The Development of Higher Education in Russia: An Assessment Methodology

The paper presents a methodology for assessing the status of the higher education (HE) system, together with the results of its application. A monitoring system for HE in Russia is proposed using the indicative figures grouped in two units (the Conditions of Operation and Status of Infrastructure and state Educational and Research Activities of the HE System at the level of the Russian Federal Subject).The analysis conducted over a time period of 12 years has shown that, unfortunately, a direct correlation between the growth of investments and an increase in quality is not observed. It is clear that the leaders in terms of financing and the leaders in terms of improving the quality of education are two different things. This demonstrates the need to reform regulation of HE, particularly with regard to prioritising its development and improving the financial and economic mechanisms required to achieve this.