Integration Processes In Asian-Pacific Region And Export Of Educational Services

          G.I. Lazarev, rector of the Vladivostok State University of Economics and Services

          During the last decade the uniform world educational space has become a reality. To not recognize it means to not understand the major laws in development of education systems. Globalization of economy makes all new demands to the "product" of the higher school, focusing it on the preparation of graduates who are competitive and demanded on a labour market. The answer of educational sphere is its internationalization, introduction of the new quality standards, further expansion of the academic mobility, formation of the concept of training during all life.

           We accept and introduce the international game rules

           For Russia to remain on a roadside of this process is inadmissible. Having created the system of higher education recognized all over the world, we have saved up wide experience of the international cooperation. For the last 50 years 560 thousand foreign citizens have graduated from our higher institutions and have successfully applied the received knowledge. However training of students from developing countries and the countries of the socialist block was more likely a political question as for higher institutions, those years completely financed by the state, the economic aspect was of no interest.
           During the post Soviet period, as a result of a general crisis of the higher school the number of foreign students trained in Russia was reduced in times, and their share in the world has fallen from 10,8 to 3,5 %. Absence of visible success and achievements in social and economic spheres did not promote popularity of Russia among those who would like to study and receive necessary knowledge here. Besides, with an aggravation of interethnic relations attractiveness of the country to the students from abroad has essentially decreased: in different regions of Russia on there are regular cases of illegal actions in relation to foreign citizens including students.
          The formation of market relations stimulates higher institutions in Russia to expand a spectrum of the services. Analyzing the tendencies of development of the country, they come to the conclusion that in some years the number of Russian consumers of educational services, which basis is made by school graduates, will essentially be reduced due to demographic factors. The appearance of educational services on the world market will allow to soften overcoming of demographic "hole" and to receive new opportunities for the expansion of Russian presence in this market and for the development of higher educational institutions. If foreign students choose Russian higher institution offering its services at competitive prices, it proves its recognition and therefore raises its status.
           It is necessary to admit, however, that being potential competitors we are not eagerly awaited at the international education market. Moreover, we could only join it observing certain rules and procedures. For example, though Russia joined the Bologna process about two years ago, real integration into the European educational system is yet to come. The reason here is that Russian two-level system of higher professional education and system of test units (credits) is still underdeveloped.
          Thus, if we set the target to attract foreign students into Russian educational institutions and let our students seek advanced education abroad, we have to comply with standard rules. Domestic system of higher education created on the basis or internal needs remains unclear and untransparant for foreign partners and consumers in this form. Here again slogans about uniqueness and advantages of Russian education would hardly help. If foreign student, are not coming here it means that our higher institutions do not suite them. Those willing to change this situation should first find out what is exactly wrong with that and then adjust it to the current requirements.

           Vladivostok State University of Economics and Services: international integration

          Transition to two-level system of higher professional education is one of the most important trends of realizing this process. For our university which gained great experience in training experts of economic profile development of cooperation with foreign partners in business education (which we are in for already have 10 years) is the most promising direction. We have developed a program of integration into the world business-education system. We are in the process of implementing a series of international projects targeted at winning the right to train experts in business education completely complying with European and American standards and to issue bachelor and master degree diplomas.
           Foreign universities and colleges are involved in these projects: Washington university (Seattle, USA), California State University (Hayward, USA), California State Polytechnical University (Pomona, USA), Anchorage University of Alaska (Anchorage, USA), Turin University (Turin, Italy), Seville University (Seville, Spain), Edmonds Community College (Lynwood, USA), etc.
           Indeed, we take important steps to the maximum unification in curricula of a Russian expert and an American bachelor. For example, the agreement concluded between our university and Anchorage University of Alaska provides special plan of training, and as a result a student is granted two diplomas - Russian diploma of an expert and that of American bachelor.
           In 2003, the university has started training experts under МВА program fully complying with the American standards issuing Master of Business Administration diploma. The curriculum is split in two parts. The basic course is studied at the Vladivostok State University of Economics and Services. Its results are recognized by USA higher institutions partners where graduates may continue training and be granted МВА degree.
           Gradual transition to the two-level educational process allows to start implementing the program of training foreign students of a bachelor degree level for the countries of Asian-Pacific region.
          Today Vladivostok State University of Economics and Services brings educational process into accord with requirements of Bologna declaration, which is extremely important for recognition of degrees received in higher institution outside Russia. Having joined in the all-Russian experiment to introduce credit system in higher institutions in the spring of 2004, our university has already gained some useful experience.
          Using credit system promotes transparency of curricula, simplifies comparing them with standards and between each other, facilitates procedures of academic recognition of training results in other higher institutions. Besides, mobility of students is increased due to the simplified transfer from one educational program to another, the procedure of offsetting subjects is also simplified and the number of mandatory subjects is reduced. It is especially important for international integration of higher institutions.
          Using eight subjects as a sample, employees of our university performed scientific research in refining and testing the technique of compiling obligatory minimum for the basic educational programs content in training experts with higher professional education following the state educational standards on the basis of test units (credits).
          The university has started to introduce the rating system to assess students' performance including foreign students. Such a system would develop students' skills of active independent work, pays credit to their individuality and estimates knowledge more objectively, which was welcomed by both students and professors. In the beginning of a semester, students receive information on the number of subjects, principles of forming a rating on each of them, and on the test and examination schedule. We encourage students to learn systematically and assure routine control of their work. Our students are continually study during all semester instead of last days prior to examinations, which essentially influences the quality of knowledge. Thus, the rating system is an effective tool for managing results of training and improving its quality.
          We are sure that model of a modern university integrated into the world educational system, implies that international components are integrated in all areas of a higher institution activities: educational, scientific, administrative, etc. Our university features an effective education quality control system based on international standards, norms and experience, and training is performed using high technologies. We communicate with foreign higher institutions, centers of science and international organizations, we introduced academic exchange of teachers and students, and we participate in international educational programs and scientific projects. We have foreign students, post-graduate students and trainees. In view of global changes in the economy, politics, social and cultural aeras, professors and students acquire new competencies. We are also striving to provide our graduates with professional knowledge, enriched by intercultural dialogue skills, commitment to living and professional work in conditions of globalization so that they could master and apply new knowledge and technologies all through their lives.
          Our higher institution cooperates with more than 40 higher institutions and science centers of the People's Republic of China, Republic of Korea, Japan, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain, Austria, Great Britain and New Zealand, we implement various joint projects including advanced training and training of professors, and also perform student exchanges. Our students on a regular basis win competitions to participate in international exchange programs for training in the USA, China, Korea, Japan and other countries. In this area Vladivostok University of Economy and Services has become a leader among higher institutions of the region.

           Export of educational services: the Far East experience

          The Far East of Russia more bents for integration into the Asian-Pacific region: establishing communications with universities there is more real and relevant. Therefore, prevalence of the European tendency in the process of integrating Russia into the world educational environment produces certain vigilance in higher institutions of Eastern Russia. Educational community of the East Russia, naturally, should express more decisively the interests to promote cooperation in Asia. It is known that education systems of the countries in Europe, Asian-Pacific region and America essentially differ from each other. Even in using test units, we find here different approaches. After unconditional acceptance of the ECTS ideology (the European system of test units) as the standard for Russia, we risk to create an additional barrier to interaction and cooperation of Russian higher institutions with higher institutions of America and Asian-Pacific region. Russia is a huge and unevenly developed country, which creates a risk of establishing a lot of small "educational princedoms". We can keep unity and integrity of educational environment by using various forms of integration regarding local customs instead of uniformity (as it can seem at first sight). Therefore, we should be guided both by European and Asian educational systems featuring local customs and traditions.
          According to some calculations, by 2025 the total number of students in the world would increase from today's 97 up to 260 million, including the students receiving education abroad, two thirds of whom would be of Asian origin. It is explained by fast growth of population, economic growth, increase of population solvent demand and insufficient quantity of local universities. Competitive struggle between exporters of education would be for students from these regions. Geographically close to us higher institutions of the Russian Far East acquire certain future advantages, but problems they would have to solve are not that simple.
          To increase a share of foreign students, first of all, it is necessary to provide high-quality training in those professions which are demanded in the markets of the countries where graduates intend to be employed. For universities of the Far East Russia, it is important that foreign students now show interest both in economics and business-education, and also in mathematics and programming.
          The University of Economics and Services maintains close contacts with general consulates of the People's Republic of China, USA, SRV, Republic of Korea, and Japan accredited in Vladivostok and Khabarovsk, which to a great degree promotes distribution of information about our educational capabilities. Foreign citizens can get acquainted with the conditions of training at the University web-site featuring all necessary information in English.
          Selecting a higher institution, applicants (both Russian and foreign) may take into account its complex infrastructure providing comfortable and safe conditions for study and living. Vladivostok State University of Economics and Services offers best facilities for effective training and accommodation at the university campus.
          The invaluable role in expanding international educational environment of the university would also play realization of reliable professional, scientific and business contacts with foreign graduates; creation of high school and national associations of foreign graduates, and arranging of their meetings.
          The main parameter of the improved export educational services in the university is the number of trained foreign students, as well as added value share of these services in the aggregate returns to the university budget. While in 2001/02 academic year the university trained only 23 foreign students, the 2002/03 saw 79 person, and 2003/04 - as many as 282 person. In the current academic year we are planning to increase this number to 400 persons or more (the University hosts 23 550 students). Designing the strategy of development in this direction, we are guided by the fact that the share of foreign students would total to 10% of the entire student corps (across Russia this parameter hardly exceeds 1% on the average).
          Thus, during a rather short period of time our university could create a new competitive area of activities connected with the provision of educational services to foreign students. It is based on some factors including the following:
          - Effective system intended to improve image and advertising of educational capabilities of our higher institution abroad.
          - The enhanced informational-educational complex including introduction of long-term, hi-tech educational programs realised in cooperation with international partners.
          - Safety assurance (including round-the-clock campus security) and comfortable hostel for joint residing of foreign and Russian students.
          - International center of cultural cooperation intended to provide social and cultural adaptation of foreign students in Vladivostok.

          The Chinese project

          The majority of foreign student trained at the Vladivostok State University of Economics and Services are citizens of the People's Republic of China. This is a result of our attention to cooperation with China in the field of education. On the one hand, due to political and economic stabilization in Russia, citizens of China are more and more attracted to train in our country (it is important that prices for training in Russia are becoming more affordable). On the other hand, predicted demographic decrease in Russia in the near future would lead to decrease in the number of domestic students, especially in the sparsely populated Far East region. Due to this, the potential of the faculty may be directed on training foreign students. And finally, the affinity of the Russian Far East to China is yet another factor considered by applicants of frontier regions when selecting a higher institution.
           As is known, training foreign students involves major difficulties: language barrier, cultural-social distinctions and local educational traditions. The formal approach in their solution is blocking comprehension of curriculums and as a result leads to the loss of academic interest in foreign students. And it may harmfully affect the image of a higher institution.
           Our university in cooperation with higher institutions-partners from the People's Republic of China has developed a "2+2" model of educational cooperation. The major objective of the "2+2" model is the creation of adaptation period for students from China, development of innovative educational and methodological complex and a relevant infrastructure.
          This special model is intended for the effective use of educational resources and improvement of training quality. During the first two years, the students from the People's Republic of China are trained by Russian and Chinese instructors. Some subjects are entirely taught in Chinese, according to the approved program Chinese and to the available Chinese literature. A combined formula is used here: theoretical and complex parts are explained in Chinese, and basic topics are supported by simplified texts in Russian. It allows students to fully master material and at the same time to seize certain Russian vocabulary. This formula in our program is used only for philosophy and statistics.
          The following 2-3 years foreign and Russian students in our higher institution are taught by Russian professors.
          This model is unique in that all bachelor degree courses students are taught along with profound studying of Russian with regard to specific subjects and a level of students linguistic skills. Experience of teaching in Chinese in the university proved that a significant part of students during the first six months of training successfully master Russian grammar if it is explained by a Chinese professor.
          Besides, modern information technologies and specially developed and adapted methodical materials with comments in the Chinese language are introduced into educational process. When training foreign students it is very important to use information technologies because multimedia educational products allow addressing repeatedly to the lectures authored by the best professors. As is known, foreign students are very hard to switch perception from printed information to complex lecture information delivered orally. The new technology considers gradual overcoming of the language barrier by foreign students and allows to use effectively Chinese and Russian educational resources.
          Our model of training features special adaptable social-cultural program facilitating for a foreign newcomer to accustom to the university routine. It is easy to imagine a problem facing a young man who has just left his family to arrive in a foreign country. We should also keep in mind that students from the People's Republic of China are a little bit older than their classmates, and that they start to live in an environment which is different from the environment of the Chinese higher institutions. They could hardly successfully perform (though we should note high motivation for training of Chinese students) if they are not placed in an environment of psychological comfort. Thus, it is important that adaptation would go gradually.
          Social and cultural program involves the following purposes as follows:
          - Creating social and cultural environment (conditions) for fast adaptation of foreign students.
          - Assuring comfortable psychological conditions for students' efficient academic performance.
          - Acquiring skills of intercultural dialogue, activation of intercultural communications, development, interaction and mutual integration of cultures.
          - Satisfying need for studying Russian and continuous linguistic training aimed at joint cultural activities.
          - Acquiring knowledge and skills in the field of Russian culture via joint classes, activities, master-classes, etc.
          - Cultural cooperation with local community, expanding audience and pool of partners.
          - Expanding and cementing creative and business contacts (regional and international).
          - Improving image of Vladivostok University of Economics and Services as an educational, social and cultural center of the region.
          - Further development of joint educational programs.
          Realization of the program is assigned to the International center of cultural cooperation of our university conducting adaptive cultural activities: Sight seeing around the university and the city, meeting heads of the university divisions, conducting training courses, business games, participation in conferences, sports and cultural activities, discussions, practical courses in various arts, etc. Experts of the center help foreign students elect student councils in the groups, run for the university student council. Chinese students master Russian communicating closely with their peers of volunteers' corps. They learn Russian culture and traditions taking part in national holidays and festivals. In turn, they acquaint the Russian peers with their customs inviting them for Days of national cuisine, national holidays and so forth.
          Our program also helps foreign students adapt to new living conditions - linguistic, cultural and educational system. We are doing everything to teach a young man to find mutual understanding with others, to behave correctly and adequately in new conditions.
          The major partner of the University in this program is the Institute of International Education in Tsingtao, Shandong provinces. The first year of our cooperation the institute admitted 40 students, the second year - 100 students, and current year - over 130 person. Currently, "2+2" program in Tsingtao covers over 200 person. In September 2003, the first group of Chinese students arrived in Vladivostok to be admitted to the third grade of the University for training under the bachelor degree program.
          In the long run, on the basis of the Institute of International Education in Tsingtao we plan to create the Institute of Fundamental Training under Russian bachelor degree programs providing for Chinese students an opportunity of 3-rd and 4-th grade training in any selected profession in higher institutions of Russia. Now Russian and Chinese students are training both in Tsingtao and Vladivostok.
          This project is fully supported by the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China. The Ministry of Education and Science of Russia has allocated to the Vladivostok State University of Economics and Services additional financing to compile methodic materials and purchase necessary equipment. Now the University is facing a problem to develop technologies for training foreign students on the basis of new information models and equipment for their subsequent distribution among Russian higher institutions. Note that interdepartmental legislative base regulating activities of Russian higher institutions in the territories of foreign states, is practically missing today which prevents to promote export of Russian educational services. Only essential actions of the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia in this direction would assure efficient advance of Russian higher institutions to foreign market.
          Summing, we must stress here that higher educational institutions play a greater role in the increasing competitiveness of economies in the market of knowledge and information. In fact, that's what produces generation capable to easily adapt and effectively cooperate in the new globalized world. Advance to the market of the international education is a major factor assuring both solution of this problem and giving a momentum to the development of higher institutions themselves.

ABBREVIATIONS

ECTS - European Community Credit Transfer System (English). Translation system (offsetting) of grade credits (volume of the studied material) in the European Community [the subroutine of EC ERASMUS program.].
MBA - Master of Business Administration (English). [academic qualification].


Notes and reformatting by:
Е.V. Shevchenko,
Head of the International Education Management Department,
Institute of International Educational Programmes,
St. Petersburg State Polytechnic University