Putin targets student numbers in "unnecessary" degree fields
The President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, has called for a reduction in student enrollment for what he considers "outdated" fields of study in higher education.
"I urge the government to create a comprehensive plan to enhance the quality of university admissions. By 2026, admissions should be based on new principles," Putin stated during a meeting of the Council for Science and Education. "These principles should prevent excessive enrollment in fields that do not meet the needs of the economy and labor market."
Too many unnecessary specialists
He pointed out that enrollment in such fields "sometimes appears quite unattractive."
The President also commented on the "very low level of preparedness of specialists who ultimately are not needed by anyone."
Earlier in the meeting, the Minister of Science and Higher Education, Valery Falkov, highlighted the acute shortage of personnel in the labor market, particularly engineers. He asserted that this situation "definitely requires regulation of paid university enrollment."
"Currently, fields such as economics, management, and law dominate. Paid enrollment should align with the needs of the state," Falkov emphasized.
He also requested the authority for the Ministry of Science and Higher Education to approve plans for paid university enrollment "regardless of their departmental affiliation."
An excess of lawyers and economists
Falkov further suggested that preferential education loans with a 3% interest rate should be available "only for candidates in priority fields, primarily engineering."
"Currently, over one-third of loans are given for paid studies in economics and law, which clearly does not fulfill the demand for personnel," Falkov stated.
Russian universities have already faced criticism for producing an "excess" of lawyers and economists.
As early as 2018, Rosobrnadzor observed that graduates in these fields struggled to find employment.
"This is the largest segment where Russian universities continue to educate students. The question remains—why dilute the labor market when admission numbers are planned and coordinated with regional needs? Why produce ten times more lawyers and economists when they will struggle to find jobs?" questioned then Deputy Minister Natalia Naumova.
