Home – Home – Jornals – Professional Education in the Modern World 2013 number 2

The contemporary modernization of vocational education is carried out without a clear understanding of the future: no understanding exists of the consequences of integration of the existing vocational education system into the European educational space. And above all, we do not know how the forecast of the vocational education development is connected with the development forecast of our society. The authors believe that the answers should be sought on the basis of dialectical interaction of economic laws and the laws of reproduction of vocational education. At that, it is important to understand and know the history of creation of the vocational education system.

The economic development of the country and the world of modern civilization requires a large number of highly qualified specialists able to work within the innovative manufacturing technologies. The training process begins with general and vocational education. However, the current education, being in the crisis state, cannot provide training in all areas of society and human life. Most scientists have come to recognize the need to build a new system of education, which cannot arise from the ruins of the old system. The main feature of the new system, which is different from the old one, is the quality of the educational process in terms of examination criteria for testing, which is more than 25 percent better than the traditional testing. We recommend using knowledge tests per subjects of State standards, which reach 100 percent quality of education – the criteria indicator of the new system of education in the conditions of the traditional system.

In the article there are considered the problems associated with the role of civil society in the formulation and development of the educational policy of modern Russia. The authors believe that the elements of civil society that exist in today’s Russia have a certain impact, though insufficient, on the formation of its educational policy. Meanwhile, such “initiators” of changes in the world educational space as globalization, informatization and multiculturalism require indispensable and effective participation of civil society in the reform processes taking place today in education. The problem is exacerbated by the fact that the government has given some of the functions of the education reform management to the civil society, thus transforming it into an active subject of the educational reform.

The article examines the conditions for educational reform, among which, in author’s opinion, a special place is occupied by the legal support. The changes taking place in the world educational space require correction of the contemporary legal framework, within which the Russian educational space is operating. The result of this correction should be the creation of the legal mechanisms that bring Russian education in line with the changes taking place in it.

In the article there are analyzed the approaches to consideration of the problem of safety in modern conditions. The concepts of “danger”, “threat”, “damage” and “safety” are considered. A special attention is paid to the place of the education safety in the system of national security of Russia. It is noted that education is one of the main priorities of sustainable development of Russia at the present stage, because it influences all the levels of national security without an exception by training the qualified personnel. It is substantiated that it is only by means of social philosophy that is possible to find general regularities of safety as a phenomenon and a concept without referring to concrete processes. It is argued that there exists a need for Russia to develop a Concept of the education safety, at the heart of which there should be the idea of maximal development of the human potential.

The article reveals the causes, aims and objectives of the creation of Pan-European higher education space. There are considered the basic provisions set out in the Bologna Declaration and subsequent jointly adopted documents, on which basis this space should be created. There is analyzed the history of Russia’s joining the Bologna process and its potential negative consequences for the domestic system of higher education. The conclusion is made concerning the need for a balanced approach to the participation of our country in the Bologna process.

Reforming of the Russian professional education, especially the education of the adult working population, should be primarily directed at meeting the changing needs of rural population, taking into account the changes taking place in the society today. The analysis of a survey conducted by the authors has revealed a number of negative trends in the work with the leaders of the collective agricultural enterprises. The most important among those are: diminishing of the professional level of managers, lack of motivation for professional growth, frequent changes of managers and their lack of experience in the managerial position and some others. The current situation in the governing body of the agricultural organizations directly affects the efficiency of the agricultural manufacturing, making it low efficient. To overcome this situation, there are needed fresh approaches to the continuous training of the agricultural managers. In the authors’ opinion, one of such approaches is the creation of a “System of professional support of the managers of agricultural enterprises”. There have been made the first steps in the implementation of this system. There are described the creation of a database of the managers and their gradual involvement into individual professional support, as well as some approaches to evaluating the effectiveness of this system.

The author analyzes the content of the stages of creating the information environment in a regional university. The article describes the specific nature of the information processes, which began in Russia at the end of the last century. The interaction is described of the regional and central educational institutions, the role is emphasized of the enthusiasm of the university staff in forming the telecommunications resources and the need is highlighted to create the educational programs on the basis of new information technologies. Thus, in the article, using the already historical example of the Far Eastern University, there is defined and substantiated the need for the information environment creation in the modern regional university.

In modern society, introducing information technologies into the educational process is of a great importance. This article is devoted to distance learning, a form of education where information technologies are widely used. Distance Learning System is a high-tech area, which requires substantial investment into the development of educational materials and informational means of training. In our opinion, a simple “shifting” of the existing traditional system of education without proper training and development of a special system only leads to decreasing of the education quality. On the other hand, a high-tech distance learning system developed in detail will provide qualitatively different products for training in certain areas of science and practice which do not require full-time participation of the teacher. In the paper there is proposed a model using elements of distance learning for educational institutions of higher education (Agricultural University), the main forms of distance learning are considered.

The analysis of mechanisms of radiation scattered in the range of angles θ from 0 to 180° is made for a sphere by comparing the exact phase scattering functions calculated with the Mie theory and interference phase scattering functions with the use of diffraction and partial rays of geometric optics (GO). In view of refinements of relative phase shifts of all rays and the amplitude of the diffraction ray, it appeared that large-scale oscillation regularities of the exact phase scattering function at high Mie parameters x corresponded to the interference pattern of two or three rays mentioned above. For integral characteristics a computation error with the interference formulae in the range of angles θ = 0 ÷ 10° does not exceed units of percent for х > 10 and within the large x values it tends to zero. For other ranges, depending on the difference in the combination of the integer parts parity in the p intervals of the total scattering angle tendency of oscillation periods over the angle to zero is seen according to the laws of х^–1, х^–2/3 (rainbows) and х^–1/2. The oscillation period over x begins to depend only on θ. The results of the calculations of exact phase scattering functions average over the intervals Δθ = 10 ÷ 15° for the refraction index m = 4/3 are presented in the form of approximation relationships with the asymptotic tendency to the GO phase scattering function.

Artificial radio nuclides, such as iodine-131 (¹³¹I), cesium-134 (¹³⁴Cs) and cesium-137 (¹³⁷Cs), as well as natural isotopes of beryllium-7 (⁷Be) and potassium-40 (⁴⁰K) have been registered in atmospheric aerosols over Vladivostok selected from 11 March to June 17, 2011. Artificial radio nuclides were also discovered in atmospheric wet depositions. Variability of gamma activity of natural isotopes of ⁷Be and ⁴⁰K is not greater than one order of magnitude throughout the sampling period. Synoptic analysis of back trajectories movement of air masses showed that the radioactive cloud came from the regions of Siberia and North-Eastern part of China.

The adsorption and photosorption properties of precipitated aerosol produced by dispersing mineral magnesite crystal, MgCO₃, under ambient air were investigated. Analysis are carried out of the texture of precipitated aerosols sample, the crystal structure and the adsorption layer composition of micro particles formed by grinding of crystal under ambient air. The kinetics of desorption and photodesorption of CO₂ from micro particle surfaces and the interaction of Freon 22 (CHF₂Cl), CO, O₂, and N₂O with its surfaces under darkness and illumination were studied. The quantum yields and their spectral dependencies for CO₂ photodesorption and O₂ photoadsorption were determined. It is shown that magnesite mineral aerosol is active under illumination for removal of oxygen containing electron-acceptor gases from Earth’s atmosphere.

Passive sampling is a simple low-cost method for assessment of concentrations of gases in air. In comparison with standard methods, the precision of the results of passive sampling measurements is more influenced by meteorological and methodological factors. Results of theoretical and experimental studies of a number of factors, which influence the precision of the results of passive sampling measurements of ambient NO₂ are presented. Comparison of passive sampling method and reference methods (sorption tubes, chemiluminescent gas analyzer) under moderate continental climate conditions demonstrated systematical statistically significant underestimation of concentrations, measured by passive samplers method. It was shown that the difference observed is accounted for the drawbacks of the model commonly used for treatment of passive sampling data; the model does not take into account particularities of interaction between NO₂ and sorbent solution that are related to the influence of relative humidity. A new NO₂ passive sampling model based on available data on interaction between NO₂ and a sorbent solution was developed. Application of the model allowed us to improve agreement between NO₂ concentrations calculated from passive sampling data and those measured by reference methods, to eliminate systematical and statistically significant difference between the datasets.

The characteristic times of photoionization of the ground 3S level and excited 3P one of the sodium atom are calculated. The model of the balance equations of the ionization and recombination kinetics was constructed for optically thin case, based on the experimental scheme of reactions of the complex ion formation with participation of sodium, which considers also photoprocesses for the basic and excited levels. The numerical solution of the balance equations gives the time behavior of the sodium atomic density, ionic density, and complex ionic density when taking into account the laser illumination of the resonant transition at a wavelength of 0.589 μm.

A comparison of the vertical profiles concentrations of O₃, CO, CO₂, and CH₄ measured with the help of flying laboratory Tu-134 “Optic” (SML) and recovered according to the instrument IASI satellite MetOP is performed. The comparison showed that the absolute difference between the concentration of ozone SML – IASI may vary from 3 to 18 ppb, at a height of 0.5 km and from –8 to –38 ppb 7 km. The relative differences are in the range of 8–30% at 0.5 km and 12–88% at 7 km. For profiles of CO an absolute difference between the concentration of CO SML – IASI can vary from 32 to 103 ppb at an altitude of 0.5 km and from –18 to 23 ppb at 3 km. The relative difference are in the range –4–48% at 0.5 km and –8–20% at 7 km. Maximum difference of methane profiles in the boundary layer reaches 150 ppb, and the minimal one –10 ppb. The average relative difference varies from +2.8 to –0.5%. Maximal and minimal profiles for all flights are in range from 7.8 to 1.2%. Minimum, from –0.4 to –3.4%. The average difference between SML – IASI is in the range ±1.5 ppm, while the individual profiles are not comparable. The maximum and minimum differences for all flights are high, namely, in the atmospheric boundary layer 10 and –12 ppm, respectively. The maximum and minimum relative deviations for all flights are +2.3 and –3.3% in the boundary layer, respectively. Above the boundary layer relative deviations are reduced to ±1.0%.

The paper analyzes the influence of the winter stratospheric warming (SW) on the characteristics of the vertical distribution of temperature and density of the air in the middle atmosphere above Tomsk. The sudden SW in winters 2009/10, 2010/11, and 2011/12 and summers of 2010–2012 with a stable vertical temperature distribution were considered. It is shown that for disturbed conditions caused by the winter warming, the deviation of temperature and density of air from the mean values are in opposition and have expressed mirror symmetry with respect to zero. Their maximum amplitude occurs at 35 to 40 km and can reach +30% for the temperature and –30% for the density. Under quiet conditions in the summer months, the temperature deviation is in the main range –6 ¸ +8%, and the density of the air, –8 ¸ +15%.

The problem of ecological conditions at Norilsk industrial area is discussed. The NASA database on OMI sensor (AURA satellite) is used for 2004–2012 years. The largest share of sulfur dioxide emissions were detected in January–May and November (90%). The maximum emission of 95 kt per month was observed in November 2004. A comparative analysis of data from the satellite with ground-based environmental monitoring and airborne monitoring data was carried out. The space and ground-based data differs by 30–65%, the space and airborne data – by 14%.

We analyzed the existing software for atmospheric correction of satellite data in the channels of the visible range, their advantages and disadvantages. The architecture of software complex, developed at Institute of Atmospheric Optics for atmospheric correction of satellite measurements, is presented. We consider the application of algorithms for the purpose of constructing the cloud mask and removing the semitransparent clouds by the example of satellite images of ETM+/Landsat-7 instrument.

The main theoretical relations, necessary for the method of the measurement of the turbulence characteristics from the flutter of the astronomical imades on the board of the flying plane, are presented. The monostatical and differential (the bistatical) receivers are consequently compared. The analysis does not repeat the analysis of signals and errors of the traditional differential method. The method, proposed by us, supposes the operation with moving carrier. It is shown that maximum deviation of the bistatical response function from the monostatic ones exists when the velocity vectors of the carrier and the carrying channel are collinear. The influence of the turbulence outer scale, of the velocity vector of the carrier, frequencies of taking countings out, and other parameters of the meter scheme are estimated. In particular, it is found that typical correlation time in the bistatical differential receiver depends on the time of the carrying of the inhomogeneities between two receiving channels until the distance between them is less than the turbulence outer scale.

This paper presents the emission spectra of the most powerful in the present LEDs in the visible range of the spectrum (by comparison with the emission spectrum of halogen lamp), which can be used as a transmitter in the Fourier transform spectrometer instead of halogen bulbs. It is concluded that it is possiblie to obtain registration sensitivity to 10^–8 cm^–1 for the absorption coefficient in the visible range when using LEDs. The registration of the absorption of water vapor in range 15400–16200 cm^–1 showed the validity of the conclusions.

The paper shows that there has always been a clear awareness of the military strategic and geopolitical importance of Russian arctic regions for the future of the country observed among the county administration. At present, it is of more importance due to the improved technological infrastructure for our marine transport. The paper proves the author's thesis that to realize both economic goals of the development of this region and strategic ones could be done through building a system of arctic aqua-territorial business complexes in the regions adjacent to the Northern Sea Route. The paper also offers the author's approach to analyzing and proving feasibility of coordination of the national, regional, and corporate interests by changing parameters of the corporate structures of such complexes. A case-study is presented for the Taimyr-Yakutsk aqua-territorial business complex where different variants of the corporate structure of this complex are analyzed.

The paper analyzes the features of the Russian socio-geographic space connected with a current settlement pattern. We can conclude that Russian network of settlements proved to be non-homogeneous, and to be more precisely, there is a lack of cities; an urban skeleton does not cover all the territory of the country; the settlement patterns have shaped on rather limited territories mostly of local levels; and such settlement patterns do not unite the socio-geo-graphic space. The key trends are the domination of conglomerated settlement patterns, polarization, and shrunk social space. We prove that the features of the socio-geographic space in Russia, in contrast to the key territorial features of a non-correctable nature, could be corrected, and therefore, this could become a goal of further spatial modernization of the country.

The paper analyzes management risks Russia can face in implementing its arctic strategy, and the approaches to how coordinate national and regional priorities within this strategy. We prove a necessity to build an authorized body of the RF Government level whose mandate would be to coordinate the development and implementation of the development sub-programs and regional socio-economic strategies for Arctic area. We offer a project approach to administer the Arctic strategy.

The paper characterizes the Russian Arctic areas and eastern regions, and it proves that they (both or either of them) should not be considered as a united object of planning and management. The development strategies for each of the regions should be specified not only in the regional documents, but also in federal ones. Taking into consideration the realities of current regional management in the country and a principle of indivisibility of RF subjects, it seems advisable to give a priority to the level of RF subjects. However, it is also reasonable to treat the regions under study as independent targets of our public regional policy, administration, and, first of all, strategic planning.

The paper considers how notions and criteria of federalism correlate with decentralization of powers and resources, as well as how quality of federative institutions correlates with regional policies. Our analysis of the recent regulatory documents concerning problems of the Russian federalism and regional policy shows that practical solutions proved to be inconsistent with the diagnosed regional problems. Moreover, decentralization of resources under these conditions will enhance the role the federal authorities play in making decisions rather than will bring higher effectiveness of the regional policies.

The paper considers the current dimensions of competition and groups of consumers for which regions compete with each other. A definition of competitive potentials in a region is presented as well as the calculations of such potentials according to five factors such as the economic development, development of infrastructures, innovation development, quality of life, and human potential, each by a 100-point appraisal plan. We present our assessment of the competitive potentials for several Russian federal districts and regions classified by the technique proposed and discuss how such assessments could be applied.

The paper states that the technique to monitor the socio-economic development based on the system of the indicators common for all units of the Russian Federation does not allow applying scientific paradigms to regional governance. We offer a list of indicators which could reflect regional specifics in a proper monitoring of the regional socio-economic development and test its application for the Irkutsk Oblast.

The paper proves that measuring regional poverty should be comprehensive and include an analysis of the socio-economic and environment situation as well as effectiveness of the existing institutes. We analyze an official approach to and major problems of measuring regional poverty through our case-study for Tyumen Oblast. To describe a full picture of poverty in the oblast, we apply a multidimensional approach and compare indicators of people's experience of deprivation such as lack of income, lack of capacities for human development, inadequate living standard, social exclusion, and peoples' poverty assessments. We can also conclude that there is a need to solve problems of the increased social poverty and those of economic poverty observed in the Tyumen Oblast simultaneously.

The paper discusses high disparities in the effects of higher education observed among Russian regions. For most regions, this fact can be explained by compensatory mechanisms, but for nearly the fifth part of regions, the explanation does not work they are the regions with high innovation potentials. This fact let us assume that effects of higher education depend on the degree of how the innovation infrastructure is developed and locally concentrated. However, having tested this hypothesis, we observed a reverse dependence. In addition, the high disparities within federal districts required another explanation. Our conclusion is that effects of higher education in regions depend on the differences in wages taken place due to sectoral specifics of regions.

The paper analyses a current state of the consumer complex in the Siberian Federal District over 2002-2011, i.e. the population incomes, retail turnover, and paid services, and it presents a classification of the SFD regions by a consumer activity index.

Having analyzed a correlation between some oncological diseases observed in Western Siberia and the socio-economic factors, we display the typical correlations for most diseased and specific ones for individuals. The effective measures of cancer surveillance are proposed.

The paper compares an investment policy of the Government of Novosibirsk Oblast and the recommendations included in the model program on improving investment climates in RF subjects and developed on the base of the best sub-federal practices. The paper analyses problems of the socio-economic and investment development and proposes the ways and mechanisms to improve the investment policy in this region.

The paper offers an approach to assessing a demand for fuel to make a long-term forecast of the opportunities of regional energy markets under uncertainty. A peculiarity of the approach is application of the optimization model and Monte-Carlo method. To show what would bring this approach, we present our results obtained by the application of the technique proposed to assessing the price elasticity of demand for gas observed at the new and large heating plants of several Russian regions.

The paper displays an increasing impact of economic activities on the water resources of the Ob-Irtysh Basin and analyzes issues connected with providing the population and economy of the Basin with water as well as the issues of environmental protection. We paid special attention to the issue of coordination the interests of different countries in using trans-boundary water resources and how quality of water impacts people's health. We also analyze what difficulties and potential threats are in practical solution of the current problems.

The paper is devoted to the agglomeration processes taken place within subjects of the Russian Federation. The study is of an empirical character, and its theoretical basis is the concepts of the new economic geography. Our analysis shows that, despite a high level of the spatially concentrated economic activities, the agglomeration progresses in the RF subjects and it happens mostly due to the size and structure of markets.

The paper analyzes how efficiency of production at industrial enterprise and its tax burden correlate and it presents the authors' technique for such analysis -to plan what results could be expected under different tax schedules. The technique was tested on the base of the example of a machine-building facility. This technique allows understanding how the current tax system could be improved to stimulate a higher efficiency of production at enterprises.

The paper offers a number of the development models for the innovation-oriented holdings comprised of small businesses; analyses how a type of the holdings and their organization and management correlate; and identifies major features which could be reflected in such development models.

The paper shows the reasons why the Northeast provinces in China, which used to be economically advanced ones, lag behind the Southern provinces. The recommendations how the Northeast industrial sector should be restructured and modernized are presented.

On the preliminary statistical data provided by the Goskomstat of the Russian Federation (Statistics Russia), the paper assesses how Russian regions recovered from and developed after the world financial crises (2007-2012) and considers the changes of the spatial structure which can be observed according to the economic indicators showed the largest drops such as the fixed investments and industrial output.