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LIFELONG EDUCATION: THE POLICY OF THE NORTH-EASTERN FEDERAL UNIVERSITY ON EFFICIENT IMPLEMENTATION OF LIFELONG EDUCATION FOR STAFFING OF THE REGION’S STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT
Е. I. Mikhailova
This article deals with the current issues of implementation of the social function of the North-Eastern Federal University on the motivation of labor resources, professional development through lifelong professional education, as well as the function of efficient employment of young professionals.
Key words: lifelong learning, strategic development, continuous education, human resources development in the region.
In the context of the general trends in the development of education in the Russian North-East, the following issues have become particularly relevant: actualization of activities of universities as academic partners in the preparation of a multifunctional workforce in the context of continuous education, lifelong education, and the “accumulation of human capital” for strategic development of the region.
The role of universities in developing the system of “lifelong learning” (LLL) raises many questions, for example, how the universities can meet the needs of adults with different backgrounds.
The European Community has adopted the following definition: “lifelong education... is any form of education, either professional or general. It may include, for example, adult full time education, adult education in the humanities... training courses, staff development, courses of open and distant learning, etc.” [3]. The concept of “lifelong education” implies that the purpose of education is the continuous improvement of the individual, and that, above all, means creating conditions that enable the individual to be in a situation of continuous education and self-education. As indicated in the materials of UNESCO [1, p. 17], “according to the interpretation of continuing education, it has its own peculiarities in the regional context, despite the fact that within the framework of common understanding it will be necessary to take into account regional peculiarities of its functioning and development”. From the perspective of implementation of the strategy of the North-Eastern Federal University (hereinafter - NEFU) marked in the program documents of the University, it is worth noting the specifics of its objectives as disclosed in UNESCO materials, which, in our view, coincide with the targets of the regional system of continuous professional education. These include: (a) socialization of the younger generation; (b) introduction to the profession (professional orientation); (c) expansion of professional skills and knowledge (training); (d) achievement of a certain social status (academic degree and academic rank); (e) overall development of the individual, i.e. determination and implementation of life goals and values, etc. [1, p. 21-22].
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The second basic question, “What is the academic and social role of universities in the context of development of approaches to the development of a national system of competencies in terms of lifelong learning?” These questions are also studied by the pedagogical community of NEFU. Thus, in the field of professional education, the questions are, how to ensure co-operation of the educational system and employers, how to strengthen public control over the quality of education, thanks to which it is possible to increase academic mobility, etc. As for tools and mechanisms, the following are discussed: (a) planning and motivation (which specialties are needed most for economic development; (b) how to ensure the interest of citizens in priority and scarce specialties; (c) standardization (which steps are necessary for the execution of orders of the President on the establishment of professional standards; (d) how to ensure that the content of the professional standards meet the real needs of employers; (e) how to create an independent system of certification of competencies and qualifications; (f) how to ensure the demand for services of voluntary certification of competences).
Education of the future matches the 5M model discussed in Skolkovo: mass character (education - throughout life; mass market of adult education); mobility, where the university follows the student, in the context of lifelong education; methods for the introduction of active forms of education, including distant forms (games, simulations, projects, case studies, etc.); multi-professional character (rejection of specialties); thinking (paradigm shift, whereby the main principal is not transfer of knowledge, but rather development of thinking ability). What is the policy of NEFU in terms of continuous education and “lifelong learning” (LLL)? This is a set of measures that are clearly set out in the relevant documents of the University. It is necessary to have a center of coordination and management of the process of lifelong learning implementation. In our opinion, NEFU fulfills this social mission. The regional strategic development program should focus on preparation and cultivation of modern, skilled, locally adapted specialists trained in areas in demand in the long term. The task of synchronization and optimization of the efforts of universities, employers, federal and regional authorities, and the business community in the preparation of necessary and in-demand specialists with the necessary qualifications is well within the program-target method of development of the state and its “growth areas”, and in no case contradicts the laws of the modern market.
Creation of federal universities is aimed at the formation and development of competitive human capital in the regions, at provision of qualified staff, and scientific and technical solutions for the large programs of social and economic development of territories and regions, including bringing the results of intellectual activity to the point of their practical implementation, and at consolidation and attraction of the population to strategically important regions. In this regard, NEFU become the main resource of intellectual and economic development not only within the republic, but also within the whole North-Eastern area of the country. The University is committed to creating an environment in which every organization and every company in the country can become a learning institution. The university has established a continuing education system uniting all of the main levels of the educational process, promoting self-fulfillment, socialization, personal and
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professional learning and growth of a person throughout his/her life. Postgraduate and additional professional education is one of the key elements of this system.
In connection with the implementation of the strategy of multilevel education in the North-Eastern Federal University, which means education of people throughout their lives, programs of postgraduate education are become increasingly important, in particular, programs of additional professional training. The structure of NEFU includes the Institute of Postgraduate Education of Doctors, Main Regional Center of Occupational Safety and Health, Training and Methodology Centers of Faculties, Centre for Advanced Training of Construction Complex Employees, Center for Training in the Area of Energy Efficiency, and the Institute of Continuing Professional Education. Over five years, organizations of advanced professional training have developed 230 programs of additional professional training. The number of trainees (including advanced training and retraining) among employees of the real sector of the economy, social sphere and business community on the basis of NEFU has almost doubled (by more than 20,000 people). Every year, about 130 programs of additional education are implemented, including more than 30 professional training programs consisting of over 500 hours. NEFU makes a considerable contribution to teachers’ professional development. NEFU has developed joint educational programs of professional retraining named “High School Teacher” with andragogical education together with the Narva College of the University of Tartu (Estonia) and “Jurisprudence. Private International Law” together with Bohai University (China). NEFU won first prize within the Presidential Program of Advanced Training of Engineering Personnel.
Now more than ever it is practical to create new training and production centers for adult education in collaboration with foreign universities and multinational companies with the support of federal and regional governments. These centers will offer training in new professions, for example, in the field of industrial engineering and information technology. It is necessary to initiate the Fund of Professionalism Development, which could bear part of the costs of enterprises and companies to train skilled employees. Studies show that a professional worker must be retrained 6-7 times throughout his/her professional career. Older workers should improve their skills, because the first signs of their inconsistency with the new production needs may manifest themselves.
Motives that make employees achieve greater productivity are based on values that are developed at home, at schools, at higher educational institutions, and at the workplace, and are fixed by the society. In the North-Eastern region of the country, this extremely important social function of employees’ motivation, professional development through the advanced training, retraining, as well as the function of effective employment of young specialists can be performed by the North-Eastern Federal University, provided some investment support is rendered. The University policy aimed at effective implementation of the lifelong education role in staffing of the strategic development of the region should set well-defined vital and realistic goals.
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Translated from Russian by Znanije Central Translastions Bureas
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