The Social Mechanism of the Functioning of the Institute of Postgraduate Studies in Contemporary Russia

The work aims to study the institute of postgraduate studies as a complex social phenomenon. Object: the institute of postgraduate studies as a social phenomenon; subject: the social mechanism of functioning of the institute of postgraduate studies as a composite phenomenon. The paper examines all five elements of the social mechanism of the institute of postgraduate studies; thereby, we are attempting a comprehensive analysis of the behaviour of actors based on the socio-cultural basis and the regulatory framework. The management block provides an analysis of the main functions of the Higher Attestation Commission and determines its role in the functioning of the Institute of Postgraduate Studies. The status block provides a 3-level model of the involvement of various groups of students, scientific and pedagogical personnel and university employees in the institute of postgraduate studies. At the level of perception of postgraduate studies, the author determined its role in the formation of personnel for the labour market. At the level of perception of professional activity, the emphasis is on prestige and economic well-being. And at the level of perception of an academic degree in society, it is necessary to consider the social risks for the holder of an academic degree due to the stereotypes formed in society. The behavioural block provides a comprehensive analysis of the activities of all groups of actors at the three main stages of the postgraduate institute for applicants: educational, individual (plan) and dissertation. In the fifth block (consequences), the author considered the results of postgraduate institute reform in 2013. Finally, the author made disappointing conclusions about the reduction in the number of protections, the loss of prestige of postgraduate studies and the strengthening of barriers to the protection of graduate students.

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