NATIONAL SYSTEM OF QUALIFICATIONS IN RUSSIA AS A FACTOR OF HUMAN CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

Today in Russia an independent system of qualifications replacing tariff-qualification reference book is being introduced. In foreign countries such systems already exist and run successfully, but in Russia they have appeared relatively recently. Therefore the implementation of an independent system of qualifications involves certain difficulties. An independent system of qualifications consists of four elements: a professional standard, an independent assessment of qualifications, a professional-public accreditation and a directory of professions. Its main element is the professional standard. It defines the qualification requirements for the employee –from the necessary knowledge, skills, performance of labor functions, and up to educational background. The introduction of professional standards in Russia is often associated with a complete reload of production, which is technically very difficult. In addition, most of the existing employees of enterprises do not meet the requirements of professional standards on formal grounds and consequently they should be dismissed. However, it is extremely difficult to hire those who would meet them to a full extent formally. This contradiction implies another problem: on one hand for some enterprises professional standards are mandatory, and on the other hand they cannot be implemented technically. These and other problems hamper the development of an independent system of qualifications and affect today the formation of human capital in the country. Some approaches to solve these problems have been developed and they are discussed in this paper.