Valentina Matvienko on regional school graduates: "Let them study at home"

Content:

• Context

The Chairman of the Federation Council of the Russian Federation is a key figure in the country's public administration system. He represents the upper house of the Federal Assembly and plays a vital role in legislative activity. The Speaker's primary responsibilities include coordinating the work of the Federation Council, representing its interests internationally, and interacting with other government bodies. The Speaker of the Federation Council also participates in the discussion and adoption of laws, making this position one of the most significant in Russia's political system. The importance of this role is particularly evident in the context of the country's current challenges and the need to respond legislatively to them.

At a meeting devoted to organizing the work of the Council under the President of the Russian Federation, key aspects of the implementation of state demographic and family policy are being discussed. The meeting will address pressing issues related to increasing the birth rate, supporting families, and creating conditions for the stable development of the country's population. The focus is on developing and implementing effective measures aimed at strengthening family values ​​and improving the quality of life of citizens.

Parents, sending their children from the provinces to study in Moscow, often hope for a successful future. However, the reality is different: many graduates become managers in retail chains, which does not meet expectations. It is important to focus on regional universities and higher education institutions that can offer high-quality education. A target must be set to reduce the number of students admitted to higher education institutions within five years. Admission should be limited to in-demand specialties to ensure that educational programs meet labor market needs. The remaining students can receive education in their home regions, which will help develop local economies and maintain the level of professional skills.

The Chairman of the Federation Council of the Russian Federation is a key figure in the country's political system. He or she heads the upper house of the Federal Assembly and plays a vital role in the legislative process. The Chairman's primary functions include chairing meetings of the Federation Council, representing the chamber in government bodies, and participating in the development of legislative drafts. The Chairman is also responsible for interaction with other branches of government and oversees the implementation of laws. The importance of this position is underscored by its influence on the formation of public policy and the direction of the country's development.

The meeting on the organization of the work of the Presidential Council for the Implementation of State Demographic and Family Policy was a success. Key aspects of the strategic approach to implementing demographic policy aimed at improving conditions for families and increasing the birth rate in the country were discussed. Participants exchanged views on current initiatives and proposed new measures to support family values ​​and improve the quality of life of citizens. The discussion demonstrated the importance of a comprehensive approach to resolving demographic issues, which is a priority of state policy.

Parents, when sending their children to study in Moscow, expect success stories, but the result is often different: graduates become managers in retail chains, which is far from their original ambitions. It is important to focus on regional universities and higher education institutions. A goal must be set: to reduce enrollment in higher education institutions within five years, focusing on the actual needs of the labor market. Admission should be limited to in-demand specialties, while the remaining students should receive education in their own regions. This will not only improve the quality of education, but also ensure a more efficient distribution of personnel across the country.

Context

On March 11, a meeting was held, opened by Valentina Matviyenko, dedicated to the activities of the new Council on Demographic and Family Policy. The main goal of this Council is to develop proposals aimed at improving the demographic situation in Russia, in particular, increasing the birth rate. As part of the discussion, the Speaker of the Federation Council also touched on the issue of graduates from other regions entering universities in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and other large cities, focusing on demographic issues. She noted the problem of population outflow, especially from the Far East and from the northern regions of the country.

Valentina Matviyenko expresses her main complaint about the capital's universities, pointing out that they are focused on making a profit from paid tuition, while not linking their activities with the key tasks of the state. This raises important questions about the social responsibility of educational institutions and their role in developing the country's human resources. It is important for universities not only to ensure financial sustainability but also to actively contribute to the fulfillment of state objectives and the development of society as a whole. Today, Moscow has approximately one million students, St. Petersburg has nearly 500,000, and Kazan also has a significant number of young people. Russia's major cities are becoming centers of attraction for students seeking higher education. However, the question arises: why so many students? Who is conducting the analysis on this topic? What professions are in demand in the labor market? These issues continue to be discussed with the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, but clear answers remain. It is important to study not only the number of students, but also the quality of education and the compliance of curricula with modern labor market requirements.

According to experts, the imbalance in student distribution began to develop in the 1990s, when universities began graduating students en masse in professions unclaimed by the labor market. While the government currently has labor force and economic development forecasts, these data are still not taken into account when selecting students for fee-paying education at educational institutions. This leads to many graduates facing difficulties finding employment, as their specializations do not meet current market demands.

Valentina Matviyenko raises an important issue for graduates of fee-paying educational programs, noting that after receiving a degree from a prestigious Moscow university, young professionals experience difficulties returning to their home regions. This leads many of them to remain in large cities such as Moscow and St. Petersburg, often pursuing jobs that do not align with their qualifications. Although the Speaker of the Federation Council emphasized that working as a "manager in a retail chain" is not something negative, such a situation does not encourage family formation or increase the number of parents with many children. Many young people typically begin to build their personal lives only in their 30s, which also impacts the country's demographic situation.

The Speaker of the Federation Council called for the active involvement of young people in regional universities. She recalled the ongoing project to create a network of modern university campuses. The main goal of these campuses is to enable young people to study and remain in their regions. This creates convenient conditions not only for students, but also for their families, because it is easier to start a family and raise children in their hometowns.

Earlier this year, Minister of Science and Higher Education Valery Falkov emphasized the importance of monitoring fee-based admissions to universities in the interests of the state. The Ministry of Education and Science's initiative aims to eliminate the imbalance between the number of applicants to fee-based programs in economics and law and the actual needs of the labor market. The methods for implementing this initiative have not yet been disclosed, but changes are planned for the 2026 admissions campaign.

Valentina Matviyenko's speech did not discuss limiting state-funded admissions to Moscow universities. A significant portion of federally funded places is traditionally distributed among regional universities. In 2024, this share was 73%. The abolition of the two-wave admissions process has also impacted university admissions: applicants now have only one attempt to apply for state-funded places, forcing many to choose safer options and enroll in places where they are confident of their chances. According to a recent survey of 1,200 adults living in large cities, 81% of respondents enrolled in a university in the same region where they completed their high school education. Research by the Higher School of Economics confirms that no more than 30% of high school graduates continue their education outside their home regions.

The outflow of graduates to major cities, particularly Moscow, remains a significant problem, and the distribution of state-funded places hasn't significantly changed this issue. Many families prefer to invest in their children's education at prestigious Moscow universities, even if they have the opportunity to apply for state-funded places at less competitive universities. In 2024, the number of students admitted to fee-paying places at Russian universities increased by almost 10% compared to 2023, with more than half of them studying on a fee-paying basis. Regional universities are particularly struggling to attract strong applicants, such as those with high scores and Olympiad winners. To retain talented young people in their regions, universities are introducing various measures, including increased stipends and one-time payments. For example, in 2023, special conditions for applicants with high Unified State Exam (USE) scores were offered in the Samara, Omsk, Sverdlovsk, and Perm regions, as well as in Yaroslavl, Kazan Federal University, and Kostroma State University. These measures are aimed at making studies at regional universities more attractive and competitive.

In the 2010s, regional school graduates' access to Moscow universities significantly increased thanks to the introduction of the Unified State Exam (USE). In 2017, Olga Vasilyeva, then the Minister of Education and Science of Russia, noted that the USE had changed the ratio of local and international students at Moscow educational institutions. While before the introduction of the exam, 70% of first-year students were graduates of Moscow schools, by 2017, 65% of students were applying from other regions. Simplifying admission to prestigious Moscow universities remains one of the main arguments in support of the Unified State Exam (USE) in discussions about its possible abolition. The future of this argument is questionable, especially if the influx of young people into Moscow universities begins to be perceived as a problem rather than a positive phenomenon. First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Science and Higher Education Oleg Smolin expressed his position on limiting fee-based admission to higher education institutions. In an interview with Gazeta.Ru, he noted that such restrictions violate applicants' rights. According to him, if a person wishes to pursue a fee-based education, it is their legal right. Oleg Smolin also agrees with the Speaker of the Federation Council, pointing to the problem of graduate outflow from the regions. As a solution, he proposes considering the possibility of partially eliminating the Unified State Exam (USE). This will allow high school graduates to choose between taking the Unified State Exam (USE) to enroll in Moscow universities or traditional exams to continue their education in their region.

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