Russians see no direct correlation between individual’s financial well-being and higher education diploma, however they think it is important for future employment and career.
MOSCOW, July 18, 2019. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the findings of a survey devoted to the effectiveness and perspectives of the higher education.
Over the recent 15 years education has served as a tool for Russians to get a good job (48% in 2004 and 44% in 2019), to get promoted (28% in 2004 and 26% in 2019), or to improve professional skills (26% in 2004 and in 22% in 2019).
Over the recent nine years more Russians started to perceive higher education as a need; the share of those who think that higher education diploma is needed because it is commonplace (from 6% in 2010 to 18% in 2019). Those who think so are mainly young respondents aged 18 - 24 (25%). They also often see higher education as a tool to enhance social status (18% vs 13% of total respondents).
Generally, Russians are confident that higher education helps build a successful career and eases the achievement of life goals; however this stance is getting less popular (76% in 2008 vs 58% in 2019).
In addition, more respondents are skeptical about the importance of higher education diploma for career building (45% in 2008 and 68% in 2019) and confident that the diploma does not guarantee a well-paid or prestigious job (50% in 2008 and 65% in 2019). Those who have doubts are mainly respondents aged 18-24 (74%; 75% respectively), 25-34 (77%; 74% respectively) and 35-44 (73%; 74% respectively).
As in the Perestroika times, today Russians are confident that education does not contribute substantially to individual’s financial well-being (47% in 1991 and 70% in 2019).
Russians are more likely to say that higher education is less available today (53% in 2016 and 63% in 2019). Currently, many respondents do not think that higher education diplomas should be obtained by any means (51% in 2008 and 65% in 2019). A further 55% would put into question the importance of diploma if they had to pay for it (45% in 2008).
VCIOM-Sputnik survey was conducted on July 9, 2019. The survey involved 1,600 Russians aged 18 and over. The survey was telephone-based and carried out using stratified dual-frame random sample based on a complete list of landline and mobile phone numbers operating in Russia. The data were weighted according to selection probability and social and demographic characteristics. The margin of error at a 95% confidence level does not exceed 2.5%. In addition to sampling error, minor changes in question wording and different circumstances arising during the fieldwork can introduce bias into the survey.
Today many people strive to get a higher education diploma. Why do you think they do that? (closed-ended question, up to 2 answers, % of total respondents) | |||||
2004 | 2005 | 2010 | 2013 | 2019 | |
They want to get a diploma in order to get a good job | 48 | 44 | 33 | 37 | 44 |
They want to make a career | 28 | 27 | 12 | 28 | 26 |
They want to get specific skills, to become a professional | 26 | 27 | 25 | 28 | 22 |
It is common today | 7 | 10 | 6 | 13 | 18 |
To get new knowledge, to know more | 15 | 15 | 10 | 20 | 16 |
To get a higher social status, to go beyond their ordinary circle | 9 | 8 | 5 | 15 | 13 |
To access a cultured, intellectual environment | 8 | 8 | 6 | 15 | 6 |
To escape army | 10 | 9 | 2 | 6 | 6 |
Don’t know | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
Today many people strive to get a higher education diploma. Why do you think they do that? (closed-ended question, up to 2 answers, %) | ||||||
| Total respondents | Aged 18-24 | 25-34 | 35-44 | 45-59 | 60 and over |
They want to get a diploma in order to get a good job | 44 | 42 | 44 | 44 | 47 | 41 |
They want to make a career | 26 | 28 | 25 | 25 | 28 | 26 |
They want to get specific skills, to become a professional | 22 | 18 | 22 | 19 | 24 | 25 |
It is common today | 18 | 25 | 24 | 19 | 19 | 12 |
To get new knowledge, to know more | 16 | 12 | 15 | 17 | 16 | 16 |
To get a higher social status, to go beyond their ordinary circle | 13 | 18 | 11 | 15 | 12 | 13 |
To escape army | 6 | 13 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 4 |
To access a cultured, intellectual environment | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 8 |
Don’t know | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 5 |
Do you agree/disagree that education provides a successful career and helps achieve life goals? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | ||||||
| 2008 | 2011 | 2013 | 2015 | 2018 | 2019 |
Likely to agree | 76 | 72 | 72 | 65 | 63 | 58 |
Likely to disagree | 19 | 22 | 24 | 28 | 34 | 39 |
Don’t know | 5 | 6 | 4 | 7 | 3 | 3 |
Do you agree/disagree that the role of education is often exaggerated and that today people can make a successful career without it? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | ||||||
| 2008 | 2011 | 2013 | 2015 | 2018 | 2019 |
Likely to agree | 45 | 51 | 54 | 52 | 56 | 68 |
Likely to disagree | 44 | 40 | 39 | 39 | 39 | 30 |
Don’t know | 11 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 5 | 2 |
Do you agree/disagree that the role of education is often exaggerated and that today people can make a successful career without it? (closed-ended question, one answer %) | ||||||
| Total respondents | Aged 18-24 | 25-34 | 35-44 | 45-59 | 60 and over |
Likely to agree | 68 | 74 | 77 | 73 | 59 | 65 |
Likely to disagree | 30 | 24 | 21 | 25 | 38 | 33 |
Don’t know | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
Do you agree/disagree that without higher education people can only get low-paying and non-prestigious jobs? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | ||||||
| 2008 | 2011 | 2013 | 2015 | 2018 | 2019 |
Likely to agree | 41 | 46 | 42 | 42 | 45 | 33 |
Likely to disagree | 50 | 44 | 51 | 50 | 51 | 65 |
Don’t know | 9 | 10 | 7 | 8 | 4 | 2 |
Do you agree/disagree that without higher education people can only get low-paying and non-prestigious jobs? (closed-ended question, one answer, %) | ||||||
| Total respondents | Aged 18-24 | 25-34 | 35-44 | 45-59 | 60 and over |
Likely to agree | 33 | 23 | 25 | 26 | 35 | 45 |
Likely to disagree | 65 | 76 | 74 | 74 | 63 | 52 |
Don’t know | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
In your opinion, is higher education available or less available for Russians today than it was in the Soviet era? (closed-ended question, one answer % of total respondents) | ||
| 2016 | 2019 |
Likely to agree | 38 | 30 |
Likely to disagree | 53 | 63 |
Don’t know | 9 | 7 |
Do you agree/disagree that getting a higher education degree is worth any money? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | |||||
| 2008 | 2011 | 2013 | 2015 | 2019 |
Likely to agree | 34 | 35 | 36 | 39 | 29 |
Likely to disagree | 51 | 51 | 52 | 48 | 65 |
Don’t know | 15 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 6 |
Do you agree/disagree that getting a higher education degree is worth any money? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | |||||
| 2008 | 2011 | 2013 | 2015 | 2019 |
Likely to agree | 38 | 38 | 30 | 42 | 40 |
Likely to disagree | 45 | 44 | 57 | 43 | 55 |
Don’t know | 17 | 18 | 13 | 15 | 5 |
Note: Using materials from the site www.wciom.ru or wciom.com, as well as distributed by VCIOM, the reference to the source (or hyperlink for the electronic media) is obligatory.