Substantive aspects of the category «profession»: genesis and current state

The article examines the evolution of the category «profession» in its’ connection with the staff training systems in Russian and foreign practice. Its connection with such terms as «specialty», «competence», «qualification», «professional standard», «educational standard» has been clarified. It is established that the genesis of the category under study reflects the course of development of modern society including the division of labor and the emergence of employment, the formation of financial, economic, educational and scientific infrastructure, as well as employment structures in the field of tangible and intangible production. It is determined the present stage under the influence of scientific and technological progress, the competence base of professions has expanded, and specialties have begun to appear within their framework, i.e. specific areas of knowledge, skills, and other abilities within a particular profession. This period was also characterized by the almost universal institutionalization of professional qualifications, including those related to the transformation of public relations, the political restructuring of societies and the predominance of employment. It is indicated that after the introduction of the Bologna System in the Russian Federation, professional standards and the All-Russian Classifier set the structure and list of training areas, and the Federal State Educational Standard defines exactly how educational programs are implemented within these areas. At the same time, the introduction of professional and educational standards has led to a transformation of the content and semantic content of the categories «profession» and «specialty», which have become more understood as qualifications rather than as a type of work. It is noted that currently there are significant shortcomings in the institutional framework of the national vocational training system that require reform.