Search

Introduction. Today, there is a whole range of problems related to youth employment. These problems are caused by social, economic, technological, migration reasons, rapid transformation of the labour market structure and all spheres of life of a modern man. The value-motivational attitudes of young people in solving the issue of their employment become different. The aim of the research is to identify the dynamics and qualitative changes in values, which determine the choice of the future workplace by university graduates, as well as the degree of compliance of the claims of young specialists with the requirements imposed by employers.Methodology and research methods. The methodology of the present research is based on the theory of determination of human activity, which reveals the relationship of socio-economic, sociocultural factors, needs, goals, value orientations, personality attitudes in determining the content of the desired job and place of employment. The main research method was a questionnaire survey of bachelor’s students in their final year of studies, who receive technical, economic, humanitarian and pedagogical education in universities of Ekaterinburg – a large Russian industrial and cultural centre. The survey was conducted in 2016 and 2018 according to a single method. At the first stage (2016) the quota sample was 1905 people, at the second stage (2018) – 2420 people. The opinions of the heads of enterprises and organisations of the Ural region on the quality of young specialists’ training, their desire and ability to actively participate in innovation processes were revealed through the method of in-depth interviews.Results and scientific novelty. The results of a comparative study showed the preservation of the graduates’ value orientations to high salaries and opportunities for rapid professional and career growth. At the same time, very significant changes in the direction and content of young people’s orientations to the forthcoming employment were revealed: perceptions of the importance of early search for the profession demanded in labour market and the work in the acquired specialty; values of social status of a specialist with higher education; self-realisation in activities corresponding to personal inclinations and potential. The share of students who do not have clear plans for employment by the time they graduate decreased by half, and the share of technical departments graduates without such plans decreased fourfold. The share of students seeking to raise their social status by receiving a higher education diploma doubled. The number of students focused on obtaining a specialty corresponding to their personal abilities decreased by a quarter. The variation was found in accordance with the specifics of the direction of training of bachelor’s degree students’ determination to continue further studies in master’s degree programmes and their value attitudes for work, including in related specialties. The representatives of enterprises, where students undergo practical training, began to actively help them in finding a job corresponding to their specialty. However, the heads of manufacturing sectors and management staff of various organisations note the inadequacy of ambitions of a large part of applicants for prestigious positions due to the low level of the formation of necessary universal, general professional and professional competencies. According to the employers, there are no noticeable positive changes in the level of readiness of young professionals to actively engage in self-education and continuous professional development, mastering technological innovations.Practical significance. Since the success of graduate employment is an important indicator of university efficiency, the results of the present research can be applied by education management specialists dealing with the issues of the quality of education, career guidance, employment of population and youth policy.

Population increase in Russia is one of the key strategies that determine state demographic policy. Modern advancements in medical science make it possible to use various technologies that allow men and women who are unable to conceive for medical reasons to find joy in parenthood. The article discusses theories that reveal the essence and content of people’s need to reproduce and live on in future generations by means of using such technology as surrogate motherhood. The research analysis is rooted in the methodology for studying specific social phenomena based on the general theory of human activity determination developed within sociology and psychology: the role of external and internal necessity, needs in shaping the motivation for resorting to surrogate motherhood (A. Zdravomyslov, A. Merenkov). The article points out the importance of the human instinct to continue oneself in subsequent generations. The influence of needs when it comes to forming the motivation for certain human behavior is analyzed based on theoretical provisions (G. Arefiev, A. Bandura, A. Maslow, A. Leontiev) that reveal the process of conscious search for ways to satisfy different needs whenever it is possible. The emergence of medical technology allowing for the birth of a child with the help of a woman whose body, upon receiving someone else’s genetic material, is able to perform this function, forms different motives for the customer and whomever is performing such a task. P. Bourdieu’s theory of social capital helps to identify a set of economic, social, and cultural conditions that determine the content of external and internal factors that contribute to a system of interaction between these social actors. Specific motives for people having their own children are analyzed by W. Miller, D. Friedman, J. Greenberg. The research into women’s motivation for surrogate motherhood is based on works by P. Berger, T. Luckman, M. Fouquet, who studied the modern trend of using a person’s body to fulfill various needs. At the same time, the surrogate mother may develop different forms of identifying herself with the born child. The analysis of these contradictions is carried out based on conceptions of identity by M. Heidegger, E. Erickson, E. Giddens, J. Toshchenko. It is concluded that the use of different theoretical approaches to identifying the social and cultural factors which impact motivation for surrogate motherhood results in highquality empirical research that reveals the specifics of using this assisted reproductive technology in Russia.

Introduction. Rapid social changes and new challenges are increasingly transforming all spheres of human life. These factors affect not only the labor market and the general nature of professional activities, but also educational approaches to training specialists in the higher education system. Modern university graduates should possess competencies that meet diverse employer expectations. At the same time, universities are becoming “factories” for the production of graduates focused on precarious employment, since the uncertainty in the type of employment caused by global transformations in the labor market is reorienting the higher education system, thereby changing the vector of educational activity. Aim – analysis of studentsʼ orientations towards precarious employment and identification of the role of universities in their development. Materials and Methods. In 2021, an empirical sociological survey was conducted. The survey sample included 716 learners studying at Yekaterinburg universities, who were interviewed using a questionnaire. In order to elucidate the process of forming studentsʼ orientation towards precarious employment and the role of universities therein, we used semi-formalized interviews with young people whose activities in the labor market could be characterized as atypical employment, as well as with heads of educational programs and curators of projectoriented programs at the Ural Federal University. In addition, the results of a study conducted in 2020–2021 among university graduates in the Ural region were used. Results. Uncertainty in the labor market, secondary employment and involvement of university students in project-oriented activities form their following work preferences: the desire for atypical forms of employment, irregular working hours, and free work schedules. Discussion and Conclusion. The conclusions made by the authors expand the understanding of the needs of young people in the labor market and the transformation of university education in conditions of uncertainty. The materials of the article contribute to the development of sociological knowledge and can be useful to management and administrative structures of Russian universities.

The article discusses the results of a sociological survey of personal attractiveness perceptions and self-improvement practices (exercise, dieting, plastic surgery, learning, etc) in Ekaterinburg (Russia). The purpose of the research is to identify age- and gender-related similarities and differences in the perceptions of attractive appearance and personality traits among Russian people. The survey was conducted in 2019 and covered 680 people of both sexes and different age groups. It also included 33 in-depth interviews with respondents from different age groups. The survey results have shown that people resort to various practices for enhancing their physical shape and personality in accordance with the established stereotypes of outer and inner beauty. Younger generations of Russians continue to reproduce the gender asymmetry in their ideas of feminine and male beauty. The research has also brought to light the new system of gender inequality: women appear to be much more active in their pursuit of a healthy body and personality growth than men. Inhabitants of Ekaterinburg most frequently resort to such self-improvement practices as exercise and healthy eating. People in all age groups gave lower ratings to such quality as stamina and productivity at work, which shows their lack of awareness of the role this quality plays in acquiring new knowledge and skills in the digital age.

This research study is aimed at investigating distributed leadership practices in the Russian school system, of which professional teacher associations (PTA) constitute a distinct feature. In particular, we set out to investigate the PTA leadership potential, as well as the role and specific personal characteristics of middle leaders in the Russian school education system. These associations are formed by the school administration on the basis of subject areas, bringing together teachers of maths, history, etc. Teachers join PTAs on a voluntarily basis. The key function of such organisations consists in the implementation of innovative educational approaches and techniques. In order to analyse their leadership potential, we carried out a sociological survey among the employees of high-profile secondary schools (gymnasiums and lyceums) situated in the major Russian city of Ekaterinburg. The research methodology comprised structured interviews with 110 respondents, along with in-depth interviews with 2 school directors, 4 school deputy directors and 6 heads of professional teacher associations. Our results show that the fundamentals and principles of distributed leadership are actively implemented in Ekaterinburg schools. The school administrations encourage the creation of professional teacher associations grouped around subject areas, delegating to these structural units the functions of improving the quality of teaching the respective subjects and disseminating educational innovations, at the same time as fulfilling the requirements of the state and regional education authorities. Such associations are headed by middle leaders, who are nominated by their colleagues and whose candidacy is approved by school seniors, taking into account their professional achievements, experience of leading pedagogical innovations and the presence of the right personal qualities necessary for productive collaborative work. These people perform the role of mediators, operating at the interface between various levels within the school. Although viewed as a school’s personnel reserve for the positions of principals and head teachers, our respondents consider themselves to be ‘more teachers’ or ‘innovators in education’ than administrators. The development of the leadership qualities of such professionals in the Russian school system is shown to be hindered by a ‘glass ceiling’ – a certain limit in their career growth. This discouraging factor results in some middle school leaders searching for professional self-realization opportunities outside the school system, in the spheres of business, science or culture that are believed to provide more opportunities for self-advancement.

Introduction. The development and implementation of innovative teaching methods into the educational practices of foreign and Russian universities require a sufficient level of preparedness for change both from university lecturers and university students. This paper presents university lecturers’ perceptions concerning the concept of flipped learning and students’ orientations towards the idea of independent learning realised by means of flipped learning. Materials and Methods. The survey was carried out using a questionnaire focused on 2-4-year students specialising in humanities and a semi-structured interview with lecturers working at Ural Federal University. Results. The study revealed many problems associated with the implementa tion of flipped learning model in higher education. According to the lecturers interviewed, for this model to be successfully implemented, the following conditions should be provided: the existing system of teaching workload allocation should be modified; technical staff supporting the implementation of the model should be appointed; workshops and master classes should be held for specialists implementing or using the flipped learning model in their practical work. The results of the survey show that students experience difficulties in adapting to flipped learning. The students do not have enough independent learning skills. Discussion and Conclusions. We believe that successful implementation of flipped learning model in higher education is possible. This approach can be realised through the use of information systems and programs, meeting the needs of students. Students should study methods of independent analysis from the beginning of training. The authors examined lecturers’ and students’ attitude towards flipped learning and the obstacles to the implementation of this approach in the higher education system. The research results can be useful for university managers focused on consolidating their universities’ positions by introducing innovative educational technologies, as well as for researchers interested in the technologies of mixed learning.

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a common and frequent condition in the practice of a physician according to the results of echocardiography, and no longer can cause difficulties in determining the genesis, as well as further management of tactics. PH can be not only a complication of a severe heart failure or chronic lung diseases, but also be a manifestation of much more rare forms of diseases: pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) or chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). Timely diagnosis of PH and the correct interpretation of its origin with the contemporary treatment options can improve the quality of life and prognosis for previously severe PAH, as well as talk about the potential curability of some patients with CTEPH. The article describes the approaches adopted in the region to treat patients with PH, including the steps of diagnosis both: outpatient and in-patient hospital. The experience of interaction between the experts of the Almazov National Medical Research center and the specialists of the Baranov Republic Hospital on the problems of diagnostics and treatment of patients with PAH and CTEPH is presented. The purpose of the publication is to demonstrate the possibilities of examination and treatment of patients with PH in the Republic of Karelia.