Institutional diversity in Russian higher education: revolutions and evolution

AbstractThis paper is devoted to changes in the structure of the higher education system in Russia, analysing both historical context and current institutional diversity. The review starts from the Soviet quasi-corporate system when the state combined demand-side and supply-side roles in higher education. The post-Soviet transformation brings new forces that shaped institutional diversity. Following that, the historical typology of institutions is investigated with regard to the major forces influencing these universities' development. Taking into account both the historical legacy and the crucial post-Soviet period (1990s–2000s), a typology of new types of higher education institutions is set forth. It represents an extreme case of state-authorized higher education facing market forces. The state abandons its monopoly on demand in higher education and cannot fully control the supply side. And the system itself is under pressure from the influence of different sides.Keywords: higher education institutioninstitutional diversitydifferentiationquasi-corporate higher education systempath dependence Notes on contributorsIsak Froumin is an Academic Supervisor of Institute of Education, National Research University, Higher School of Economics, Moscow, Russia.Yaroslav Kouzminov is a Rector of National Research University, Higher School of Economics, Moscow, Russia.Dmitry Semyonov is a Head of Universities Development Laboratory at Institute of Education, National Research University, Higher School of Economics, Moscow, Russia.Notes1. The search of an optimal model of integration of higher education in the country's economic system led to rather exotic solutions. For example, Moscow Animal Production Institute, which had already undergone several changes by that time, was reorganized in 1930, and four specialized institutes were established on its basis: horse breeding, cattle, sheep breeding and veterinary institutes (a little earlier, i.e., in 1929, the institute's department of hunting and farming had been detached into the independent Institute of fur farming, which lasted until 1954). In the same 1930, Moscow Institute of Grain and Flour Technology emerged on the basis of Grain and Flour Departments of D. Mendeleyev University of Chemical Technology of Russia and Food Machines specialty of Bauman Higher Technical School (and became Moscow Engineering and Technology Institute of Baking after reorganization in 1931). In 1932, the People's Commissariat of Light Industry established Flax Institute in Kostroma (now Kostroma State Technological University, reports to the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation). There are many of such examples: the institutions of water transport, fishery, refrigeration industry, etc.2. Unified State Examination – total school graduates testing examination which is at the same time an entrance exam for admission to HEIs.3. By 2010/2011, each state university had had, on average, 1.6 branches, the non-state ones had 1.3: the total number was 1668.4. Very few new public universities have been established in Russia since 1993.5. Unified State Exam is a nation-wide university entrance exam, administrated centrally.6. About 5% of all enrolled students could get into the universities through academic competitions. They are considered as the most creative and motivated.7. Still all agricultural universities are subordinated to the Ministry of Agriculture.8. When calculating, the enlarged groups of specialties are divided into professional fields formalized in the International Standard Classification of Education – UNESCO, 1997 (pp. 41–45).9. By taking the median with respect to the USE score (65.5) as well as the clipping value of fee-paying to the state-funded admission ratio – 1.0 (which corresponds to the equal state-funded and fee-paying admission).10. Specialized industrial HEIs.11. In the meaning of 'rules of the game' (North Citation1990), not 'educational institution'.