Institutional adaptation in Russian higher education: Exploring institutional types and the regional role.

摘要

This qualitative study examined institutional adaptation of Russian universities to the changing socioeconomic conditions during the transition period of the 1990s through the case studies of three public universities located in one of the Russian regions of Samara. The research explored adaptation strategies employed by various types of institutions and the possible role of the region on institutional adaptation.; This research on institutional adaptation was informed by several frameworks. First, resource-dependence theory provided the theoretical framework for the study. Second, concepts of institutional entrepreneurialism served as the conceptual framework for the study. The cases offered examples in support of some of the propositions of the resource-dependency as well as illustrations of entrepreneurial institutional behavior. In the study, it was found that Samara State Pedagogical, Samara State Technical, and Samara State Architectural and Construction universities presented three different pictures of institutional adaptation. Although there were certain similarities in the descriptive as well as analytical variables observed at these universities, there were certain dynamics, specific to each institution, that made these case studies unique.; In conclusion, the study offered several recommendations for policy and practice. It also provided suggestions for future research.