5 Takeaways from the New Targeted Admissions Mechanism

The targeted admission procedure has become more accessible to everyone
There was again a noticeable shortage of targeted places
Customers did not like that they were not involved in the selection of candidates
The fact that applicants could respond to only one quota offer created a problem
The situation with passing scores is ambiguous

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The outdated system of targeted admission to universities had a significant number of shortcomings. Applicants in 2024 were the first to encounter the new rules for admission to targeted training. These changes are aimed at improving the admissions process and more efficiently distributing resources in the education system. Applicants now have the opportunity to receive clearer admission requirements and improved employment prospects after graduation. The new rules will help create a more transparent and fair targeted training process, which will improve the quality of education and student satisfaction.

According to representatives of universities and those requesting targeted training, the new procedure has caused dissatisfaction among many participants. This may lead to changes in the mechanism after its initial implementation.

The targeted admissions procedure has become more accessible to everyone.

In previous years, applicants and their parents were forced to find a client for targeted training in advance, sign an agreement with them, and only then participate in the university competition. Because of this, targeted admission was often perceived as admission "through connections": those who were able to negotiate with the client had the opportunity to participate in the competition and pass even with low Unified State Exam scores, thanks to low or no competition. The situation is changing, and now targeted admissions is becoming more accessible and transparent, allowing more students to realize their educational ambitions.

The targeted training process has become more transparent and regulated. Client proposals are now published on the publicly accessible "Work in Russia" platform, allowing anyone from any region of the country to respond to them. This occurs not through direct contact with the client, but rather during the application and document submission process to the university during the admissions campaign. Applicants indicate that they are applying for a targeted quota based on a specific offer from the client. This approach simplifies interaction between students and employers and promotes a more efficient allocation of resources in the education system.

At this stage, there is no direct interaction between the client and applicants, eliminating the possibility of nepotism. As a result, all interested candidates compete for a specific offer from a future employer. This allows the most suitable candidate to be selected based on their scores. The client then enters into a targeted training agreement with the selected applicant. This approach appears logical and fair, ensuring objectivity in the selection process.

In July, Rosobrnadzor presented statistics indicating significant interest in the targeted training platform. Currently, 17,800 employers have posted over 76,200 vacancies, offering 163,300 contracts for targeted training in both higher and secondary vocational education programs. As of July 23, 129,000 applications were submitted by university applicants, indicating that the number of applications at that time was lower than the total number of offers. This may indicate a need for more active promotion of targeted training programs among students and potential employers.

There was again a noticeable shortfall in targeted places.

Since the number of applications received was lower than required, it was not possible to fully fill the target quota.

As of August 19, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko reported that 38,800 people out of 145,000 spots had been admitted under the targeted quota. Thus, only about 27% of the total number of spots under the targeted quota were filled. This does not mean that targeted admissions failed, as the quota includes spots, for example, in residency programs, for which admissions had not yet closed. However, many spots designated for targeted students remained unclaimed and returned to the general competition. As a result, regular applicants, not targeted students, began to apply for these spots. This highlights the need to improve target recruitment mechanisms and use allocated resources more efficiently.

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At Bauman Moscow State Technical University, according to a statement by Rector Mikhail Gordina, the target quota was filled at 66%. At UrFU, according to the admissions committee, only a quarter of the target spots were occupied. Tatyana Krasnova, Rector of Khakass State University named after N.F. Katanov, noted in an interview that their university filled 70% of the target quota, adding that a similar situation is observed at most universities. This demonstrates the demand for targeted training and the importance of university collaboration with industry.

According to information presented at a government meeting by Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova, quota occupancy varies depending on the group of specialties. In the field of healthcare and medical sciences, 72.7% of the quota was occupied, while agricultural programs have a significantly lower figure – only 46.6%. This demonstrates differences in the demand for educational programs and may affect the future distribution of resources in these areas.

The problem of unfilled target quotas remains relevant. University rectors note that applicants view targeted admission primarily as a backup option, rather than a priority. The introduction of the new procedure has not led to significant changes in this situation. Additional measures are needed to increase the attractiveness of targeted education so that applicants perceive it not as an alternative, but as a primary goal. Currently, interest in targeted employment remains low. However, in certain fields of study, particularly in medical specialties, targeted education is the most effective way to obtain a state-funded place, as a significant portion of these places are allocated specifically under the targeted quota. According to the Ministry of Digital Development, leading medical universities have become the most popular among applicants applying for targeted education. Furthermore, St. Petersburg State University is also among the leaders in the admission of students with targeted places. The new procedure has not significantly increased the popularity of targeted education, but it has significantly increased the accessibility of this program for everyone. Now, targeted training has become a more attractive option for those seeking a state-funded place at an educational institution. This accessibility allows more students to take advantage of the opportunity to receive a state-funded education.

Clients were unhappy that they had no role in selecting candidates.

Under the new procedure, clients such as organizations, enterprises, and departments are deprived of the opportunity to pre-screen candidates for targeted training before their admission. This change can hardly be considered positive. The lack of pre-screening can lead to organizations being unable to select the most suitable candidates, which will ultimately impact the quality of specialist training.

On the one hand, this measure is aimed at eliminating corruption risks in the selection process. On the other hand, it limits the ability of bona fide clients to select potential employees. They have no chance to assess the applicant's genuine interest in the proposed job or whether they are considering it merely as a backup option for admission to a state-funded position. Furthermore, applicants themselves face difficulties assessing the attractiveness of future employment, as the information provided in the targeted training application is extremely limited. This creates obstacles for both employers and students, necessitating a review of current approaches to the targeted training process.

Mikhail Gordin, Rector of Bauman Moscow State Technical University, rightly noted that in today's environment, companies cannot be sure that a student accepted for a targeted position will remain with them. Often, such students do not have the opportunity to interact with the client or get to know the company itself before starting their careers. This underscores the importance of interaction between educational institutions and companies, which allows students to better understand the labor market and their future career prospects. Establishing such connections helps to create a more confident and prepared generation of specialists ready for the challenges of the professional environment.

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Employers, according to information from Kommersant, are seeking to expand student selection criteria for future vacancies. They want to consider not only Unified State Exam results but also other factors that may indicate a candidate's potential. This approach will allow employers to find more suitable employees ready to meet the demands of the modern labor market.

The fact that applicants could only respond to one quota offer created a problem.

Some rectors expressed dissatisfaction with the new admissions procedure, which limits applicants to only responding to one offer from employers under a targeted quota. This leads to students competing exclusively for the most attractive options. As a result, if they are not selected for their chosen program, they are unable to apply to other targeted offers where they might have a chance of admission. This situation creates additional complications and limits applicants' choices, necessitating a revision of existing rules.

The university's target quota can be further detailed so that a separate quota is allocated for each applicant for targeted training. In this case, a ranked list of applicants is created for each quota, resulting in a unique passing score for each group. An applicant can be admitted under the target quota only if they are among those who successfully qualify for the established number of contracts specified in the proposal to which they applied. In other words, admission depends on their success in this mini-competition for a specific proposal. The targeted quota approach to distributing places at universities ensures fairness and transparency in student admission.

If an applicant fails the competitive selection process, but the university still has available places under the targeted quota in the same field, they are not entitled to apply for these places, even if they are offered by other clients or the same client. The university also cannot enroll the applicant in these vacant places, even if there is a shortfall.

As a result, the clients were unable to attract a sufficient number of students, and the universities did not fill their quotas. Applicants seeking targeted admission were forced to apply under the general conditions.

The situation with passing scores is ambiguous.

The targeted quota for admission to universities often faces criticism due to the possibility of enrolling applicants with low scores. This creates a risk of under-prepared individuals receiving an education, which is especially important for sensitive professions such as doctors and engineers. The quality of education and the level of training of specialists directly impact the safety and well-being of society, so it is necessary to carefully evaluate the targeted admissions system and implement measures aimed at raising the requirements for applicants.

It's unclear whether the new procedure has successfully addressed the issue of accessibility of targeted training for a wide audience. This directly depends on the popularity of the chosen program. In the case of targeted admissions, as in standard admissions, not only the demand for the specialty but also the attractiveness of specific job offers becomes an important factor. Therefore, the success of targeted training will be determined by a combination of these factors, which may affect the number of applicants.

Applicants who show little interest in radio engineering face additional difficulties in entering this program due to the mandatory three-year work experience requirement with a low salary. This requirement makes radio engineering even less attractive to young people. At the same time, at leading medical universities, which are highly popular among applicants, a significant portion of state-funded places are allocated to targeted quotas. This means that targeted admissions are effectively becoming the primary method of admission for those without benefits or special rights. As a result, only those who truly desire admission to this university respond to targeted offers, increasing competition based on scores and making it as intense as at other prestigious educational institutions. Therefore, applicants must consider all these aspects when choosing a program and university for admission.

In 2024, there was significant variation in the popularity of various targeted offers. In some programs, applicants competed vigorously, and students with relatively high scores were admitted. Meanwhile, in other programs, quotas remained unfilled, leading to the admission of everyone, including those with low scores. This highlights the diversity in demand for educational programs and the importance of choosing a direction for future students.

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At the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MEPhI), according to the telegram channel "Boiling A student was admitted to MEPhI under a targeted quota with a score of 177 points on three exams. This is 100 points lower than the average score for admitted students this year. The situation is even more alarming at regional universities: the Telegram channel "Science and Universities" reported on a student admitted under a targeted quota at Rostov Medical University who scored only 122 points. These facts highlight the trend of declining passing scores at some higher education institutions, raising questions about the quality of applicants' preparation and competitive conditions. Non-targeted programs, which are a priority for the state but less popular among applicants, often admit students with low scores. It is important for universities to fill as many state-funded places as possible before the end of the admissions campaign, so educational institutions such as Tomsk State University of Radioelectronics and Control Systems (TUSUR) are willing to accept all applicants to priority programs as long as they meet at least the minimum score threshold. This allows universities not only to fill places, but also to increase interest in technical specialties, which are significant for the development of the country's economy and technology.