Assistant to the President of the Russian Federation, Chairman of the Russian Military Historical Association Vladimir Medinsky proposed raising the level of history teaching and the prestige of the historical profession by regulating the enrollment rate for history majors and increasing their funding. He announced this at an all-Russian meeting of deans and deans of history departments of Russian universities, reporters reported.
“More funding needs to be provided and enrollment figures, after due consultation with the principal community and understanding our situation with the need for this, should be adjusted accordingly. I don't want to get into the technology here, but it is important to us that the profession of historians is reputable and that they take their work seriously,” he said.
Medinsky specifically noted that enhancing the prestige of historical activity is the goal of the authorities.
“I would like to emphasize once again that the duty of the authorities is to fully restore the prestige and profession of a historian, especially a history teacher – both at universities and high schools. Furthermore, prestige in the broadest sense – from material rewards to social evaluation, public reward systems, state subsidies,” he clarified.
The presidential assistant said the head of state was “extremely surprised” that candidates had to study social studies when applying to major in the humanities.
“I studied history when I went to college,” Medinsky recalled the president saying, emphasizing that they “pose great responsibility.”
A meeting between deans and deans of history departments of Russian universities will be held on November 6-7 in Moscow. The meeting was organized by the Institute of General History of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Russian Military History Association.
