Research in Russia on the opinions of guardians and experts of the department of guardianship examines the motives that people have for taking orphan children into their homes. The data indicate that about 80 percent of the guardians are grandmothers taking care of their grandchildren, whose parents have been stripped of their parental rights.…

Research on the problem of finding jobs for the graduates of primary professional educational institutions in Russia shows that the employability of these students can be improved if schools work more closely with businesses and other potential employers.

The decline in the number of young people in Russia will mean fewer students in higher education, and a reduction in the number of professors by about a quarter. This will require difficult decisions to be made, the rationale for which has not yet been decided on, with uncertain consequences.

Research comparing educational and occupational preferences of Russian students in the 1980s and 2010 shows that there has been a move to more pragmatic concerns, but also that more attention still needs to be given to providing young people with good information and better advice.

Improving the involvement of families in the lives of school students in Russia can be achieved through the use of electronic communication, but only if teachers and parents are given the knowledge and motivation that are necessary to make greater use of the Internet.

Research data show that a broad spectrum of changes is needed if education in Russia is to provide the kind of labor force that is required for economic development.

The "modernization" of Russian education is linked to the functioning of the entire social system of Russia, and reforms are proving difficult and contradictory. The use of the Unified State Examination in Russia, plus participation in the Bologna process, is causing concern about the ability of education to meet the needs of the…

Survey data suggest that there are several models of sociocultural strategy used by Russian students, each with a specific hierarchy of values. A typical model is the traditionalist strategy, although the achievement-oriented strategy is also quite widespread.

Research on narcotics use among students in Russia shows that many are under pressure become involved, and that knowledge of and willingness to participate in clinics and other sources of help are not widespread.

Research on family structures in Belarus show that they are changing to accommodate new societal requirements, but the data are ambiguous regarding the ability of family life to fit with its members desires for individual development and self-expression. (Contains 6 tables.)

Education reforms in Russia are aimed at increasing goal-based instruction and at expanding the range of desired outcomes, but survey research data show that teachers are not well-prepared to implement these changes. (Contains 2 tables and 4 notes.)

Research on the ways that Russian college students in St. Petersburg view upward mobility shows that they typically want to achieve a higher social level than that of their parents, but that the ways in which success may be achieved differs according to family status and location of residence. (Contains 9 tables.)

Survey data on the problem of drug abuse in Russia show a high level of awareness of the issue among young people. To reduce the level of drug use in Russia, a comprehensive, focused, and coordinated program involving representatives of official state and social institutions, as well as institutions of civil society, is needed. Combining their…

Research on provincial students in Russia indicates that the barriers to living and working in rural areas are seen as real, but that they may also be outweighed by the perceived benefits for family life. (Contains 2 tables.)

In the activity of the university, the choice of channels of communication and the key message are very important. Values to be conveyed include the quality of the education, the solid chances of finding work, and the prestige and status of various specialties. Other essential tasks include determining who opinion and reference group leaders are…