Integrated and Network Systems of Research Education in the Knowledge Society (By Example of the Russian Educational System)

Abstract

The purpose of the paper is to present the results of the theoretical study of the research education modern model institutionalism that describe the structure of learning communities, their social forms and systemic genesis. The methodological approach is based on the structural-functional analysis of the 25 years’ experience of the Russian scientific and social programme for young people and schoolchildren "The Step into the Future". The article explains the concept of an "integrated educational system" in the context of the development of modern education in line with the movement towards the knowledge society. An integrated educational system becomes the basis for modern educational socio-morphism and relies on a network of specialized partnerships. The cluster-network organization scheme of an integrated system is considered, as well as its forms and the model of genesis. Classification of integrated educational systems that associate institutions of secondary and higher education and professional systems of the society has been developed; examples have been provided. A conceptual analysis of a special integrated educational system is given, that is, of a macro-school", which is an educational network of geographically distributed partnerships. The genesis of the institutional-environmental structure of learning communities of the research type has been shown to be determined by the development of the interdependent system of “environment – method” relations.

DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2015.v6n6p529