How human capital of university professors impacts students: A Russian case study

Abstract

The development of professional competencies among university students has become a key issue for the Russian higher educational system. The paper presents a case study of professors and students from the Russian State Vocational Pedagogical University. Over two years, we collected and analyzed data on the performance and effectiveness of the professors and monitored the development of competencies among students. The methodology used to assess the professors included three groups of indicators, which reflect three areas of teaching and corresponding types of management: scientific work, the educational process and effective communication. The proposed methodology allows the calculation of current and cumulative indicators. To monitor the evolution of competencies among students, we tracked the dynamics of their grades. We also took into account expert evaluations from potential employers as a measure of the level of professional competencies attained at university. In our research, we identified a group of students with the lowest level of professional competencies and the lowest grades. In the final year of their studies, this group was taught by professors who were the highest performers as regards educational processes and methods, and the organization of the teaching (we note that in Russia, professors for specific groups of students are appointed by the university, not selected by the students). As a result of this targeted placement of teachers, we observed a significant improvement in the level of competencies developed by the test group. The case study thus showed that in the Russian education system, such an approach to the selection of university professors has a positive impact on the outcomes of the students' education. This confirms that there may be a possible correlation between the quality of the human capital of university professors and the human capital formed among students through the development of the relevant competencies. Our results highlight the need to improve the way teaching is organized at one particular university. At the same time, low levels of professional competencies among university graduates are a typical problem for Russian universities, which could be effectively addressed through the proposed methodologies.