«Education, well being and the emergent economies of Brazil, Russia and South Africa»: the project outline

The project goals, starting points, activities and proposed results are described. The project «Education, well being and the emergent economies of Brazil, Russia and South Africa» helps to join efforts and share experience of the participant countries in solving the tasks of development of economics, education and social systems. The priority is the analysis of relationships between economic growth, educational policy, socio-economical and personal well being of children and youths in developing economies of Brazil, Russia and South Africa.

The project goal: joining efforts and sharing experience of the participant countries in solving the tasks of development of economics, education and social systems. The priority is the analysis of relationships between economic growth, educational policy, socio-economical and personal well being of children and youths in developing economies of Brazil, Russia and South Africa.

The project activities: organization of symposia in each of the participant countries that join specialists from different spheres of theory and practice: policy-makers, psychologists, educators, economists, administrators.

The project results: publications in Russian, English and Portuguese; official final presentation; programmes of postgraduate courses.

The project starting points:

• The structure of relationships between economic growth, education and well being of children and youths is not the same and may well be understood differently in different economic and cultural contexts.
• It is not economic growth per se but how it's structured in terms of the creation of particular kinds of jobs that is important for stable development. Here it is the type of labour market and its relationship to education that is crucial to understanding the distribution of skill and income in an economy (Brown, Green and Lauder, 2001).
• Formal education both as individual human capital and a mass phenomenon interacts with the modern economy and the values of human development and social progress transform ideas about work itself (Meyer, 2005; Baker, in press).

The Economic and Social Research Council (UK) supports realization of the project «Education, well being and the emergent economies of Brazil, Russia and South Africa».

The ESRC began in 1965 as the Social Science Research Council, comprising social science committees covering 14 disciplines ranging from anthropology to statistics. In 1983 the council was restructured under the new name of Economic and Social Research Council, focusing on six research areas: economic affairs, education and human development, environment and planning, government and law, industry and employment, and social affairs.

Some facts about the activities of Economic and Social Research Council:

• The Council funds more than 100 research investments.
• In 2009-10, there were 1335 applications for Small and Standard Grants, from which 218 awards were granted.
• 35 per cent of the research projects the Council funded were graded 'outstanding'
• The Council supports almost 3,000 studentships, investing over 45 million per year.

The University of Bath, UK

The University of Bath was founded in 1966. For many years it has been ranked highly in the league tables of UK universities published by a number of national news papers, including the Times, Independent and Guardian. It is included in top ten national Universities whose students are demanded by employers. The University has developed strong links with organizations in more than 100 countries all over the world. It has close connections with industry and the public and voluntary sectors. There are more than 13 000 of students; the University employed more than 500 staff holding academic or clinical academic contracts including more than160 professors. Above 300 staff on research contracts work in 50 centres and institutions.

The University of Cape Town, South Africa

The University of Cape Town has deep historical roots. Its modern structure has been created in the course of numerous transformations since its foundation in 1829 as the South African College. For its sustained opposition to apartheid the University got nick-name «Moscow on the Hill». The University aspires to become a premier academic meeting point between South Africa, the rest of Africa and the world. It has more than 23000 students, 19 % of them — foreign exchange students. Among more than 4500 academic staff 85 % — 90 % have high academic degrees.

Pontificia Universidade Catolica de Sao Paulo, Brazil

In Catholic University of Sao Paolo there are more than 22 000 students, more of 2000 academic staff, most of them having higher academic degrees. The mission of the University's activity is social responsibility and development of education. It contributes to improving quality of basic education in the country, preparing educators in different branches of knowledge. Since its foundation in 1946 the University invests its own assets into the programs of adult education and continuous professional education.

Moscow State University of Psychology and Education, Russia

Moscow State University of Psychology and Education (MSUPE) is one of the largest innovative universities in Moscow. Since its foundation in 1996 MSUPE has been the leader in specialists' preparation fulfilling social demands of the city in the spheres of education, health care and social support. There are more than 5500 students and over 400 highly qualified academic staff, 12 faculties, 18 research and resource centres. In 2007—2008 the University was chosen for implementation of Priority national project «Education». The University specialists developed the Federal state educational standard (FSES) in professional preparation in the sphere of psychological and pedagogical education. Thus the University motto — unity of education, science and practice — is brought into life.

The project goal: joining efforts and sharing experience of the participant countries in solving the tasks of development of economics, education and social systems. The priority is the analysis of relationships between economic growth, educational policy, socio-economical and personal well being of children and youths in developing economies of Brazil, Russia and South Africa.

The project activities: organization of symposia in each of the participant countries that join specialists from different spheres of theory and practice: policy-makers, psychologists, educators, economists, administrators.

The project results: publications in Russian, English and Portuguese; official final presentation; programmes of postgraduate courses.

The project starting points:

• The structure of relationships between economic growth, education and well being of children and youths is not the same and may well be understood differently in different economic and cultural contexts.
• It is not economic growth per se but how it's structured in terms of the creation of particular kinds of jobs that is important for stable development. Here it is the type of labour market and its relationship to education that is crucial to understanding the distribution of skill and income in an economy (Brown, Green and Lauder, 2001).
• Formal education both as individual human capital and a mass phenomenon interacts with the modern economy and the values of human development and social progress transform ideas about work itself (Meyer, 2005; Baker, in press).

The Economic and Social Research Council (UK) supports realization of the project «Education, well being and the emergent economies of Brazil, Russia and South Africa».

The ESRC began in 1965 as the Social Science Research Council, comprising social science committees covering 14 disciplines ranging from anthropology to statistics. In 1983 the council was restructured under the new name of Economic and Social Research Council, focusing on six research areas: economic affairs, education and human development, environment and planning, government and law, industry and employment, and social affairs.

Some facts about the activities of Economic and Social Research Council:

• The Council funds more than 100 research investments.
• In 2009-10, there were 1335 applications for Small and Standard Grants, from which 218 awards were granted.
• 35 per cent of the research projects the Council funded were graded 'outstanding'
• The Council supports almost 3,000 studentships, investing over 45 million per year.

The University of Bath, UK

The University of Bath was founded in 1966. For many years it has been ranked highly in the league tables of UK universities published by a number of national news papers, including the Times, Independent and Guardian. It is included in top ten national Universities whose students are demanded by employers. The University has developed strong links with organizations in more than 100 countries all over the world. It has close connections with industry and the public and voluntary sectors. There are more than 13 000 of students; the University employed more than 500 staff holding academic or clinical academic contracts including more than160 professors. Above 300 staff on research contracts work in 50 centres and institutions.

The University of Cape Town, South Africa

The University of Cape Town has deep historical roots. Its modern structure has been created in the course of numerous transformations since its foundation in 1829 as the South African College. For its sustained opposition to apartheid the University got nick-name «Moscow on the Hill». The University aspires to become a premier academic meeting point between South Africa, the rest of Africa and the world. It has more than 23000 students, 19 % of them — foreign exchange students. Among more than 4500 academic staff 85 % — 90 % have high academic degrees.

Pontificia Universidade Catolica de Sao Paulo, Brazil

In Catholic University of Sao Paolo there are more than 22 000 students, more of 2000 academic staff, most of them having higher academic degrees. The mission of the University's activity is social responsibility and development of education. It contributes to improving quality of basic education in the country, preparing educators in different branches of knowledge. Since its foundation in 1946 the University invests its own assets into the programs of adult education and continuous professional education.

Moscow State University of Psychology and Education, Russia

Moscow State University of Psychology and Education (MSUPE) is one of the largest innovative universities in Moscow. Since its foundation in 1996 MSUPE has been the leader in specialists' preparation fulfilling social demands of the city in the spheres of education, health care and social support. There are more than 5500 students and over 400 highly qualified academic staff, 12 faculties, 18 research and resource centres. In 2007—2008 the University was chosen for implementation of Priority national project «Education». The University specialists developed the Federal state educational standard (FSES) in professional preparation in the sphere of psychological and pedagogical education. Thus the University motto — unity of education, science and practice — is brought into life.