The Pandemic as a Challenge to the Development of University Networks in Russia: Differentiation or Collaboration?

As an inevitable result of Russia’s higher education policies the past two decades, new university leaders in and outside Moscow St. Petersburg have emerged, vertical differentiation has increased. Inequality educational potential a strong regional dimension, exerting considerable delayed impact on socioeconomic development. Differences universities’ resources affected their ability to adapt instructional, research, administrative processes change during pandemic, thus broadening research quality gap education. Some regions may face increased outflow youth talent leading universities or just any colleges based Petersburg, which will certainly weaken growth prospects regions.The pandemic accelerated debate over this problem demonstrated readiness for joint efforts. Groundwork was laid deploying policy create cooperative network stakeholders so as reduce institutional promote exchange experience competence among universities.This paper investigates into main characteristics Russian that had been place when broke out determined whether succeeded failed switching distance learning. Furthermore, lockdown measures economic different types are analyzed. Finally, we discuss possible avenues specific considerations expanding cross-institutional collaboration engaging inuniversity