Expansion of higher education and consequences for social inequality (the case of Russia)

Abstract

The expansion of higher education leads to a number of consequences. The case of Russia has both specific features and features common to processes taking place in other countries. This paper offers a retrospective description of educational system manipulation and changes that have occurred due to general transformations in Russia. The new labor market required qualified specialists. At the same time, employers needed a significant number of more or less socialized young people, and these skills are considered to be acquired as a result of studying in a higher education institution (HEI). Both demands from the labor market were transmitted to families, who, in turn, translated demands to the educational system. The educational scope responded adequately to demand from families. HEIs underwent differentiation: some provided knowledge, along with socialization, confirmed by degrees; others just gave degrees plus socialization. Enrollment in HEIs grew continuously and very rapidly. Two types of consequence of the resulting situation are considered here. Using the findings of 50 years’ research, it is shown that increased HEI enrollment has led to greater uniformity in aspirations for education among young people and to their broader participation in higher education. However, this has not proved conducive to lessening social inequality in higher education. In addition, studies of HEI graduates in the labor market testify that the growth of HEI differentiation has raised inequality in the labor market.