Control of master’s programs in economics and management: nature and trends in Russian universities

Abstract

The article is devoted to the problems of managing master programs in the field of economics and management. The theoretical and empirical analysis made it possible to conclude that the existing masters programs in economics and management do not fully meet the modern requirements of the business environment, including geology, exploration and mining enterprises. The key factors that influence the gap between the competencies formed by graduates of programs and those demanded by the business environment are identified. One of the factors contributing to the current situation is the management system of master programs at Russian universities, which is not flexible enough and does not provide an operational change in their content and methods of implementation. The following research methods were used in the work: an empirical study of data from annual employer surveys to identify development priorities of organizations and actual skills of employees, systematic analysis of skills demanded by employers, analysis of factors affecting the current situation in the field of training masters in economics and management. It is revealed that the elimination of the gap between the requirements of the business environment and the competencies formed by existing programs in the field of economics and management is possible by ensuring close ties with the real business, organizing project work, and using blended learning. The transformation of the management system of master's programs requires the involvement of employers in the academic council of the program and the creation of a structure that ensures the application of modern methods of project management.