Life Cycle Model of Professional Higher Education in Russia as a Management Tool of the Stable Development of the Sector

Abstract

In the article the history and the actual state of the system of professional higher education (PHE) in Russia is examined. The analysis of recent tendencies of the sector is presented, and its life cycle is investigated. The necessity as well as the possibility of the approximation of key parameters of the higher education system are proved using the logistic function. A specific situation emerged in 1991–2009, characterized by a saturating avalanche-like process. It included mass demand of the Russian population for higher education, low cost of educational service, lowering of the market entrance barriers for new educational institutions. The education law of 1992 played the role of catalyst in these processes. The model of quantity of students is constructed; the conditions, which define the level and dynamics of the key indicators of PHE are examined. Authors formulated and substantiated their position in relation to the planned trends of PHE restructure.