Research Policy in Leading Russian Universities: Eff ects of ‘New Managerialism’

This article analyzes the effects of «new managerialism» on the results of scientific research in universities. New managerialism implies decision-making based on quantitative indicators. This paper summarizes the international and Russian approaches to the assessment of scientific achievements at universities. It analyzes instruments for fostering scientific productivity, such as contracts with the faculty and the formation of centers of excellence, to identify the advantages and limitations of tools currently used at Russian research universities. Our analysis of international literature showed that evaluation of research results is becoming more complex as it is conducted regularly, not annually. The contract system indirectly affects the results of research but does not contain any strict quantitative requirements. Centers of excellence, which receive additional funding to accelerate the production of scientific knowledge, achieve this goal in most cases, but this system does not automatically create the Matthew effect. The article analyzes the specific characteristics of new managerialism in Russian universities by using the example of a program aimed at the creation of laboratories led by prominent scientists, the Project 5-100, and the system of contracts with the faculty. The study has revealed that these tools have contributed to the increase in publication activity. However, there are indications that this growth has reached its limits. Prospects of further development can reside in the use of a wider range of indicators to characterize the impact of scientific results on social and economic development and in increasing the share of long-term contracts.