The succession of the academic elite: generational analysis

About the authors:

Lyudmila N. Bannikova, Dr. Sci. (Soc.), Professor, Department of Sociology and Technologies of Public and Municipal Administration, Ural Federal University (Yekaterinburg); urfu.bannikova@bk.ru

Maria А. Kuchkildina, Teaching Assistant at the Department of Sociology and Social Technology, Ural Federal University

Abstract:

The succession of the academic elite involves sustainable reproduction of professional, social, and cultural resources of a professional group. Within a group, expanded succession is marked by the increase in the number of its members as well as in the level of their social skills. The interaction between generations (i. e. professional communication, knowledge transfer, participation in scientific projects — both in families and professional communities) has proved to be a considerable informal channel of sustainable reproduction of engineers. The impact of family involvement mostly results in students’ social and career choices. The authors address the following issues: (1) the impact of family involvement on careers assessed by actual Masters of Science majoring in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics); (2) the role of the family as the «significant other» assessed by young professionals who overcame their independence rush and other problems of «intemperate youth». (As for professionals of older generations, the impact of family involvement might also be important for them, but to a smaller extent than some different factors of their social life.) The authors attempted to trace the role and proportions of family succession in the sphere of engineering.

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