A New Model of Russian Postgraduate Education: Pilot Study of the First Graduation of PhD Students

Abstract

The paper presents the pilot study’s results of the first graduation of PhD students’ majoring in Social Studies and Humanities at Lobachevsky State University, prepared in the framework of the new model of Russian postgraduate education. Graduates’ assessments and opinions about the educational process of the new format as well as difficulties and teaching problems are analyzed. The paper dwells on the issues, concerning motivation of getting postgraduate education, the effectiveness of scientific work, professional carrier development, defense of PhD thesis. The educational component of a postgraduate program is established to be perceived by quite a few of graduates as a source of new competences increasing competitiveness beyond the academic labour market. Diplomas of postgraduate education and awarding qualification «Researcher. Teacher-Researcher» are assessed by the respondents ambiguously. Plans aimed at receiving a scientific degree are the prioritized objectives for graduates for the near future. Based on the empirical data analysis the author has concluded that the major obstacles in the new model of postgraduate education development are the following: unsolved problems of so called «old model»; insufficient funding of postgraduate training; the necessity of postgraduate educational programs’ correspondence with the real needs of labour market and systematic work on selection, preparation and involvement of the most motivated students into postgraduate education programs.