Towards the New Model of Doctoral Education: The Experience of Enhancing Doctoral Programs in Russian Universities

Abstract

In the era of knowledge-based economy, improving the quality and efficiency of doctoral programs is a key aspect of ensuring economic growth and national competitiveness in the global arena. Doctoral education in Russia today is redefining its goals and organizational models in light of global challenges as well as the revised Federal Law On Education in the Russian Federation and the new Regulations on Awarding Academic Degrees. This transitional period, complicated with low completion rates and institutional problems, contributes to the urgency of devising improvement practices for doctoral education. Interviews with doctoral students and graduate program administrators are used to analyze Russian universities’ practices designed to enhance doctoral studies. Those practices are grouped in accordance with the traditionally identified aspects of doctoral education that are directly related to its success: admissions, graduate curriculum, advising/mentoring, monitoring progress, financial support, institutional climate, practices and procedures. The article also discusses the opportunities for disseminating best practices to improve doctoral education as well as the restrictions that must be taken into account.