Russian Advancement in Science, Technology and Education
By Dr.Syed Mehboob
Research Scholar, Analyst
Russian Federation is an important player in global power game. It also made significant development in science, technology and education. Its visionary leader President Vladimir Putin gave enormous importance to science, technology and education and kept it on top of his priority. Russia spent 1% of its GDP on Research and Development in 2019 which increased to 1.7% in 2020. It is world’s tenth highest budget on Research and Development. It also ranked tenth worldwide in the number of scientific publications in 2020, with roughly 3.1 million papers. Since 1904, 26 noble prizes were awarded to Soviet and Russian scientists in Physics, Chemistry, Medicine, economy, literature and peace. Russia ranked 45th in global innovation index in 2021.
Nine Soviet and Russian Mathematicians have been awarded with the fields Medal. Grigori Perelman offered the first ever clay millennium prize award for his final proof of Poincare Conjecture in 2002, as well as the field medal in 2006. Alex Popov was among the inventors of radio, while Nikolai Basov and Alexander Prokhorov were coinventors of laser and maser. Zhores Alferov contributed significantly to the creation of modern heterostructure physics and electronic. Oleg Losev made crucial contributions in the field of semiconductor junctions, and discovered light-emitting diodes. Vladimir Vemadsky is considered one of the founders of geochemistry, biogeochemistry and radiogeology.
Rosocosmos is Russia’s national space agency. The country’s achievements in the field of space technology and space exploration can be traced back to Konstontin Tsiolkovsky, the father of theoretical astronautic whose work has inspired leading soviet rocket engineers such as Sergey Koroluov, Valentin Glushko and many others who contributed to the success of the soviet space programme in the early stages of the space race and beyond. In 1961 the first human trip into space was successfully made by Yuri Gagarin. Valentin Vladimirovna became the first and youngest woman in space, having flown to a solo mission on Vostok 6. During the 20th century, Russian and Soviet scientists were among the world leaders in Physics.
Aircraft manufacturing us one of the most science intensive high-tech sectors of modern Russian economy and employs the largest number of skilled personnel. The production and value of the military aircraft branch for outstrips other defence industry sectors, and air craft is make up more than half of the country’s arms export. The Russian aircraft industry offers a portfolio of internationally competitive military aircrafts while new projects such as the Sukhoi Super jet 100 are hoped to revive fortune of the civilian aircraft segment.
Russia is among the world’s largest satellite launchers and has completed the GLONA’s satellite navigation system. It is developing its own-fifth generation jet fighter (Sukhoi su57) and has built the world’s first floating power plant. Luna G106 is a Russian Moon exploration programme with its first mission scheduled to launch in October 2021. Russia is intending to conducting its first crewed mission to land on the moon in 2031.
The Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS) consists of the National Academy of Russia, a network of scientific research institutes from across the Russian Federation. The Academy included 1008 institutions and other units, in total 125,000 people were employed of which 47,000 were scientific researchers. The RAS consists of 13 specialized scientific divisions, three territorial branches and 15 regional scientific centers.
In Russia, the state provides most educational services regarding education through the ministry of education and the ministry of science and higher education. Russia’s expenditure on education has grown from 2.7 % of the GDP in 2005 to 4.7 % in 2018. Education in state owned secondary schools is free, first tertiary education is free with reservations. Male and Female have equal share in all stages of education, except in tertiary education where women lead with 57%.
Literacy rate is about 100%. According to OECD estimates, 54% of Russian adults (25 to 64 years old) have attended tertiary education giving Russia the second highest attainment of tertiary education 24.7 % are recorded among women aged 35 to 39 years.
In 2014 the Pearson Economist Intelligence unit rated Russia’s education as the 8th best in Europe and the 13th best in the world.
Russia’s educational attainment was rated as the 21st highest in the world, and the students’ cognitive skills as the ninth highest. In 2015 OECD ranked Russian Students’ mathematics and science skills as the 34th best in the world, between Sweden and Iceland. In 2016 the US company Bloomberg rated Russia’s higher education as the third best in the world. In 2014 Russia ranked as the 6th most popular destination for international students.
General Education has the following levels: -
v Preschool education level (Level 0)
v Primary General education (Level 1 according to ISCED) the duration of study is 4 years
v Basic General Education (Level 2 according to the ISCED) the duration of study is 5 years.
v Secondary General Education (Level 3 according to the ISCED) the duration of study is 2 years
v Bachelor’s Degree: It is available on the basis of secondary general education. The duration of study is 4 years
v Master’s degree: For person’s who have graduation and do masters in two years
Science, technology and advancement in education is the core base of development, progress and prosperity and it must be on top priority in nations’ policies. Pakistan needs to put science, technology advancement in its top priorities and there is need that Pakistan learn lesson form Russia and other advanced countries. Pakistani students should go Russia for higher studies and learn modern technologies. Pakistanis universities need collaboration with Russian universities to enhance their students’ skills and learning and there is need educational exhibition demonstrating details of Russian universities.