The factors of interethnic tension in higher education environment (based on the materials of a sociological study in Altai State University, Barnaul)

Abstract

The subject of this research is the factors of interethnic tension in higher education environment. The object of this research is interethnic tension in the educational environment. Detailed attention is given to socio-psychological, conflictological, and sociological approaches towards studying the interethnic tension. The author examines the manifestation of interethnic tension, namely the factors that may aggravate it in the higher education institutions. The following factors are explored: social adaptation of students in polyethnic educational environment; ethnic stereotypes; cultural differences between students belonging to various ethnic groups; biased attitude of the participants of educational process on ethnic grounds. The conclusion is made that such factors as ethnic stereotypes and cultural differences of students are present in Altai State University; the need for social adaptation of students in polyethnic educational environment and  biased attitude of the participants of educational process on ethnic ground manifest rather insignificantly, although pose a potential threat to interethnic relations in the university. The author’s special contribution consists in formulation of practical recommendations for the administrative departments of Altai State University aimed at reducing the likelihood of the emergence of interethnic tensions in the educational environment; as well as in proposal of measures to prevent the occurrence of inexplicit factors.