| The head of the Central Russian House of Knowledge, Igor ZAITSEVSKY, argues that private retraining and advanced training courses are able to respond more flexibly to the needs of the market and the population.
The non-state sector in the field of additional education is attractive primarily for its flexibility to market needs and narrower specialization. We have courses and topics that government agencies cannot provide. They, as a rule, work according to programs that are available at the main university. And these programs are approved, as a rule, several years in advance. Accordingly, at an economics university there are additional programs in economics, and at a technical university - technological courses. As for narrow-profile training, for example in polymers, soldering or - from a completely different area - dog grooming or beekeeping, it is quite difficult to find them at government courses.
Our center, for example, in addition to popular and popular educational programs (accounting, 1C, management, primary education on a PC), has long been engaged in highly specialized programs related to industry. Another example: we are teaching a course on lawmaking. Many budgetary institutions have legal studies, but they do not teach law-making and law enforcement activities.
In general, if there is demand, we can find teachers and organize retraining or training in almost any specialty. At the same time, non-state centers of additional education do not limit themselves only to narrow programs, but have the opportunity to combine both broad and narrow profiles, responding to the needs of the market and the population. And we are able to provide more small convenient services. We are also freer to choose teachers because we can afford to pay different salaries.
On the other hand, the so-called private sector also has disadvantages. For example, state retraining courses are better provided with space and technical means. Because they use the base of the “parent” institute. Potential students of our courses who hear the word “non-state” inevitably raise questions about risk and the quality of the services provided. “Private owners,” as a rule, do not have state accreditation; they issue a standard diploma from a specific educational institution. Consequently, there is less control over such structures. And there is a higher risk of encountering dishonesty. The issue of quality is regulated to some extent by licensing. To obtain a license, an organization engaged in continuing professional education must submit continuing education programs for at least 72 hours. This procedure is optional; there are many short-term courses that operate without a license. But this document provides VAT benefits. And even the most uninitiative educational centers still strive to meet the standards.
Unfortunately, we have other unresolved issues, due to the fact that there is still no law on additional vocational education. The President vetoed it. But perhaps legislators will return to this topic. Either as part of the bill on educational activities, or they will adopt amendments to the main law on education. Prepared by Kirill VASILENKO
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