Transformation of Higher Education in Russia from the Position of World-System Analysis: Current Trends

Background. The article analyses the individual problems of transformation in higher education in Russia in the first quarter of the 21st century from the standpoint of a sociological approach. It assesses the trends in the modernization of the system of higher education in the period preceding Russia’s withdrawal from the Bologna process. It also evaluates the potential for reforming higher education in the post-Bologna perspective (2022–2026). Objectives. The study is aimed at conceptualizing the concept of “education transformation” in the problematic field of sociology of education. The author’s task is to identify contemporary issues and areas of transformation of higher education in Russia, in the study of which it is possible to apply the method of world-system analysis. Methods. The leading logic of the study is the world-system analysis of I. Wallerstein as a sociological approach and tool for assessing the mechanisms of modernization of higher education. Content analysis of scientific literature texts and elements of bibliometric analysis are used. Results. The implementation of the principles of world-system analysis allows us to consider various aspects of the modern transformation of higher education in Russia from the standpoint of the macro-sociological theory of I. Wallerstein (the “core-periphery” relationship), including issues of global education, the development of the internationalization of higher education, the distribution of academic capital, issues of educational migration, the transition to a new form of specialist education, etc. Conclusions. The relationship between the transformation of higher education in Russia and changes in the global world-system, redistribution of fixed capital, spheres and types of educational activity is revealed. The use of world-system analysis allows us to understand the unique path of development of Russian higher education in order to achieve a stable position in the world arena and high indicators of the quality of specialists training.