Evaluating State Youth Policy: Factors and Criteria from the Perspective of Students Across Russian Regions

The research analyzes the criteria and factors for assessing the content and main directions of implementation of the state youth policy (SUP) at the federal and regional levels by students of Russian regions, and establishes the degree of their correlation with the criteria for assessing this policy identified in scientific literature and official documents. The study is based on the results of a mass survey and focus groups conducted among schoolchildren and students of secondary specialized schools and universities of different types of regions of Siberia (Altai Krai, Altai Republic, Novosibirsk and Tomsk regions) in September - December 2024. The authors note the lack of a clear understanding of the content of the SUP, information about its programs and projects, especially regional ones, in the minds of student youth, which makes it difficult for young people to assess its implementation. While quantitative criteria of youth policy effectiveness prevail in official documents and research literature, benefits from inclusion in its implementation, their ratio to the required effort, the degree of assistance of the youth policy to the formation of human capital capable of providing young people with a decent life in the future, accessibility and interesting presentation of information about projects and events are more important for students. The article highlights the level of awareness of young people, their involvement in the projects and events of the youth policy, the presence of interest in this topic, the degree of relevance of individual areas of the youth policy for them, as well as the gender and age characteristics of respondents and the situation in the region of their residence as factors influencing the assessment of the effectiveness of the youth policy implementation by schoolchildren and students.