This study focuses on the national higher education policies and institutional strategies that foster or hinder individual Russian universities in applying newfound principles of autonomy. This new autonomy has become more dramatic with the decentralization of power, transition to the market economy, and severe state austerity since Perestroika. This book suggests a model of a university that utilizes its autonomous discretion to institute innovations that build on its potential so as to overcome adverse situations.

Acknowledgments List of Illustrations Chapter I: Introduction: Reforming Higher Education in Russia Chapter II: Theoretical Context and the model of Analysis Chapter III: Decentralization and Regional Autonomy in the Russian Federation Chapter IV: Changes in the Higher Education Sector towards Increased Institutional Autonomy Chapter V: Case Studies of Three Universities Chapter VI: Discussion and Conclusions Appendix Reference List