Introduction. Postgraduate education of the Russian higher school is traditionally considered as a strategic reserve, which provides the continuity of academic and teaching personnel and the efficiency of education of future experts. However, the total number of this key resource of the higher education system, which guarantees its stable functioning and further forward development, has been reduced in recent years. Postgraduate admission has decreased, in particular, pedagogical training programmes. What is most important, the PhD student quality has substantially dropped.

The aim of the present publication was to identify the level of research skills of PhD students of pedagogical specialisation and present the most productive ways for the formation of skills to carry out research activities.

Methodology and research methods. The study was based on the ideas of systemic-activity approach, competency-based approach and major provisions of the theory of action. Scientific publications on research projects of PhD students and the concept of “new” post graduate school in the Russian education were analysed. Online survey and questionnaire survey of PhD students, their supervisors and members of dissertation boards were conducted. The assessment of results of research conducted by PhD students, synthesis and description of productive teaching practices and positive pedagogical experience gained at Tyumen State University (TSU) were applied.

Results and scientific novelty. Based on the classical interpretation of nature and contents of human activity, a definition of research activity is formulated. It constitutes as the grounds for development of the contents and procedure for the list of research tasks for PhD students to master in order to successfully complete their PhD studies (as yet, the similar register has been compiled and scientifically based only for a bachelor degree). Insufficient competence of many PhD students to organise and conduct an independent scientific and pedagogical search is proved. Unstable components of their research competence are revealed: inability to use the most important elements of the methodology corpus and problems in writing scientific texts. Practically verified methods and means to develop the research competence of PhD students, doctoral candidates, applicants on academic degrees and their research supervisors are described: methodological seminars of the education department, a group analysis of scientific texts for publication, group visits and discussion of open lectures and seminars for teachers of the education department and PhD students, role mini-plays, public preliminary dissertation defense, participation in the events held by the department, etc.

Practical significance. Knowledge of the gaps in research competence of PhD students will allow their supervisors to selectively improve the students’ skills, which are necessary for writing and defending the dissertation. Creative application and systematically scientific-pedagogical work will help achieve a significant improvement in building PhD student competence for scientific and teaching activities.

Introduction. The liberalisation of state educational standards and the provision of greater autonomy for educational institutions in the formation of educational programmes indicate the need for development of a new classification system for Russian education, which should become common for all types of professional educational programmes, including additional training programmes.

The aim of the publication was to discuss the status and possible ways to modernise the system of classification of educational programmes in Russian vocational education, taking into account the prospects of its development and the constant replenishment of the registers of professional standards and qualifications.

Methodology and research methods. In the course of the study, a retrospective analysis of the development of the classification system of professional educational programmes was used, during which the best Russian and foreign practices were compared.

Results. The features of the current lists of professions and specialties of secondary vocational education and areas of improvement in accordance with modern requirements of the system of classification of professional educational programmes used in these lists were considered. For updated lists, a new composition of enlarged groups of the classification system of vocational education programs has been proposed, coupled with a list of areas of professional activity of the register of professional standards of the Ministry of Labour of Russia.

Scientific novelty. For the first time, it is proposed to refuse classifiers that are strictly tied to the lists of professions, specialties and training areas approved by the Ministry of Education and Science, which formally copy these lists. Combining the classification systems of vocational education programmes and areas of professional activity will allow an adequate comparison of statistical information on training in the education system with their actual use in the labour market.

Practical significance. The introduction of the proposed classification system allows us more fully to take into account data on the training of specialists in the Russian system of vocational education, to reflect this data as accurately as possible in national and international educational statistics and to correlate them with employment indicators in various sectors of the economy and production.

Introduction. Nowadays, information technologies are developing rapidly. This process affects practically all spheres of life and causes the need of system technological revolutions and modern methods of data processing. A process of digitalisation inevitably changes the structure of population employment and the educational environment as being provider of new HR-recourses.

The aims of the research were to identify the problems of the digitalization policy in Russia and to formulate possible solutions.

Methodology and research methods. The methods of theoretical investigation were used: abstraction, synthesis, analysis and generalisation.

Results. The interaction of education systems and science in the field of preparation of HR-recourses at the stage of digital modernisation of the Russian economy is considered. The impact of digitalisation on vacancies and competences needed and the level of preparedness of Russia for the new technological mode are analysed. The perspective directions of higher education and recruitment policy of enterprise and the whole state are identified. The authors have come to the conclusion that rational recruitment policy is an essential part of Russian economy’s digitalisation. The efficiency of realisation of this strategy requires systembased approach to the organisation of staff training for the enterprises in actively changing economic conditions. HR management has become an extremely important element of this system. It is impossible to manage with such digitalization risks as structural unemployment and – at the same time – deficit of highly-qualified specialists without paying attention to what HR-market requires.

Scientific novelty. The originality of digital economy is in its optimising effect on production and consumption possible because of operativeness and consolidation of information and computing systems. There has appeared an opportunity to manage socio-economic processes systematically. The necessity of structural changes in HR-market is proved. Moreover, high schools should head the process of overcoming the expected structural unemployment caused by new technologies appearing, i.e. they provide high-quality education of specialised competencies necessary for workers, in particular. Universities must not wait for the government to work out and present new standards and recommendations. On the contrary, high schools ought to independently and urgently initiate the organisation of competitive experts training and to form innovative methods of education of new specialists by cooperating with business sphere and taking examples of digital leaders. To sum up, sensible approach to educational policy can solve the problem of balancing the HК-market and prevent social disturbance.

Practical significance. On the example of activity of separate higher education institutions, the ways and models of functioning of the higher school are shown according to economic tendencies.

Introduction. In today’s world, a problem of vandalism has become rather widespread. Vandals damage monuments of cultural heritage, historic sights and other types of public space. A theoretical aspect of vandalism is registered in jurisprudence, which is guided principally by regulatory approach to the solution of questions of the violation of laws and recognised rules of human coexistence. However, focusing only on the application of administrative and criminal sanctions to those guilty of vandal offenses, does not allow reducing the excessive number of universal manifestations of vandalism, which have been increased recently, by avoiding psychological factors. T

he aims of the publication were the following: to actualise and discuss the problem of vandal behaviour among adolescents; to denote a problem field of psychological research, which is necessary for identifying genesis, vandal determination and further organisation of effective preventive activity in educational institutions.

Methodology and research methods. The methodological basis of the research involved hermeneutic and dialectic approaches, general scientific methods of analysis, synthesis, comparison and synthesis of scientific data.

Results and scientific novelty. The author attempted to interpret the problem of vandal behaviour of adolescents from the point of view of interdisciplinary understanding. The author highlighted the need for a detailed psychological analysis of the phenomenon under study, its causes and predictors for the formation of adequate measures to reduce the spread of vandalism in the public space. The contradictions in the psychological theory, educational practice and consciousness of society were revealed: between the widespread occurrence of acts of vandal behaviour and the limited methods and means to prevent it; between the mass involvement of adolescents in vandalism and the lack of specialised age-based programmes to correct vandal behaviour; between the prevalence of unauthorized graphic activity of schoolchildren and other forms of vandal behaviour in the educational environment and the reluctance of teachers and administration of educational institutions to recognise this as a noteworthy problem; between the social significance of determination of lawful and effective punishment (in terms of prevention) and insufficient attention to personal reasons that encourage a person to commit or not to commit vandal acts; between common scientific interest in the individual psychological and socio-typological features of adolescents committing vandalism and inadequate attention to the socio-psychological motivational determinants, initiating and forming the readiness to commit vandal actions. The outlined discrepancies allowed the author to plan a general trajectory of the required research, in which the phenomenon of vandalism has to be considered in the context of realisation of personal subjectivity.

Practical significance. It is known that small forms of vandal behaviour can be transformed to heavier types of destructive behaviour, right up to antisocial ones. Nevertheless, the ambiguous perception of vandal acts in society and scientific community, lack of a clear boundary in understanding of acceptability or unacceptability of kinds of this phenomenon is interfered with creation of effective model of counteraction of its expansion. On the one hand, the designated direction of scientific search can generate knowledge of essence of such deviant behaviour as vandalism, and, on the other hand, vandalism has the practice-focused importance as it can establish the foundation for the development of approaches of educational influence, which prevent the manifestations of vandalism.

Introduction. Graphic vandalism has become a widespread phenomenon in the space of modern cities. Traditionally, vandalism has been assessed as a negative phenomenon, leading to the destruction of the material, visual and social environment of urban public space. Recently, however, the discourse on the positive meaning of certain forms of vandalism (graffiti, street art, etc.) has been activated. At the same time, there is no discussion of the role and influence of vandalism on public and individual life, although, like any socio-cultural and socio-psychological phenomenon, vandalism has the basis and carries certain messages.

The aim of this research was to identify and describe the functions of graphic vandalism, taking into account socio-cultural and socio-psychological aspects.

Methodology and research methods. The study was conducted in the spatial environment of the megalopolis (Ekaterinburg, Russia) by photographing results of vandal acts (more than 6000 photographs) with subsequent trace-assessment and content analysis of images.

Results and scientific novelty. The structural functions of vandalism at the socio-environmental and individual-subjective levels are identified and characterised. The signalling and designing functions, preparation of social changes and management of public mood are referred to the first level. At the second (individual-subjective) level, the demonstrative-and-protest function, functions of reactions, compensation and self-expression are allocated. The functions are illustrated with the examples of visual representations. A two-dimensional model of vandalism functions is formed, where the functions are distributed in the spaces of “construction / reconstruction”, “emotional regulation / moral regulation”. It is noted that any function of vandal activity at the individual level becomes a kind of marker “points of tension” at the socio-environmental level. The functional variety of vandalism becomes the reason of its ambiguous perception with diverse and occasionally contradictory estimates. The authors came to the conclusion that vandalism is socially considered as the evolutionary managerial instrument of social development, which is capable to weaken impermeability of the normatively and traditionally established limits, providing adjustability of the cultural and material environment in the conditions of innovative and mobilisation changes of society. From the perspective of the personality, vandalism is concerned as individual behaviour over the socially defined limits of activity among ordinary members of the society. Thus, vandalism as the phenomenon of public life acts as a norm and a deviation, to which an assessment is given in dependence on functional significance and subject self-identification of the specific vandal act.

Practical significance. The research materials and the results obtained can be used to improve and optimise the technologies for management youth vandal activity in megapolises, for prevention and sublimation of destructive forms of youth behaviour in an urban environment.

Introduction. Modernisation of the Russian higher education system, change of conceptual paradigm and transition to competency-based approach to specialist training, which meets the urgent needs of informational technological society, make it necessary to study and develop methodological, content and procedural aspects of the implementation of this approach in practice.

The aim of the research was to study psychological and pedagogical features of the design of a practice-oriented environment, contributing to the formation of personal competency of cadets of educational institutions of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia.

Methodology and research methods. The methodological framework of the research was based on comparative analysis, synthesis and generalisation of the content of the Russian and foreign publications, which describe the theory and practice of environmental and competency-based approaches in higher education.

Results and scientific novelty. The peculiarities of the implementation of the environmental approach to the training of future specialists were shown. The con tent and conceptual meaning of such categorical-conceptual units concerning “environment” and “educational environment” was defined. The category of practice and its varieties in educational institution was analysed. The specificity of practice-oriented environment of educational organisations of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia was described. The importance of practical orientation of educational environment as a prerequisite for cadets’ education was shown. The criteria of efficiency of the practice-oriented environment were distinguished. The final purposes of education were formulated, including personal competency of future specialists as the main purpose of education. The author emphasises the significance of a complex programme realisation for cadets’ psychological support as an integral component of practice-oriented educational environment of ministerial higher education institutions. The following main blocks of the program were highlighted and characterised: target, deterministic, content, medium, technological, analytically monitored, organisational and procedural. On the basis of the allocated blocks and their substantial description the attention is focused on advantages of implementation of this program promoting continuous personal improvement and realization of potential of participants of educational process.

Practical significance. The author is convinced that the implementation of a comprehensive programme of psychological support in educational establishments of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia will contribute to the continuous personal development and realisation of students’ potential and, ultimately, will improve the efficiency of vocational education of graduates.

Introduction. Volunteering is a socially significant activity, which contributes to solving separate acute social issues and showing the best qualities of an individual – compassion, ability to sympathise and readiness to provide assistance to people in need. Through volunteering, a person achieves self-esteem
and a feeling of his or her relevance and usefulness. Under the present circumstances, aspects of the study of volunteering and youth attitudes to this concept are especially relevant. Over the last decades, social transformations have occurred, leading to a reassessment of the value system, and, consequently, society has lost its moral compass. Participation in volunteering can become one of the effective factors in the formation of ethical standards and humanistic value orientations among young people.

The aim of the research was to investigate the educational potential of volunteering through studying the attitudes of young people.

Methodology and research methods. The research was based on axiological and sociological approaches. In the course of the research, the following methods were used: review and synthesis of historical-philosophical and sociological literature, sociological group face-to-face surveys, and comparative analysis of statistical data.

 Results and scientific novelty. The authors justified the necessity for moral education of working youth through the involvement of young people in realizing charitable projects and organising philanthropic events. The authors highlighted the aspects of conducting charitable activities in one of the socially-oriented enterprises of the Urals – Sinarsky Pipe Plant. A questionnaire based survey conducted among young workers of that metal manufacturer revealed the fact of mass participation in various charitable activities (out of the sample seize of 180 young workers, 89% of respondents admitted their involvement in philanthropic activities). The respondents expressed interest in charitable projects and readiness to spend own time, energy and money for rendering disinterested targeted assistance to children with special needs and children with disabilities (56.3%), to elderly people living in difficult life situations (52.5%), to stray animals (50.0%), to children suffering from cancer (49.3%). It was concluded that charity work forms ethical standards at young people, and develops altruistic qualities such as disinterestedness and responsiveness, as well as civil consciousness.

Practical significance. The research outcomes can be used when preparing, organising and holding charitable work with the aim of bringing up morally and ethically educated young workers, as well as students of educational institutions of different levels.

Introduction. In today’s world, numbers of people of the senior generation are steadily increasing due to longer life expectancy. In this regard, questions of maintaining seniors’ working capacity, physical and psychological wellbeing and support of high vitality are updated. In this particular situation, an institute of formation of the “third age” is in high demand. The institution is considered as an integral part of a general continuous educational process during all life giving an opportunity to elderly citizens to stay actively full members of society.  

The aim of the publication was to describe socio-pedagogical research and practical experience in the education of the elderly (the “third age”) in post-Soviet Russia at the turn of the 20th–21st centuries.

Methodology and research methods. The research was based on socio-cultural approach to organisation of the education system, philosophical ideas about objective positivism, concept of continuous and non-formal life-long education and theory of comparative pedagogy.

Results and scientific novelty. On the basis of scientific publications and documentary sources, many of which have until been out of the research field, the initial stage of genesis of education of the “third age” in Russia was systemically analysed. Its legislative base, tasks, contents of programmes and technology were investigated; the practicability of such education was esteemed. The representatives of the “third age” were characterised as members of education – in terms of their social activity, level of the previous educational preparation, cultural and educational inquiries and differentiation on gender. Desire for world outlook generalisation, mentorship and freedom from marginalization complex after retirement were noted. The practices of the first institutions and projects of education in the “third age” were analysed: retro clubs, open universities. The structure, curriculum and the results of the education of the “third age” were characterised by the example of “third age” universities in Orel, Stavropol and Chelyabinsk. Social, pedagogical, psychological and medical and recreational tasks of such educational organisations were designated; the humanistic principles and practice-focused orientations of their activity were emphasised. In addition, the shortcomings were listed: exaggerated encyclopedism of programmes, domination of verbal material presentation, unsuitable use of forms and methods for “aged” students; lack of the funded legal base of such education, its worthy financing and shortage of special teaching personnel. However, despite shortcomings and gaps, the social advantage of the education focused on satisfaction of essential needs and interests of elderly people is obvious. The results of monitoring outcomes and surveys, in particular, recorded a marked strengthening of physical and psychological health of students, emergence of vital incentives and decrease in intergenerational conflicts in their families. The similarities and distinctions of ideas and processes within the formation and development of the system of education of the “third age” in Russia and abroad were shown. The worldwide tendency of social turn towards the changed needs of elderly people was emphasised.

Practical significance. The materials of the present research will make it possible to effectively cope with new challenges and solve current problems of additional education, which is oriented on a specific social stratum – older adults, taking into account their characteristics and expectations.