Basic models of the legal status of academic staff in the modern world and Russia: theoretical and applied perspective

Abstract

Following domestic and foreign experience, the author identifies and analyzes the basic models of the legal status of academic staff which differ in nature and degree of state control over their teaching and research activities: statist (Russia and the former USSR), liberal (USA being a typical representative), and liberal-statist (France). The author believes that Russia should move in the direction of the liberal-statist model and extend the autonomy of universities, including the awarding of academic degrees and titles. However, it is important to be wary of university rankings and citation indices, which, as the studies of the European University Association show, do not always give objective results.