The Republic of Tatarstan has a long and strong history of higher education. Today, 9 percent of the population of Kazan, the capital city, are working and studying in the city’s 17 universities. But financing and infrastructure for universities are woefully inadequate, the teaching methodology is outdated, and researchers are isolated from world knowledge hubs. Tatarstan is keen to rejuvenate its universities to meet the demands of today’s students and revive the institutions’ importance and historic status.
The World Bank has, over the years, developed a high-level strategy to improve the contribution of education to development. Yet, when the President of Tatarstan asked for advice on how to create a world-class university, there was no ready answer ‘off the shelf.’ Nevertheless, the World Bank responded to the President’s request with an innovative fee-based technical assistance activity which is among the first completed in Russia. The development objective was to diagnose constraints to better service quality and build local capacity to implement reforms in higher education in Kazan. In line with its aim of helping authorities at the sub-national level take responsibility for social service quality, the World Bank’s service was provided specifically to senior officials in the sub-sector and regional authorities (including sector and finance ministries), local experts responsible for policy analysis and formulation, and university leadership teams.
World Bank quality mechanisms were followed and a benchmarking study of best-practice higher education institutions was prepared to support policy recommendations. A panel of subject matter experts provided real-time on-going review of content. Based on the diagnostics and recommendations for fundamental reforms, this activity created a demand from the clients for reform programs in Kazan. In this, the activity learnt from previous experiences therefore using a bottom-up approach which focused on building strong local ownership. The project raised awareness and public discussion on main trends and issues of the Kazan higher education system. For example, the Government in the region of Tatarstan realized the importance of strategic planning and demanded that higher education institutions develop new strategies to achieve greater regional impact. The authorities have now approved Phase II of the activities to increase the capacity of university teams to prepare and implement a higher education improvement strategy.
"Kazan, the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan, has always been an educational center of Russia’s, and the President of the Republic of Tatarstan urged the Government and the Mayor’s Office to work for Kazan remaining an educational center where gifted young people could be invited not only from Tatarstan but also from elsewhere. To handle this large task, we invited the World Bank, which got specialists, both international and national - from the Higher School of Economics in Moscow - to take part in the analysis. The main task for today is to create on the basis of the Kazan State University, a federal university that might competitively train specialists for the economy of both Tatarstan and the Russian Federation. And, of course, we should train foreign students. We should address this task jointly with the World Bank, and the Government of this Republic will make all the necessary efforts." — Rustam N. Minnykhanov, Prime-Minister of the Republic of Tatarstan
"As the result of the study conducted by the World Bank the city of Kazan has got a clear understanding about the place and importance of the professional education in the city, and the universities have received comparative data on the best international examples in higher education. Now we plan the transformation process and are creating relevant courses for the republic. Currently the second stage of the project is under implementation, which is related to creating strategic programs for the selected universities in the city of Kazan. It is obvious that this project will receive its further continuation." — Marat N. Ovchinnikov, Program Director at the State University of Kazan (KGU)
Constraints have been identified and reforms have been suggested to raise higher education quality to international standards.
Awareness has been raised, and public discussion in the region about the main issues regarding the Kazan higher education system has been generated.
As a result of the process, rectors and management of Kazan’s 17 higher education institutions are committed to introducing new teaching methods and diversifying their student bodies.
Local capacity in policy formulation and implementation was improved.
Good diagnostics are important but need to be communicated concisely and in a straightforward manner through a process of dialogue to translate recommendations into action.
Early and persistent involvement of local experts in the preparation of the analysis and interaction with international experts combines global experience with local knowledge. International experts need to understand the views of stakeholders, including students and employers, to arrive at a comprehensive picture and actionable recommendations.
Universities need to understand better their role in local social and economic development to help mobilize global knowledge and excellence.
The Republic of Tatarstan has a long and strong history of higher education. Today, 9 percent of the population of Kazan, the capital city, are working and studying in the city’s 17 universities. But financing and infrastructure for universities are woefully inadequate, the teaching methodology is outdated, and researchers are isolated from world knowledge hubs. Tatarstan is keen to rejuvenate its universities to meet the demands of today’s students and revive the institutions’ importance and historic status.
RSS