On June 14, the general meeting of the Association of Classical Universities of Russia was held under the chairmanship of the President of ACUR, the Rector of Moscow University Victor Sadovnichii. The Rector of Saratov University Aleksei Chumachenko presented a report there.
The members of the ACUR general meeting tried to define the key principles and approaches to the development of the Russian higher education system.
In his speech, Victor Sadovnichii noted a number of shortcomings of the level model of higher education existing since 2011 and suggested that the domestic training system should be updated, namely it should focus on a flexible multivariate model of training in the higher education system, including specialty courses, six-year integrated master's degree programs, as well as traditional bachelor's and master's degree courses. At the same time, in science-driven and high-tech fields of education, priority should be given to continuous training courses (specialty and integrated master's degree ones).
Aleksei Chumachenko reflected on how the transformation of higher education is seen from the position of Saratov University. The rector talked about the ratio of specialty and level training, the possibilities of obtaining two or more qualifications during the studies, the mission of classical universities in introducing talented schoolchildren to science.
In addition to Aleksei Chumachenko, the position of regional universities was also expressed by the rectors of Southern Federal University (Inna Shevchenko), Yaroslavl State University (Alexander Rusakov), North-Eastern Federal University (Anatolii Nikolayev), and Dagestan State University (Murtazali Rabadanov). The speakers approved the proposals made by Victor Sadovnichii, the Head of Talent and Success Foundation Elena Shmeleva, the Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Science, Education, and Culture Lilia Gumerova, the Deputy Chair of the State Duma Committee on Science and Higher Education Alexander Mazhuga and agreed on a few specific proposals.