Russian universities no longer take part in the Bologna process, according to the Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education of Russia, Dmitry Afanasyev, at an expanded meeting of the Federation Council Committee on Science, Education, and Culture. He explained that the Bologna Group announced on April 11 its decision to terminate the representation of Russia and Belarus in all related structures.
The Bologna system provides for a two-level education system: bachelor‘s and master‘s degree. Russia joined this process on September 19, 2003. The Russian system, in turn, in addition to these two levels, involves the training of specialists with a standard training period of five to six years.
“Taking into account the fact that our rectors, heads of educational organizations signed the appeal of the Russian Union of Rectors to support the President in connection with the special operation, thereby, in fact, all educational organizations of the country are excluded from the Bologna process. This declaration is not a contract, we do not need to break it, withdraw from it. I would say that it was the Bologna system that withdrew itself from us, and not us, from it,” the official said.
He added that the introduction of bachelor’s and master’s degrees did not improve the level of training of graduates. According to Afanasyev, “a four-year bachelor’s degree was insufficient for the full-fledged formation of knowledge, skills, competencies.” The Deputy Minister noted that some employers have not recognized the bachelor’s degree level as sufficient to appoint holders of such diplomas to key positions. As a result, some universities have introduced a five-year bachelor’s degree.
The Head of the Ministry of Education and Science, Valery Falkov, said on May 24 that the Bologna education system should be treated as “a stage that has been experienced.” He stressed that in the next few years, Russia will switch to a national system of higher education.
Ru-Main, 07.06.2022
Source: RIA Novosti
