Integrity of the new System of scientific Attestation (on the example of academic degree attributes)

Egorov Sergey ORCID: 0000-0001-8512-400X Doctor of Laws (LLD) Vice-Rector for Research, Moscow Tax Institute 123308, Russia, Moscow, 3rd Khoroshevskaya street, 2 sergeyyuegorov@gmail.com Other publications by this author

In the context of the growing diversity of rules and practices in the modern system of scientific certification, many problematic issues arise, the key of which is the integrity of the entire system ^[2]. Is it able to fully ensure equality of rights and opportunities for applicants applying for academic degrees? What can those who successfully pass the dissertation defense in this or that dissertation council count on? At the level of laws and declarations, all are guaranteed comparable conditions, regardless of which part of the certification system they undergo the appropriate procedures ^[58]. Nevertheless, the actual fulfillment of such obligations raises a number of doubts and concerns among representatives of the professional community ^[4]. One of the most noticeable indicators of this problematic situation can be the attributes of academic degrees awarded by various educational and scientific organizations ^[38]. The study of what changes have occurred in this direction after the elimination of the monopoly of the Higher Attestation Commission (HAC) ^[13] makes it possible to understand whether the specified system continues to maintain its integrity and provide equal rights to all applicants.

In professional discussions related to the issues under consideration, first of all, attention should be paid to the works of Venediktov A.A. ^[5], Denisova-Schmidt E. ^[9], Zbrovsky G.E. ^[16], Matskevich I.M. ^[22], Molotkova N.V. ^[23] and other researchers actively engaged in studying the peculiarities of state regulation of educational and scientific activities. Equally important are the arguments of Bridges-Rhodes S. ^[34], Denicolo P. ^[30], Kobzar E.N. ^[31], Trank K. ^[33], Shin J.K. ^[32] and other specialists generalizing and comparing Russian and world experience in the field of awarding academic degrees. Such authors as Badmaeva S.V. ^[1], Markin V.V. ^[20], Safiullin R.G. ^[27], Glazunova I.V. ^[7], Makhmutov A.H. ^[21] together with colleagues analyze the factors influencing the provision of equal rights and opportunities in education and science. All this provides a sufficient theoretical basis for understanding the current realities of the Russian certification system. The use of a systematic approach, typing, modeling, formal legal method and other applied tools will allow us to rely on existing achievements and advance in the search for answers to the main problem question of this study.

Sources on the topic can be divided into three main groups, the first of which is represented by Russian legislation in the field of state scientific, technical and educational policy, as well as acts of the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia and the Higher Attestation Commission ^[38]. The second group should include local regulations and materials of dissertation defenses in educational and scientific organizations that have received the right to independently award academic degrees. It is assumed that from the moment of approval, the list of such organizations can be regularly updated ^[50]. The third group consists of acts and other official documents of spiritual educational organizations, which are granted the right to carry out all procedures related to theological degrees ^[59]. The double subordination of such organizations to the laws on education and on freedom of conscience gives them the opportunity to conduct protection in accordance with their internal regulations. At the same time, the state, when conducting licensing procedures for organizations ^[52] and accreditation of educational programs ^[53], takes into account such theological degrees on an equal basis with other academic degrees. The designated theoretical and source base provide the present research with all the resources necessary to find answers to a key research question.

1. Modern names of Russian academic degreesFor many years, the problem of naming academic degrees has remained quite controversial.

Discussions on the abolition of the two-stage model of scientific certification ^[25], on the introduction of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) ^[17], on the allocation of professional doctorates ^[18] and other related topics have repeatedly begun on various platforms. As a result, the center of the Russian certification system still retains two main stages - Candidate of Sciences and Doctor of Sciences. Other variants in different status are present as an experiment or in other forms in different parts of the educational space. A number of universities, for example, Skoltech, award PhD both independently and together with foreign partners ^[28]. DBA and other professional doctorates have been introduced at the Financial University, HSE, RANEPA and other educational organizations ^[19]. At the same time, neither the first nor the second claim to state recognition of such documents in the status of academic degrees. Most often they are issued in the form of diplomas of additional professional education. What is the situation with the name in the recognized subsystems within the official system?

Within the framework of dissertation councils directly controlled by the Higher Attestation Commission and the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia, there are only two degrees mentioned above. They are awarded according to scientific specialties and branches of science included in the state nomenclature ^[54]. An applicant who has successfully defended his dissertation can become a candidate of biological sciences, a doctor of political sciences, a candidate of cultural studies, a doctor of architecture, etc. ^[55]. Within this subsystem, there is a division into two segments, represented by ordinary and special dissertations, the latter of which consider dissertations containing state secrets ^[54]. The main number of such associations relates to the military industry due to its specifics. For their control, special expert councils are created in the Higher Attestation Commission from among specialists with the necessary permits ^[8]. It is worth noting that such structures can award degrees not only in military sciences, but also in other industries. Because of this, a situation arises in which, for example, to obtain a Doctor of technical sciences degree in a special council, instead of publications in peer-reviewed publications, reports on research activities can be provided ^[51], which causes inequality in the conditions of certification.

Organizations that independently award academic degrees also maintain a two-stage certification model. At the level of public presentations, it was announced the introduction of candidates of sciences of UrFU ^[47], doctors of sciences of St. Petersburg State University ^[41] and other analogues, however, in local regulations and issued diplomas, the addition of the name of the university to the academic degree was not widely used ^[10]. A more interesting situation is observed at the Higher School of Economics, where dissertation councils have the right to award academic degrees not in individual scientific specialties, but immediately in the fields of sciences. A number of experts express critical comments about this ^[3], which does not stop the practice itself. After defending a dissertation, an applicant can become both a classical doctor of historical sciences or a candidate of philological sciences, as well as a candidate of sciences in education or a doctor of sciences in management. The list of non-standard areas includes state and municipal administration, engineering sciences and applied mathematics, communications and media, as well as other areas ^[37]. At the same time, all HSE diplomas have the status of state diplomas, which are part of the Russian system of scientific certification.

In the ROC, the degree of Candidate of theology was introduced at the first stage, at the second – Doctor of theology and Doctor of Church history. The differences in names are related to the subject of dissertations defended for a theological degree ^[49]. In Muslim universities, there is a one-stage model involving the award of the degree of Doctor of Islamic Sciences. A similar practice exists, for example, at Dagestan Islamic University (DIU) ^[48]. In Protestant education, in particular at the Higher School of Theology (HSE), scientific certification is focused on the practice of the world's leading universities and the norms of the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED) ^[15]. In this regard, professional and academic degrees are allocated at the first stage, and higher theological degrees are allocated at the second. The professional ones include a doctor of ministry and a doctor of practical theology, and the academic ones include a doctor of theology, while all three options correspond to the academic degree of a candidate of sciences. The highest degree is a Doctor of Sciences in theology, equivalent to similar academic degrees ^[44]. It is important to clarify that the Federal State Educational Standards (FGOS) explicitly state that theological degrees are equivalent to other academic degrees ^[13].

Summarizing the above, it can be noted that two academic degrees prevail in Russia – Candidate of Sciences and Doctor of Sciences ^[54]. Most of them have the same appearance, with the exception of those awarded by individual organizations with special rights. So, for example, it is possible to obtain a candidate's degree or a doctor of military sciences only in specialized universities and academies ^[14]. In a number of branches of science, you can apply for similar degrees, for example, for a candidate of pedagogical sciences in the dissertation councils of the Higher Attestation Commission or a candidate of sciences in education in the dissertation councils of the Higher School of Economics ^[37]. In many spiritual educational organizations, the word "candidate" has been replaced with "doctor", regardless of whether the two-stage model is preserved ^[44]. Despite the fact that this situation is somewhat atypical for the previous Russian realities, it is quite normal for global education. For example, the identity of the degrees of PhD and Doctor of Theology (ThD), as well as Doctor of Education (EdD), has been preserved at Harvard for many years. In many universities, a PhD in Law can be equivalent to a PhD in Legal Studies ^[26].

2. Development of the nomenclature of scientific specialtiesThe full name of the academic degree includes an indication of the scientific specialty and branch of science, which are fixed in the corresponding list ^[54].

As already noted, not all educational and scientific organizations included in the general certification system equally use the state nomenclature approved by the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia ^[55]. In the context of preserving the integrity of this system, it is important to analyze in more detail the current situation and the practices developed in its context. In addition, the evolution of the document itself, which has undergone a number of changes in recent years, is of interest ^[6]. In different periods, the number of specialties included in it decreased and increased due to the enlargement of the corresponding groups and the introduction of new directions ^[13]. For example, in the edition of 2021, groups such as biotechnology, computer science and informatics, cognitive sciences, subsurface use and mining sciences appeared ^[24]. A consistent review of each of the formed subsystems will allow you to get a complete picture of what is happening. This can be useful in itself, as well as for finding answers to the key question of this study.

In the first subsystem, all educational and scientific organizations, on the basis of which dissertation councils were created, apply the universal nomenclature in their practice ^[54]. The scientific specialties existing within it and their groups change from time to time, but the list of industries remains virtually unchanged for many years. Of particular interest in this regard is the military industry, which is an exception to the rule in many legal aspects. In the XX century, the group of specialties "20.00.00 Military Sciences" was directly included in the general nomenclature along with all other areas and was accompanied by a fairly extensive classification ^[56]. In subsequent years, both the group and the branch of science ceased to be present in new editions of this document, including the 2021 version ^[55]. Nevertheless, the actual existence of this direction is confirmed by at least two circumstances. Firstly, on the websites of military educational organizations there is still information about the activities of diss councils on military sciences ^[36]. Secondly, the lists of recommended peer-reviewed scientific publications of the Higher Attestation Commission invariably contain journals specializing in the branch "20.00.00 Military Sciences" ^[42].

The vast majority of participants in the second subsystem apply the specified nomenclature in their practice without any changes. As already noted, a different approach is the basic one at the HSE – the introduction of proper names, only some of which repeat the commonly used ones ^[55]. Basically, their formulations correspond to the headings of the areas of professional training. For example, "international relations" exists both in the Federal State Educational Standard and in the name of the HSE Dissertation Council ^[37]. Each such council develops its own passport of the field of science, which actually replaces the passport of the scientific specialty ^[43]. Some intersections with the general nomenclature can be traced at another level. If you want to defend a dissertation on the problems of computer science, the applicant can choose one of two options. In the HAC subsystem, this direction corresponds to the degrees of Candidate of Physical and Mathematical Sciences and Candidate of Technical Sciences ^[46]. The second option makes it possible to obtain a PhD in computer science at the HSE ^[39]. The actual similarities in both cases are quite significant, however, at the level of specification for subsequent use for work purposes, the second option seems to be more advantageous.

In the spiritual educational organizations of the Russian Orthodox Church , theological degrees are awarded in two specialties: "theology" and "church history", and according to the latter of them only at the second stage of scientific certification ^[49]. Muslims, including in the DIU, have created a branch of "Islamic Sciences", which includes such specialties as: "Quran and Quranic Sciences", "Hadith and Hadith sciences", "Islamic Law", "Fundamentals of Islamic Law", "Islamic Belief", "Tasawwuf", "History of Islam", "The Life of the Prophet Muhammad", "Islamic Ethics (ahlyak)", "The Call in Islam" ^[48]. In the Protestant High School, scientific certification is carried out in accordance with the nomenclature independently approved by this spiritual educational organization ^[44]. A common branch of science is "Theology", within which various specialties are distinguished. Their list is focused on the standards of the Euro-Asian Accreditation Association (EAA), in which the following areas of theology are present: "Biblical Studies", "Historical Theology", "Systematic Theology", "Practical Theology". Within each of these areas, there are scientific specialties that clarify their content ^[11]. The EAA classification itself is a continuation of the specialization "0221 Religion and theology" within ISCED ^[15].

As the comparative analysis on the issue of the names of scientific specialties shows, there is no complete unity in this direction within the Russian certification system. The nomenclature approved by the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia remains the most significant, but in fact is not all-encompassing ^[6]. Firstly, there are no separate industries in its public version. Secondly, some educational organizations award academic degrees in scientific specialties that are outside the general list ^[37]. Thirdly, during the existence of the system, many degrees were awarded in those specialties that are currently no longer present in the nomenclature ^[56]. Nevertheless, the actors of the system under consideration in all subsystems are making efforts to ensure integrity and mutual recognition within the framework of the Russian scientific certification. The Higher Attestation Commission and the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia regularly collect and consolidate information on the activities of organizations that have received the right to independently award academic degrees ^[38]. Spiritual educational organizations in their official documents orient norms and procedures to current legal realities ^[11]. The creation of a new approach to taking into account the ever-growing diversity of directions could improve the situation.

3. International use of academic degreesThe academic degrees awarded in Russia are primarily focused on internal tasks.

Scientific certification is part of the state policy in the field of scientific and technical development and improvement of education ^[58]. At the same time, however, opportunities for the international application of relevant documents also exist and have been expanding for many years ^[4]. Most of the options are provided by international treaties, thanks to which Russian diplomas of various levels are automatically recognized in many states ^[40]. In the situation of the monopoly of the Higher Attestation Commission, this practice was relatively simple and transparent, but in the context of the growing diversity of actors, it looks somewhat more complicated ^[3]. In fact, the available options for using the certification results outside the Russian Federation differ in different subsystems, so it is worth checking whether they provide a guaranteed minimum ^[2]. Academic and professional rights and opportunities that applicants receive who are defending their dissertations within the framework of certain dissertation councils depend on this. The main interest is the regulatory regulation of this issue, as well as decisions taken by relevant educational and scientific organizations regarding basic and additional options.

Diplomas issued based on the results of attestation in dissovets under the supervision of the Higher Attestation Commission are executed according to a universal template in Russian ^[54]. Their appearance changed somewhat over time, but generally retained similar features ^[57]. If the holders wish to obtain recognition of an academic degree in a foreign country, there are several main ways depending on the international treaties of the Russian Federation. The first of them is full automatic mutual recognition, provided there is a valid bilateral agreement. Such opportunities exist mainly in the CIS countries, but there are similar agreements with non-CIS countries ^[40]. Here it will be enough to translate your diploma into the appropriate language and notarize the translation. The second way is to affix an apostille on documents in the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia or regional departments. You can take advantage of this chance to work in countries that are parties to the Hague Convention on the Abolition of the Requirements for the Legalization of Foreign Official Documents ^[35]. For other states, a third way is available – consular legalization, which involves a more complex and lengthy procedure for confirming the relevant documents ^[58].

In the second subsystem, all the options described above are available to applicants, because the possibility of obtaining them is directly prescribed in the relevant regulatory legal acts ^[54]. In addition, educational and scientific organizations that independently award academic degrees often try to provide additional opportunities. For example, almost all such diplomas are executed in two languages at once – Russian and English ^[46]. The following translation options are most common: "Candidate of Sciences" is designated by the words "Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)", and "Doctor of Sciences" – "Doctor of Science (DSc)". Academic degrees from the first subsystem are also translated in a similar way, which corresponds to the wording in international treaties and internal state acts ^[40]. Against this background, the Lomonosov Moscow State University stands out somewhat, where another language analogue is used at the Doctor of Sciences level – "Doktor habilitatus (Dr.habil.)" ^[45]. This formulation is more in line with the foreign practice of awarding higher doctoral degrees in states where there is habilitation. For example, in Germany, where there is also a two-stage system of scientific certification, the second stage is designated by the same words ^[29].

For holders of diplomas of theological degrees, the previously designated legalization options are not available ^[12], since their status is still in a state of clarification, and there are no direct indications of such a possibility in the relevant regulatory legal acts ^[38]. As a result, in each specific case, the recognition of such documents in foreign countries can take place according to the most complex procedure without guarantees of its successful passage. Diplomas of the theological degrees of the Russian Orthodox Church are performed only in Russian ^[49]. Their further application outside of Russia depends on the availability of appropriate confessional structures in a particular state. Islamic spiritual educational organizations issue their diplomas in Russian and Arabic, since the latter is the main language for international communication in this denomination ^[48]. In the Protestant School of Higher Education, all those who have passed the certification are issued two diplomas at the same time – in Russian and English. "Doctor of Ministry" corresponds to "Doctor of Ministry (DMin)", "Doctor of Practical Theology" – "Doctor of Practical Theology (DPT)", "Doctor of theology" – "Doctor of Theology (ThD)", "Doctor of theology" – "Doctor Habilitatus (Dr.Habil.)" ^[44].

Based on the results of the comparison, it can be argued that in the first two subsystems, applicants can apply for comparable rights ^[3]. Holders of theological degrees in this case are limited in their rights, despite the fact that in a number of other matters they receive academic and professional rights on an equal basis with other specialists ^[11]. Such unevenness significantly violates the integrity of the entire system, which in other aspects demonstrates unity. The issuance of diplomas in two languages greatly simplifies their international use. In many situations, the absence of the need to translate one's academic degree documents accelerates the processes of their recognition in other countries ^[25]. It is also useful to have interuniversity agreements that introduce direct recognition of the results of scientific certification, regardless of the presence or absence of similar state international agreements ^[46]. The latter is especially important for spiritual educational organizations, whose rights are limited not only in Russia, but also abroad ^[15]. In general, despite the differences, different subsystems are guided by similar mechanisms of international recognition of academic degrees.

ConclusionIn its most general form, the Russian system of scientific attestation still appears to be holistic and capable of providing comparable rights.

The most limited in terms of opportunities within its framework is the third subsystem formed by spiritual educational organizations, whose diplomas cannot be apostilled. Otherwise, relative equality is observed in all three subsystems. Everywhere, with the exception of Islamic organizations, there is a two-stage model for awarding academic degrees. The specific names of degrees sometimes differ, but in terms of the academic and professional rights they are quite equivalent. Leading universities strive to issue diplomas not only in Russian, but also in other languages – most often in English. Translated versions of documents simplify the subsequent application of the certification results, since they immediately indicate the level and orientation of a particular training profile, compliance with which was confirmed during the defense of the dissertation in the dissertation council. In addition to purely formal aspects, the possibilities of holders of certain degrees are influenced by the reputation of the educational or scientific organizations that awarded them, the increasing role of which requires a separate study.