Master’s degree program as institutionalized education: sociological education in Russia and India

Abstract

The goal of this article is to analyze and understand the institutional peculiarities of functionality of the master’s program in sociology in Russian and Indian universities. In the conditions of rapid development of global educational space, master’s programs become an attractive means of exercising academic mobility by students. For this case study, Ural Federal University and Mumbai University were selected, both of which offer master’s programs in sociology and are not part of the QS World University Rankings. The author analyzes the websites of both university, and conducts surveys of sociology students in India (n=65) and Russia (n=66). The results of this research demonstrate that master’s program in the Russian university is practically oriented and is aimed at filling the demands of the regional job market. The program offered by the Indian university is accompanied by national specificity, reflecting peculiarities of the current state of Indian society. For Indian students, getting an education in a Russian university master’s program serves as an important instrument for securing strong status positions. Russian sociology students do not demonstrate interest towards education in Indian universities, opting instead for education in BRICS countries and China.