Corporate social responsibility of Federal Universities

Abstract

The article provides an assessment of the influence of Ammosov North-Eastern Federal University on the regional socio-economic development as an indicator of effectiveness of Federal University. The study was based on the focus groups involving internal experts (instructors, post-graduate students, NEFU students) and experts representing transport, innovations, health, and culture. Results of other studies were also used to prove the findings. Discussions with experts during focus groups on how to achieve the indicators related to social responsibility revealed the need to review approaches toward the “third” role of the new educational institutions. Paying particular attention to the level of influence of the innovative activities of the university on the socio-economic development of the region, the authors obtained the experts` opinion on how the influence depends on the development of regional economy. In low-innovation environment the effect may not be seen in the short-term period being an imperative imposed by the Russian Ministry of Education and Science. What is significant in making social changes at the initial stage is the activity of the federal universities. To reduce the need for highly qualified personnel in regional labor market and to fulfill new mission, the educational programs of the federal universities should be oriented towards training specialists for the system of secondary vocational education that suffers shortages of pedagogical staff for special subjects teaching.