Digitalization in the Higher Education System: Sociological analysis

Abstract

Examined are problems of modern digital transformation of Russian universities and the impact of restrictive measures related to the pandemic on the acceleration of these processes. The work is based on the results of two stages of the sociological study “Peculiarities of the work organization of Russian universities in the period of restrictions in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic (opinions of students and teachers)”, conducted by the researchers of the MSU and RUDN in 2020-2021. The purpose of the study was a comprehensive analysis of the opinions of teachers and students of Russian universities about working in a remote format during the period of forced restrictions, their assessment of their digital skills and competencies and the level of digitalization of their universities. The article analyzes the main achievements and problems of the transition to modern digital tools for organizing the educational process in the country's universities. As practical recommendations for improving the process of digital transformation of higher education, the authors propose a number of possible measures to optimize the digitalization of universities and that are aimed at smoothing out a number of restrictions that imminently comes amid this process. The work is addressed to a wide range of readers, all those who are interested in the problems of higher education, the introduction of digital technologies in the organization of training.