. Bachelors cannot hold positions there, therefore, enrollment for master's programs has been increased, - explains the first vice-rector of KFU Riyaz Minzaripov.
Considering that 14.5 thousand people graduated from schools in 2017, the competition for universities will be 1.6 people per place.
KFU raised prices, and the medical university gives 70% of the places to target students
Contract groups have always been an option for those who did not enter the budget. This year, the cost of education has increased significantly, especially at KFU. If last year the price tag started from 64 thousand rubles a year, then this year from 102 thousand. The maximum cost of education for a bachelor's degree will be 169,000 rubles, for a master's program - 177,000 rubles, and for postgraduate studies - 129,000 rubles.
This decision was made by the founder - the Ministry of Education. We must stick to these prices. To be honest, we are confused too. For Moscow, this is normal, but for the regions there is a very large increase, - says Vice-Rector of KFU Riyaz Minzaripov. However, this decision has been prepared for a long time. Recall that last year a scandal erupted around the cuts in the budget of universities and, as a result, state-funded places.
This year, KFU will accept 4,980 people for state-funded places (a decrease of 382 places), of which 1,481 are given to undergraduates.
In general, KSMU will accept about 1,300 people, including foreigners. Photo by Maxim Platonov
Reduces enrollment figures by 2.5% and Kazan State medical University. However, rector Alexei Sozinov clarifies that in terms of the number of future students, this is not so much - 11, and this will not affect the availability of education, he believes. In general, KSMU will accept about 1,300 people, including foreigners. Another thing is alarming: 71% of the places are reserved for "targeted students", another 10% of KSMU, like all universities, allocates for "special categories" - orphans, the disabled.
You can calculate how much is left for the so-called general competition. We work with 11 constituent entities of the Russian Federation, as well as with the Federal Penitentiary Service, of course, most of the target set is allocated for the Republic of Tatarstan. A feature of the target set this year is a special set for single-industry towns - Chelny, Yelabuga, Nizhnekamsk, Zelenodolsk, Chistopol, Kamskiye Polyany. Separate quotas have been allocated for them, - says Aleksey Sozinov.
The cost of education in the "honey" has increased, depending on the specialties, from 4 to 14%.
KSUAE shows "responsibility to the Almighty", and the Institute of Culture is preparing for the closure of Surikov
Kazan State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering will recruit 1,600 people. The university conducted a whole campaign to attract students from neighboring regions. KSUAE keeps the prices for education - the cost is about 80 thousand rubles a year.
Conditionally in Samara training costs about 160-180 thousand. We'd rather take two at 80 than one at 160, although that would be easier. But there is such a thing as social responsibility, and before the Almighty, the position should also be somehow clear, - explains rector Rashit Nizamov.
Kazan State Agrarian University can also boast of a relatively low cost of education.
Probably, the Institute of Culture expects to replace the Kazan branch of the Surikov Institute, which soon threatens to cease to exist due to lack of funding. Photo by Maxim Platonov
Considering that the majority of applicants are from the village, we set the minimum cost of education - from 60 to 110 thousand rubles, - says rector Jaudat Fayzrakhmanov.
Kazansky state institute culture will accept 162 "full-time students" and 74 "correspondence students" for the budget. Prices for commercial groups, the rector notes, are also “quite high.
I would like to repeat that the prices are set by the founder, and the highest price is 175 thousand rubles. But compared to Moscow universities, this is more modest. We asked the founder to lower prices and were able to achieve this only for correspondence department and graduate school, - says Rifkat Yusupov, rector of KGIK.
This year, new specialties are being opened at the university: “monumental decorative art”, “animated film and computer graphics director and painting”. Probably, the university expects to replace the Kazan branch of the Surikov Institute, which soon threatens to cease to exist due to lack of funding.
KAI, KHTI and Energo are fighting for "high scorers"
Leading technical universities Tatarstan - energy, KAI and KHTI. In connection with the demand for these specialties, they are increasing the target figures for admission to state-funded places. Moreover, the requirements for graduates are also increasing - the passing score is growing.
I would like to draw your attention to the fact that the competition seems to be decreasing, fewer applications are being submitted to us, and GPA rises - this means that graduates consciously choose a university and applicants with low USE scores are cut off, they do not even try to apply, - says Alexander Leontiev, Vice-Rector for academic work Kazan State Power Engineering University.
Leontiev adds that high-scoring students at the university are awarded increased scholarship- 15 thousand rubles.
Tupolev KSTU (KAI) will accept 1012 people for the budget, including new specialty- nanomaterials. Photo by Maxim Platonov
KSTU im. Tupolev (KAI) will accept 1,012 people for the budget, including a new specialty - nanomaterials. Here, too, they pay attention to the fact that they are waiting for “good applicants”.
The whole industry is aimed at counteracting the sanctions, so we need smart guys who can create equipment, - says Vice-Rector for educational activities Nikolay Malivanov.
at the Kazan National Research technological university(KHTI) also notes that they are “waiting for medalists” and are ready to add 10 points to them upon admission. 1,700 people will be accepted for undergraduate studies, and 2,068 people for master's programs.
Demand is growing for technical specialties, children have a different attitude to their education - they study and hire tutors. We will fight for high scorers, - says Sergey Yushko, acting rector of KCTI.
“No need to vacuum”, or Why the Ministry of Education does not see a tragedy in the reduction of budget places
The university administration notes that the "quality" of applicants is growing, and the average score this year will be slightly higher than last year. Due to the reduction of places, more capable graduates will get into universities. “There is no need to vacuum,” Nizamov, the rector of KSUAE, figuratively expressed himself, meaning that it is not necessary to recruit everyone to universities. Andrey Pominov, Deputy Minister of Education, does not see a particular tragedy in the reduction of budget places, he recalled that in Soviet years no more than 18% of all school graduates got into universities.
Naturally, it is easier to select 18 people from a hundred than 40-50 people. As Rashit Kurbanovich put it, "no need to vacuum." There is some truth in this too. On the other hand, the quality of graduates is growing, they passed this year very, very well, - says Deputy Minister of Education Andrey Pominov.
The quality of graduates is growing, they passed this year very, very well, - says Andrey Pominov. Photo mon.tatarstan.ru
It should be noted one more interesting detail: the increase in the average USE score is also due to the fact that weak and average students simply do not finish their studies until the 11th grade, preferring to receive professional education in colleges and technical schools. 14.5 thousand people graduated from the 11th grade in 2017, 19.5 thousand of their peers at one time decided to complete their studies after the 9th grade.
Daria Turtseva
The government think tank believes that the education reform has not led to the desired results. The experts were disappointed by the fact that the share of state budget institutions remained dominant.
Judging by the news that 40% of state-funded places in universities in 2017 will be eliminated, there is a possibility of a new reform. Although after the appearance of the news, officials vied with each other to refute it, the rumors are not without foundation.
What's going on with the budget
In December 2015, the budget of the Russian Federation for 2016 was adopted. It provides for a three percent deficit, average price for oil at $50, and a reduction of 2/3 of the Reserve Fund.
After 7 months, we can say that the indicators are within the predicted limits, only the price of oil leaves much to be desired. Under these conditions, the government decided to make efforts to balance the budget as the main way to maintain stability. In such circumstances, the reduction of budget places in universities in 2017 is predictable.
The salary of a librarian in a small town is 8,500 rubles. Wherein federal Service State statistics reports that the average monthly salary in the country for May 2016 reached the threshold of 37,270 rubles.
The same site says that the average monthly salary of university teachers has reached 44,612 rubles, school teachers- 31993, and employees preschool education 27750 rubles. Only one thing is not clear - at a meeting with the Prime Minister, he is asked why young teachers receive a salary of 10-15 thousand.
Officials promise indexation of wages for education workers from October 1, 2016, but it is difficult to imagine how this is possible if education spending in 2016 is reduced by 8.5%. The Ministry of Economic Development proposes to impose a moratorium in 2016 on the indexation of salaries of civil servants and state employees. At the same time, the growth of housing and communal services tariffs and inflation are forcing state employees to tighten their belts even more.
What will it lead to, or there is no money, but you don’t need to
The cost of education in the countries of the world depends on budget financing, which in turn depends on the state of the economy and the need for personnel. Thus, a year of study for a German student will cost about $600, while for a Russian student in his homeland, getting a crust on a paid basis will cost 4 times more. Only in Finland and Argentina does higher education remain completely free.
Russia is the most educated country world, 53% of the adult population has cherished crusts. Unfortunately, this has little effect on the country's economy. GDP per capita is only $16,611, labor productivity is $25,900, which is half the European average.
It turns out that the cherished crust does not give the state the desired results. Why do you need a highly qualified specialist if there is no machine on which he will work. As a result, only specialists with higher education. More than 60% of people with higher education do not work according to their profile, a diploma becomes a status item and has little to do with the real income of an employee. If we consider the situation from this side, then the news of education in 2017 becomes quite natural.
Believe or not believe rumors
The information stuffing about the reduction of budget places carries interesting information. It seems that the government decided to test the reaction of society to such a decision. In addition, this makes it possible:
- Prepare public opinion. If such a decision is really being prepared, then it can be implemented according to the scheme “we wanted to take everything, but we take only half.” An old trick to manipulate society. They started a rumor about a 40% reduction, but in practice only 25% will be reduced.
- Distracting people from other, more important issues. This is a new news item.
- Preparing for . Everyone understands that if education in 2016/2017 deprives 40% of budget places, then hundreds of thousands of teachers and researchers will lose their jobs. And if they simply do not get a pay rise, then there will be much less reason for dissatisfaction.
Only one thing can be said with certainty - there is not enough money in the budget, and the state is looking for ways to save money. What forms it will take is not yet clear, but the decision to reduce free study places there are huge downsides.
The government wants to reduce 40% of budget places in universities in 2017 from the level set for this year. The Ministry of Education and Science does not have enough money to pay for the admission of students to the first year. The lack of funds in the budget will also lead to a reduction in student scholarships. Finally, as a result of budgetary optimization, by 2019, 10.3 thousand researchers from universities, the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Kurchatov Institute will be left without work. The position of the Ministry of Education and Science was formulated in response to the reduction by the Ministry of Finance of budget allocations for the state programs "Development of Education" and "Development of Science and Technology" and was discussed at a budget meeting with Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev on July 29. General approaches to the optimization of state programs, including those controlled by the Ministry of Education and Science, the government approved at a meeting on July 7. At the same time, it was decided to freeze the total budget expenditures in nominal terms for 2017-2019 at the level of 15.78 trillion rubles. in year.
In the case of education and science common decision on freezing costs means a real reduction in costs provided for by the passports of these two state programs, follows from the documents of the department for the meeting with the Prime Minister, which Gazeta.Ru managed to get acquainted with. The state program "Development of Education" was underfunded last year and should be reduced by 11.5% of its passport value in 2016. Reductions can be fixed during the autumn optimization of the current budget. Sequestration in 2017 educational program will be 23.4% of the program passport. It will continue in 2018, with spending decreasing by 28.5% and by 35.2% in 2019. The share of spending on education in total budget spending will fall from 2.75% in 2015 to 2.45% in 2019, the ministry said.
The meeting also announced the need for large-scale layoffs among scientists. The reason is the same - the lack of funds for the state program "Development of Science and Technology". The share of the scientific state program in the total budget expenditures will decrease from 0.98% in 2015 to 0.87% in 2019. Therefore, in 2017, it is proposed to dismiss up to 500 people from universities. Big losses are planned at the Academy of Sciences and the Kurchatov Institute.
The Ministry of Education and Science proposes to delete 8.3 thousand researchers from the FASO payroll by 2019 (3.5 thousand people may be fired in 2017). At the Kurchatov Institute, the department is preparing 1,500 people for layoffs next year. Together with scientists will be reduced Scientific research, measures to develop the scientific and technical base. Not only students, their teachers and scientists will suffer. The Ministry of Education and Science insists that the limits approved in July will require a proportional reduction in subsidies for state tasks educational institutions all levels.
Two times less than the required level is allocated for postgraduate scholarships, the materials say.
The tactics of intimidation at the meeting with the prime minister did not bring any results, government sources familiar with the discussion told Gazeta.Ru. In the open part, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev acknowledged that under the current conditions, it will be necessary to optimize costs by redistributing funds to the most important areas and reducing inefficient spending.
