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STUDY OF DEFINITION OF "EDUCATIONAL SERVICES" IN ECONOMIC SCIENCE
V.P. Okulich-Kazarin, doctor of pedagogical sciences, professor, MBA Pedagogical university in Krakow (Poland, Krakow)
DOI: 10.24411/2411-0450-2018-10326
Abstract. The aim of the study is to analyze the definition of "educational services" in economic science. The author analyzes the definitions associated with the provision and receipt of educational services. The following methods were used for the study: empirical methods (the study of normative legal acts and scientific-methodological literature; content analysis of scientific sources; monitoring of publications); methods of theoretical analysis (comparative and retrospective one; specification and generalization; classification; induction and deduction).
The results are of great scientific importance - three scientific facts about the definition of "educational services" are shown. At the same time, the author proposes to use the new meaning of the definition of " educational services".
The definition of "educational services" is an element of the educational activities of the provider and the consumer, with the aim of satisfying the established and perceived educational preferences of the consumer.
The results can be used to study the processes of providing and receiving of educational services.
Keywords: services, educational services, service provider, consumer
Introduction
In a market economy, the activity of the education system as a social institution, ensuring the reproduction of the intellectual and cultural potential of society, acts as an educational service [1] that takes a commodity form and, therefore, has its use value and price. Scholars have suggested that marketing relationships are based on the expectations of mutuality of interest with both parties expecting comparable benefits from relationships [2].
The use of the phrase "educational services" has become customary both for those providing these services and for those who consume them. In the first approximation, we can say that educational services [3] are services provided in the education system.
Methods
The study was carried out in Pedagogical University of Cracow in 2018. From a theoretical point of view, I relied on studies carried out in different countries before that. A practical part of the study was focused regionally, in East Europe.
The aim of the study is to analyze the
definition of "educational services" in economic science. The object of the research is educational services. The subject of the research is the definition of "educational services".
The following research methods were used in the work:
- empirical methods (the study of normative legal acts and scientific-methodological literature; content analysis of scientific sources; monitoring of publications);
- methods of theoretical analysis (comparative and retrospective one; specification and generalization; classification; induction and deduction).
The study was performed in two stages:
- literature review,
- information research.
At the first stage, the literature review in this field was made. At the second stage, it was the information research. The monitoring of publications was also.
And, at last, after discussion of the received results, I have made the conclusion.
Literature review
Before proceeding to a detailed analysis of
the concept of "educational services", let us examine two definitions included in it as "education" and "service."
By "education", as a specific socioeconomic category, can be meant following [4]:
1. Education is a set of knowledge and skills that an individual possesses. In this sense, education is the basis and tool for obtaining a certain economic benefit in the form of personal income for an individual with this set of knowledge and skills; profits for the employer using the specified knowledge, skills and abilities of the employee in production or other economic activities; economic benefits for the national economy, developing through the use in the production and non-production sphere of knowledge, skills and abilities of the national human capital [5].
2. Education is also a special field of activity in which a person is studied, trained, inured, that is, the person forms the above set of knowledge and skills.
3. Education is a system of social relations for the transfer of knowledge, information, skills and abilities (relations regarding the provision of educational services), that is, a certain space in which performers and consumers of educational services regularly meet and the trade process is organized. In other words, it is an educational services market.
A service (in economic science) is a type of product that can be produced, transferred and consumed simultaneously [6].
A service [7] is an economic relationship arising from the deliverables, creating consumer values, manifested in the form of the usefulness of the product (thing) or the activity itself to meet specific, reasonable human needs.
A service [6] is actions aimed directly at the consumer.
In Europe, many authors reasonably reject a purely market approach in education, since accessibility and equality of chances in education are values that no one wants to give up. For example, the German researcher Frank-Rüdiger Jach deliberately does not use the word "services" [8] in relation to education, since it is not a commodity for him
and cannot be attributed to the service sector. Jan de Groof, analyzing the concepts of "educational services" and "education" [9], came to the conclusion that between them there is a clear distinction. However, the provision of educational services is a generating function of the state, arising on the basis of a citizen's constitutional right to education [10].
The relation between the concepts of "education" and "service" allows us to determine that "educational services" [3] are services provided in the process of carrying out educational activities, the result of which is the achievement of a certain level of education and training by citizens.
It should be noted that this definition is not the only one. In economic theory (definitions from the sphere of marketing refer to economics) there are various interpretations of this definition. For further qualitative analysis we will focus on some of them:
1. Educational service is an economic category in which complex economic relations in the field of education are expressed [11].
2. Educational service is providing opportunities for education, increasing the cost of labor, namely, the end consumer of this service and improving its competitiveness in the job market [12].
3. Educational service is the amount of educational and scientific information transferred to the citizen in the form of the sum of knowledge of general educational and special nature and practical skills for its subsequent use [13].
4. Educational service is a set of the results of the educational process and the accompanying auxiliary processes, represented by the higher education institution in the educational services market and directly aimed at meeting the identified and perceived educational needs of a particular consumer [14].
5. Educational service is an element of educational activity that has specific goals and a subjective composition. The objectives of educational services are the transfer of knowledge and skills, the formation of professional skills and their mastering by students. The subjects of educational services
are education institutions in the face of the teaching staff and students (consumers) who want to get an education of a particular level [15].
6. Educational service is a set of sensible activities that satisfy the needs of the subject in education, and intermediate educational products in the form of things that accompany such activities [16].
7. Educational service is the process of providing knowledge and the formation of skills in a particular professional area [17].
8. Educational service is the process of transferring a specific set of knowledge, skills, abilities, competencies, approved in the educational program [4].
9. Educational service is a purposeful, organized by the education institution creative process of transferring and accumulating a certain amount of knowledge, skills and competencies within a separate educational program to the consumer, transforming the consumer himself [18].
10. Educational service is the process of transferring to the consumer the knowledge and skills of general educational and professional nature necessary to meet his personal needs in acquiring a profession, self-development and self-affirmation, carried out in close contact with the consumer in the prescribed form and program [19].
11. Educational service is intangible actions aimed at the consciousness of the individual, ensuring the implementation of human needs in obtaining a certain type of knowledge and skills, in acquiring a profession or qualification; they provide satisfaction of demand in the labor market [20].
We can see many definitions of "educational services" that scientists use different definitions. Therefore, we see that there is no single concept of "educational service". In the scientific circulation, the definition of "educational services" was used in the Russian-language (post-communist) space as early as 1994.
Results
Analysis of the presented definitions allows us to divide them into two groups in relation to the consumer of educational services:
- the first group in which the performer "provides" the educational service, and the consumer of educational services acts as a passive object of its receipt, that is, the educational service transforms the consumer (3-5, 7-11),
- the second group in which the consumer "receives" an educational service and acts as an active subject (2, 5, 6).
There is another theoretical aspect in the application of the definition of "educational services". Its meaning is to apply civil law to the field of education. From the point of view of civil law, services are usually paid for. This means that the performance of services is sold for an appropriate fee. The relationship between the performer and the consumer of services is governed by the contract. Consequently, the implementation of the educational process by state and municipal education institutions on a gratuitous basis cannot be absolutely identified with the provision of educational services [3].
However, with regard to educational relations, I. Mayburov [21] believes that in the process of transferring knowledge and skills, payment on the part of the consumer of educational services is always present. "It's another thing that the financial burden between consumers varies greatly (it's the maximum for those who pay taxes and pay for their education), but this already depends on the system of preferences (abilities, family income, place of residence, nationality, etc.) developed by this society for the most effective financing of public funds".
Researcher V. Kvanin [22] views all activities of universities as a set of educational services that can be provided either at the expense of budget funds, or at the expense of consumers of these services or which can be paid for by third parties.
During the Soviet period, two main positions were formed in science on the nature of services [23-25]: some scientists viewed services as an activity, a specific form of labor, while others understood the result of labor, the beneficial effect of activity. It should be noted that in the era of the communist ideology, the state was a consumer of educational services [1]. State education institutions carried out its
assignment, training specialists in accordance with the planned distribution list and sending them, upon graduation, to the jobs where the government needed them. For example [26], in the USSR there exists and is improving the unified system of public education, which provides general education and professional training of citizens, serves communist education, spiritual and physical development of young people, prepares them for work and social activities. It can be assumed that the first group of definitions of "educational services" (the consumer of educational services is treated as a passive object) is a consequence of the educational policy that was formed during the communist regime. The fact that applicants and future specialists were living human beings and themselves wanted to get this or that education, was of secondary importance. In other words, the product (the word "commodity" is not quite appropriate here) of education was an expert.
The economies of Eastern European [27] countries began to open up for trade with the rest of the world only in the 1990s. Due to the influence of television, cinema and various goods, the needs of consumers in Eastern Europe have become significantly similar to the preferences of people in Western Europe and North America. The position of educational consumers has also changed.
Therefore, in 1995, a number of countries located on the territory of the former USSR adopted the Interstate Standard, which should regulate the provision and receipt of educational services. This document was adopted by: Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Armenia, Republic of Belarus, Republic of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Republic of Moldova, Russian Federation, Republic of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Republic of Uzbekistan, Ukraine.
The following definitions are used in this document [28]:
- service: the result of direct interaction between the provider and the consumer, as well as the provider's own activities to meet the consumer's needs,
- socio-cultural service: a service for the satisfaction of spiritual and intellectual needs and the maintenance of normal consumer activity. Socio-cultural services may include
medical services, cultural services, tourism, education, etc,
- provider: enterprise, organization or entrepreneur providing a service to a consumer,
- consumer: a citizen receiving, ordering or having the intention to receive or order services for personal needs.
In a market economy, the educational service is the main product [1], purchased by the consumer. The state is no more a consumer of educational services. In cases of providing free educational services, the state acts as a sponsor for students. This fact forces higher education institutions of Eastern European (post-communist) countries to change their attitude towards the essence of educational services.
The article [29] considers the function of higher education in England in the responsibilization of young people as consumers of a higher education "product." The article elaborates a two-part theoretical framework that draws upon Gramsci and Foucault. This framework is then applied to analyze the 2011 White Paper, Students at the Heart of the System.
The essence of educational services [30] lies in the actions of a certain person, committed to meet the needs of another person and aimed at achieving the benefit of the latter. Such an understanding will make it possible to consider educational services not only as a paid activity of education institutions and individuals, but also as a combination of educational relations. Entering into educational relations, the consumer pursues the goal of satisfying his own needs by mastering a special group of intangible benefits - knowledge, skills, etc. In other words, the consumer of educational services takes an active, responsible position. It is in this case that the second group of definitions of "educational services" comes into force. We can see the student as an active and responsible consumer of educational services.
The above definitions can be classified based on the activity / passivity of the consumer of educational services:
A. The consumer is a passive object to which the provider provides an educational
service,
B. The consumer is an active and responsible entity that receives an educational service.
Analysis, synthesis and generalization of the above definitions showed the three most important components of the definition of "educational services":
1. it is not only paid, but also free activity of education institutions,
2. the consumer aims to meet his own educational needs,
3. the subjects of educational services are education institutions in the face of teaching staff and students (consumers).
Discussion
If we analyze, systematize and generalize the above definitions, we can offer a new definition of "educational services". So, the author of present research is able to offer the new definition of "educational services", formed by analyzing, synthesizing and summarizing the above definitions:
- The definition of "educational services" is an element of the educational activities of the provider and the consumer, with the aim of satisfying the established and perceived educational preferences of the consumer.
The subjects of educational services are consumers and education institutions in the face of the teaching staff.
This new definition is proposed for discussion among economists. It has no right to be called the main definition. However, it has the right to be used in economic science for the study of educational services as an object of research.
Conclusions
The study has analyzed the definitions of "educational services" in economic science. The aim of the study is achieved.
The results are of great scientific importance - it is shown three scientific facts about the definition of "educational services":
1. There is no generally accepted definition of "educational services" in Economics. Well-known experts in the economic science have many different interpretations of the definition of "educational services".
2. Analysis of the presented definitions allows us to divide them into two groups in relation to the consumer of educational
services:
- the first group in which the performer "provides" the educational service, and the consumer of educational services acts as a passive object of its receipt, that is, the educational service transforms the consumer,
- the second group in which the consumer "receives" an educational service and acts as an active subject.
3. There are three the most important components of the definition of "educational services":
- it is not only paid, but also free activity of education institutions,
- the consumer aims to meet his own educational needs,
- the subjects of educational services are education institutions in the face of teaching staff and students (consumers).
So, in a market economy, the educational service is the main product purchased by the consumer. At the same time, the state is not a consumer of educational services, it can only act as a sponsor who pays free educational services. In the market economy, the consumer of educational services takes an active, responsible position. Therefore, the management of educational services should be oriented towards satisfying the educational preferences of the active and responsible consumer.
4. At the same time, the author offers the new definition of "educational services", formed by analyzing, synthesizing and summarizing the above definitions:
- the definition of "educational services" is an element of the educational activities of the provider and the consumer, with the aim of satisfying the established and perceived educational preferences of the consumer.
The subjects of educational services are consumers and education institutions in the face of the teaching staff.
5. The task of the next study is to analyze legal relations between the subjects of educational services.
Acknowledgement
The study was carried out in Pedagogical University of Cracow in 2018 with the support of the East European Research Group (Azerbaijan, Belarus, Poland, Serbia,
Ukraine). The study was performed with the process: innovations in the management of support of the research project: educational systems and processes", Poland,
- "WPL_BS_Economics and management 2018. of educational systems and processes. 02. I would like to thank reviewers for their
Analysis of the effectiveness of educational insightful comments on an earlier draft of this processes on the basis of competencies and manuscript. opinions of the participants of the educational
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ИЗУЧЕНИЕ ДЕФИНИЦИИ "ОБРАЗОВАТЕЛЬНЫЕ УСЛУГИ" В ЭКОНОМИЧЕСКОЙ НАУКЕ
В.П. Окулич-Казарин, д-р пед. наук, профессор, МВА Педагогический университет в Кракове (Польша, г. Краков)
Аннотация. Целью данного исследования является изучение дефиниции "образовательные услуги". В статье проанализированы термины, связанные с оказанием и получением образовательных услуг. Для проведения исследования использовались следующие методы: эмпирические методы (изучение нормативно-правовых актов и научно-методической литературы; контент-анализ научных источников; мониторинг публикаций); методы теоретического анализа (сравнительный и ретроспективный; спецификация и обобщение; классификация; индукция и дедукция).
Результаты имеют важное научное значение - показаны три научных факта о дефиниции "образовательные услуги". Одновременно, автор предлагает использовать новое значение дефиниции "образовательныеуслуги":
Образовательная услуга - это элемент образовательной деятельности исполнителя и потребителя, имеющей целью удовлетворение установленных и предполагаемых образовательных предпочтений потребителя.
Результаты могут быть использованы для исследования процессов оказания и получения образовательных услуг.
Ключевые слова: услуги, образовательные услуги, исполнитель услуг, потребитель услуг.
