Russian Federation
Russian Federation
UDC 338
The article examines the managerial aspects of the transition of the Russian higher education to a new national model (effective September 1, 2026) in the context of the rapid development of artificial intelligence. It analyzes key institutional changes: fundamental education focused on the final outcomes and needs of the economy, active business participation in the educational process, and state regulation of fee-based education. Special attention is paid to management gaps – the contradiction between the industrial logic of the new model (rigid planning, industry standards) and labor market turbulence caused by AI. The authors substantiates the need for transition from reactive to proactive management: the creation of adaptive management loops – operational competence revision, flexible educational trajectories, and mechanisms of anticipatory accreditation – is required, rather than simple coordination of programs with employers. The key problem-solving tools proposed include: meta-skills (critical thinking, task setting for AI, emotional intelligence) development as a new goal of education quality management; managing digital inequality risk among universities; development of the human-AI symbiosis embedded in university strategies. The conclusion formulates principles for effective transition management: anthropocentricity, anticipatory approach, networking with the AI industry, and refocus of university KPIs from «knowledge transfer» to «developing human potential in symbiosis with AI».
transition management, new national higher education system, artificial intelligence, risk management, human–AI symbiosis, foundational education, meta-skills, educational inequality, digital sovereignty
1. Kupriyanov R.V., Vilensky A.A., Kupriyanova N.E. The Bologna Process in Russia: Specifics and Implementation Challenges // Bulletin of Kazan Technological University. 2014. Vol. 17. No. 20. pp. 412–416. EDN: https://elibrary.ru/SYAIGX
2. Valery Falkov explained what influenced Russia’s higher education model [Electronic resource] // TASS Newsroom. 2025. Aug 1. URL: https://tass.ru/obschestvo/24686953 (accessed: 13.03.2026).
3. “Let’s restore order.” Head of the Ministry of Education and Science calls higher education sys-tem inefficient [Electronic resource] // 66.ru. 2026. Feb 9. URL: https://66.ru/news/society/286665/ (accessed: 13.03.2026).
4. Denis Fomin-Nilov comments on Ministry of Education and Science plans to reduce fee-based university places on Moscow Radio [Electronic resource] // GAUGN News. 2025. Dec 23. URL: https://gaugn.ru/obrazovanie/faculties/economics/news/denis-fomin-nilov-prokommentiroval-plany-minobrnauki-po-sokrashcheniyu-platnykh-mest-v-vuzakh-v-efir (ac-cessed: 13.03.2026).
5. Tleptserisheva S.A., Brykina A.A. Problems and prospects of transforming higher and general education in Russia // State and Municipal Management. Scholarly Notes. 2025. No. 4. pp. 85–92.
6. “Every applicant is like a diamond”: challenges facing modern universities [Electronic resource] // Komsomolskaya Pravda. 2025. June 19. URL: https://www.kp.ru/daily/27714/5102723/ (ac-cessed: 13.03.2026).
7. Golubin A.V. Information and analytical support for strategic management of university admis-sions // Digital Models and Solutions. 2025. Vol. 4, No. 2. pp. 18-27. DOI:https://doi.org/10.29141/2949-477X-2025-4-2-2. EDN: https://elibrary.ru/UMOKFB
8. Universities of the future will determine the country’s future [Electronic resource] // OPKBR. 2025. Nov 20. URL: https://opkbr.ru/?p=7920 (accessed: 13.03.2026).
9. Education in Russia 2026: the truth about university reform, the abolition of bachelor’s degrees, and what will happen to diplomas [Electronic resource] // Life.ru. 2026. Feb 3. URL: https://life.ru/p/1837169 (accessed: 13.03.2026).
10. Higher education reform in Russia in 2026 [Electronic resource] // I Know. kp.ru Project. URL: https://www.kp.ru/edu/vuzy/reforma-vysshego-obrazovaniya-v-rossii/ (accessed: 13.03.2026).
11. Replacing the Bologna system: what is known about Russia’s new higher education model [Electronic resource] // RIAMO. 2025. Jan 16. URL: https://riamo.ru/articles/aktsenty/na-smenu-bolonskoj-chto-izvestno-pro-novuju-sistemu-vysshego-obrazovanija-v-rossii/?from=inf_cards (accessed: 13.03.2026).
12. Kostin K.B., Malevich Yu.V., Sirota N.P. Organizing the improvement of training quality for economics majors during the transition to a new education system in the Russian Federation [Text]: monograph / K.B. Kostin, Yu.V. Malevich, N.P. Sirota. – St. Petersburg: Publishing House of SPbGEU, 2024. 168 p. EDN: https://elibrary.ru/PRTEDU
13. Russian universities face major reform: when the Bologna system will be abandoned and what it will mean [Electronic resource] // NGS.ru. 2025. Nov 6. URL: https://ngs.ru/text/education/2025/11/06/76108574/ (accessed: 13.03.2026).
14. Deputy Smolin explains the purpose of higher education reform [Electronic resource] // GAZETA.SPb. 2026. Jan 29. URL: https://gazeta.spb.ru/2649921-deputat-smolin-rasskazal-o-czeli-reformy-vysshego-obrazovaniya (accessed: 19.03.2026).
15. New higher education system: differences, pros, cons, and what awaits students [Electronic re-source] // NEWS.ru. 2026. Feb 10. URL: https://news.ru/amp/family/deti/novaya-sistema-vysshego-obrazovaniya-v-chem-otlichiya-plyusy-minusy-i-chto-zhdet-studentov (accessed: 19.03.2026).
16. Zhukovskaya I.E., Khashimkhodjaev Sh.I., Amirov R.A., Norboeva N.E. The role of intelli-gent systems in higher education institutions and workforce training under new challenges // Digital Models and Solutions. 2024. Vol. 3, No. 3. pp. 68-78. DOI:https://doi.org/10.29141/2949-477X-2024-3-3-5. EDN: https://elibrary.ru/NQGPQK
17. Pakhomov S.I., Loginova E.A., Kulyamin O.V., Petrov M.P. Doctoral dissertation council in the state system of scientific attestation: organizational and managerial mechanisms of digital transformation // Upravlenets (The Manager). 2025. Vol. 16, No. 3. pp. 2-16. DOI:https://doi.org/10.29141/2218-5003-2025-16-3-1. EDN: https://elibrary.ru/WRHZCK
18. Nikolsky V.S. The Russian university in search of identity: service as a mode of being in culture // Higher Education in Russia. 2025. No. 10. pp. 10–26. DOI:https://doi.org/10.31992/0869-3617-2025-34-10-10-26. EDN: https://elibrary.ru/GJVWAF
19. New law hands control over student numbers to government [Electronic resource] // University Works News. 2025. 30 May. URL: https://www.universityworldnews.com/post.php?story=20250529202925924 (accessed: 13.03.2026).
20. Orekhova S.V., Nikitina O.M., Yaroshevich N.Yu. Absorptive capacity of the university: nor-mative and perceived assessments // Upravlenets (The Manager). 2024. Vol. 15, No. 2. pp. 31-47. DOI:https://doi.org/10.29141/2218-5003-2024-15-2-3. EDN: https://elibrary.ru/JRHVGL
21. Beleeva I.D., Titova N.B. The problem of educational inequality in modern Russia: influencing factors and social consequences // Pedagogical Education in Russia. 2018. No. 12. pp. 18–22. DOI: https://doi.org/10.26170/po18-12-03; EDN: https://elibrary.ru/YUKHIL
22. Once again among the first: how the university responds to new challenges [Electronic re-source] // Tomsk State University News. 2025. March 21. URL: https://news.tsu.ru/projects/word-to-the-rector/snova-byt-sredi-pervykh-kak-universitet-otvechaet-na-novye-vyzovy/ (accessed: 13.03.2026).
