Valery Falkov, the Minister of Science and Higher Education, outlined a bold reform path for Russia’s university system. He stated that a new domestic framework will replace the Bologna-based model, aiming to fuse the strengths of both its Russian and Soviet educational heritage with recent reforms. This vision was shared through the ministry’s press service and its official telegraph channel.
Falkov emphasized that the time has come for a dramatic overhaul of the country’s higher education landscape. The minister argued that the current Bologna-aligned approach, after two decades of implementation, no longer aligns with Russia’s evolving economic needs or its strategic goals in science and industry.
One concrete concern raised by Falkov concerns the practice of granting admission to master’s programs without sufficient specialized preparation. He warned that this could degrade the overall quality of education and undermine the depth of student learning necessary for advanced research and professional work.
Looking ahead, the minister said that the reform must be a collaborative effort. Russian universities, in partnership with leading industries and the broader real sector of the economy, should actively shape the new formats and standards that will drive growth in specific fields. The aim is to align academic curricula with the practical demands of modern production, technology, and innovation ecosystems.
According to Falkov, the proposed system should retain the most valuable elements from Russia’s historical experience, including the rigorous traditions of the Soviet era, while also embracing relevant insights from the last two to three decades of development. Institutions such as MEPhI and Novosibirsk State University were cited as exemplars of a balanced, rigorous approach that combined strong fundamentals with applied research, and these historical benchmarks will inform the new model.
Falkov warned that ill-conceived changes could hamper progress. Yet he stressed that reform is essential and that a carefully designed transition will strengthen the country’s scientific base and its competitive edge in global education. The overall goal is to deliver a higher education system that produces highly skilled graduates who are ready to contribute to Russia’s modernization, digital transformation, and economic diversification.
Commenting on potential future directions, a former deputy head of the Ministry of Education and Science noted that leaving the Bologna framework would not simply revert Russia to a pre-Bologna era. Instead, the reform would create a distinct national model that preserves core academic strengths while better serving national priorities. The conversation, he indicated, should stay focused on achieving higher standards, clearer pathways for students, and stronger collaboration with industry to ensure relevance and impact across sectors.
In summary, the ministry’s plan envisions a higher education system that blends historical strength with contemporary needs. The aim is to foster robust, interdisciplinary programs, promote deeper specialization where it matters, and build a university ecosystem that can reliably feed Russia’s science, technology, and economic ambitions for the coming decades.