Origin and development of higher professional education system in Russia: problem of periodization

The article is devoted to the subject insufficiently developed in the national historiography. The purpose of writing this work was to study the problem of periodization of the history of higher education system (HPES) in Russia. The relevance of the topic is due to its importance for the social sciences, primarily for the history of science. The scientific novelty of the work is seen in the fact that it explores a problem relatively poorly developed by historians of science, formulates possible reasons for this, as well as criticizes the existing models of periodization of the Russian HPES. It is noted that this system today is an integral part of the functioning of the human community. It is argued that the role of HPES in scientific and technological progress as the main driving force of any socio-economic formation is primarily in ensuring the reproduction of qualified personnel - human capital. It is stated that in modern conditions the importance of HPES as an important factor in the formation of a new quality of the economy and society will only increase. It is stated that the problems of HPES in the framework of European and domestic education have been studied as a whole quite well, but this does not concern the problem of periodization of its history. It is proved that this problem is usually presented fragmentally in the majority of studies devoted to the history of science. The author explains the reduced interest of researchers in the development of the problem of periodization of the process of occurrence and development of HPES in Russia by several main reasons. The existing models of periodization of the history of the Russian HPES are critically analyzed. The conclusion is made about the need to continue work on improving the models of such periodization, which will contribute to the creation of an objective picture of the formation and development of higher education in Russia.