New horizons in the delegation of government functions on attestation of personnel of higher scientific qualification

Abstract

Aim. To assess the prospects of development of the network of councils for thesis defence for the degree of candidate of sciences, for the degree of doctor of sciences (dissertation councils — DCs) in the new conditions determined by the amendments introduced in the Federal Law of 23 August 1996 No. 127-FZ “On Science and State Scientific and Technical Policy”, which expand the range of organisations that have the right to independently create DCs. To investigate, on the basis of the analysis of the work of “pilot” DCs, a possible quantitative balance between the number of DCs created in accordance with the orders of the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia and the number of DCs created within the framework of the implementation of the right of organisations to independently award academic degrees.Tasks. To analyse the share of defences in the “pilot” DCs in relation to the total number of defences in 2017-2021; to investigate how the range of scientific specialties in the “pilot” DCs has changed in comparison with the DCs that were operating in organisations before they received the right to independently award degrees; to study the share of DCs and defences in organisations that in 2022 received the right to independently award degrees to assess the prospects for changing the structure of the attestation system.Methods. In order to obtain quantitative indicators, statistical materials from open sources were used.Results. “Pilot” organisations in general retained the structure of previously operating on their basis DSs, while expanding the range of scientific specialties. In the organisations that received in 2022 the right to independently award scientific degrees, in 2021 there were 290 DCs established by orders of the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia, which is about 17 % of the network of relevant DCs.Conclusions. Expansion of the powers of leading educational and research organisations will significantly change the share of DCs created by orders of the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia in the overall attestation system. This will have a positive effect on the reproduction of personnel in such organisations due to the integration of the processes of training and attestation of scientific personnel. For applicants from organisations that do not have the opportunity to independently create DCs, due to the reduction in the number of DCs created in accordance with the orders of the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia, and additional requirements imposed on the applicant in DCs created within the framework of the implementation of the organisations’ right to independently award degrees, the defence procedure may be significantly delayed due to the complication of the choice of the place of defence.