The Big Challenge is to Include Russian Law in the Russian System

Jan De Groof, professor at the college of Europe in Bruges, Belgium, and at the University of Tilburg, Netherlands, gave a special interview to the HSE news service.

He is well known for his international experience and contribution to the promotion of education as a fundamental human right. He has frequently acted as an expert for OECD, EU, Council of Europe and UNESCO. He was UNESCO Charge de Mission for the Right to Education (2007-2009). Jan De Groof is a founder and chairman of the European Association for Education Law and Policy.  He has been actively involved in creating Russian laws regarding education, specifically laws on special education, on higher education and the new programme on regional law versus federal law.  Now he is visiting Russia to compile a report "Current trends in education law and policy in Europe" at the HSE and to attend the International forum, Eurasian Educational Dialogue in Yaroslavl.

Professor Jan De Groof gave a special interview to the HSE news service.

— What do you think is the most pressing issue in terms of education in Western Europe and post-soviet countries?

— We should concentrate on the legal aspects of education to see how education law is reflecting concerns for the fundamental rights of freedom in the West and the East. In the West, for example, the biggest issue is social exclusion. Education should be inclusive not exclusive. The idea of equity is a big issue in Europe.

In higher education there is also the issue of increasing the autonomy of universities, as European residents become more and more mobile. This is a big challenge and of course, a question of budget. The cost of higher education is increasing and public support for education is decreasing. So there is a need for innovative initiatives and the increasing involvement of private enterprises.

— Does such an economic situation lead to a bigger gap in access to education between people from wealthy families and those with a low income?

— In East and West Europe, the state is still involved in funding about  60% - 70% of the budget for all universities. Universities need to combine quality with equality. The best universities have a sophisticated system of grants and bursaries, so they are able to support those students who can’t afford education, thereby delivering equality of opportunity to all. There is also a need for a system which allows us to mix loans and grants. This is one of the biggest challenges in finding a socially equitable solution.

There are several techniques. For example closer links could be forged between private enterprises and universities.  Private business is a big client of universities. Why not have a debate on that connection between enterprises and universities while keeping the autonomy of universities alive? We have excellent examples of attracting enterprises to pay for research. We have to be more innovative. Alumni can also contribute to the process.

— How would you evaluate the law on education in the Russian Federation?

— I am impressed by its quality. I have been working with Russia for 20 years now, so I am able to compare the situation. I am impressed by the Russian commitment to laying down one genuine piece of law.

— What’s the biggest advantage of the new law?

— It’s one integrated system, so coherence is guaranteed. The regional component can be taken into account and there is respect for the autonomy of institutions. There’s a big issue connected to giving more autonomy to regional universities, as they are experts and not bureaucrats.

— You have been working with UNESCO for a long time.  What is UNESCO’s role in the development of education?

— We need to increase the international dimension in the education system. UNESCO stands for those principles that are already in the constitution but these need to be more pronounced and given greater emphasis. What we really need  is the implementation of those principles. The law should be executed and implemented. We need to have good laws in practice. And that’s the major challenge.

This is the big issue for Russia. There might be excellent laws and good codes but implementing them is still a problem for the Russian Federation. There is still a lack of legal certainty before the court.

— How can this be achieved?

— Students and their parents can use the courts when they see that their rights are not being fulfilled. If the law is not being carried out, they need to force the state to uphold its education rights.

UNESCO is trying to stimulate the legal culture, education through citizenship, ideas of tolerance and additional values such as respect for diversity, minority, memory of the past and so on. All these issues are directly linked to education and legal rights. Education is very important in terms of cooperation between nations and between continents to create one common space for education research.

The big challenge now is to include Russian law into the Russian education system.

Anna Chernyakhovskaya, specially to HSE news service