Academic gostrating as the market of imitation of scientific and educational activity

the article analyzes the phenomenon, called in international practice «Academic Ghostwriting». At the turn of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, the mass market is stepping up the demand for ready-made educational and scientific products in the form of coursework, diploma thesis, master's, candidate's, doctoral dissertations, scientific articles and monographs. Academic ghostwriting service is considered in the article as an imitation of scientific and educational activity. The basis for the analysis is information openly presented on the Russian, English, German-speaking websites of institutions and individuals offering services of academic ghostwriting. Some common semantic units and intentions on the side of customers and executors of academic texts, as well as specific features and trends in the development of the market for this type of service are identified. The technology of organization of academic gostraining and social and pedagogical consequences of imitation of scientific and educational activity are shown. Some possible ways of professional opposition to the described phenomenon are also outlined. The facts and the main provisions set forth in the article are of interest to the broad pedagogical community, education managers, teachers of schools and universities, and the organizers of certification of pedagogical personnel.