Part-time Higher Professional Education in Russia: General Description (2005–2011)

Abstract

Based on the data obtained by the Institute for Statistical Studies and Economics of Knowledge, National Research University — Higher School of Economics 

Olga Ozerova , Head of the Department for Statistics of Education, Institute for Statistical Studies and Economics of Knowledge, National Research University — Higher School of Economics, Moscow, Russian Federation. Email: oozerova@hse.ru
Address: 20 Myasnitskaya St., Moscow, 101000, Russian Federation.

Varvara Kobyshcha, Master’s degree student at National Research University — Higher School of Economics, Moscow, Russian Federation. Email: ko.varvara@gmail.com
Address: 20 Myasnitskaya St., Moscow, 101000, Russian Federation.

The article describes the situation with part-time higher vocational education in Russia and demonstrates changes in part-time student population. An analysis of enrolment rates allows to predict that reduction in the number of part-time students that started in 2010 is likely to progress. In general, changes in part-time education are quite consistent with the overall trend towards lower enrolment rates. It is curious that the number of part-time students began to reduce a few years ago. Before that, it had been growing, despite continuously decreasing full-time and overall enrolment rates. A comparison of part-time enrolment rates to those of part-time student graduation has shown that the latter have been consistently growing.

The authors have revealed how the number of part-time students is determined by changes in the private vocational education system. In addition to the overall trend, the number of part-time students had reduced by the 2010-2011 academic year due to elimination of unlicensed private education institutions, which led to a cut-down in part-time places.

The newly introduced forms of higher education (Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees) are poorly correlated with part-time education at the moment, especially in national and municipal educational institutions. Fields of study and professions have been classified according to the proportion of part-time students in the total student population. Finally, gender- and age-related characteristics of part-time students have been described.