Sociological Education and the Labor Market: The Professional Standard of a Sociologist as the Basis for Updating Higher Sociological Education Programs

Abstract

On the example of the development of the professional standard “Sociologist: a specialist in fundamental and applied sociological research”, the article explains how the professional standard could help realize the link between the requirements of the labor market and the requirements of higher education to the competencies of graduates of sociological educational programs of universities. First, the article reveals the directions of modernizing the higher sociological education programs toward more careful consideration of the demands of the labor market in the sphere of education. Second, it describes a specific case of self-organization of representatives of the market research industry and the university community to create a professional standard. Third, it shows the joint activities’ principles and practices to develop a sociologist’s professional standard and the main tasks solved. Based on the professional standard requirements, the authors develop recommendations for adjusting the main professional educational programs for bachelors and masters. In conclusion, based on the competence map of the professional standard, the article outlines the next task of the professional community in developing a methodology for assessing indicators of achieving competencies stated in the educational program.

Acknowledgements. The authors are grateful to A. V. Velikanova-Serova, Executive Secretary of the Working Group on the Development of Vocational Education and Training in the National System of Qualifications of the NPFC under the President of the Russian Federation, for valuable advice in preparing the article.