Abstract:

The article deals with the problem: are there conditions in Russian universities that allow students to acquire skills to master innovations, be ready for rapid changes in production and business, and put forward their creative ideas?

The conclusions of the article are based on the results of a sociological research. We interviewed students from the most prestigious universities in six large regions of Russia (N = 1200). The study used a questionnaire survey method.

The questionnaire included the following sections: the attitude of university students to innovations, their willingness to develop new technologies and put forward their own ideas and projects, students' assessment of conditions at the university that promote or impede innovation activity.

According to the results, the level of activity associated with innovation is not high: only 12% of students participate in university research projects, 10% were involved in developing projects for business or solving production problems, less than 10% of students participated in competitions for grants and scholarships to promote their ideas, a fifth of the students (20%) did not participate in any activities at all. In general, students are involved to participate in competitions of student papers and making presentations at student conferences.

However, more than half of the students said that they have any creative idea or project that they would like to implement. Among the possible areas of implementation of their projects, students named industrial production, business, services, education and information technology.

The article presents a rating of barriers that prevent students from implementing their ideas. According to students, the indifference of the youth itself, the lack of a sufficient number of government programs to support student projects, the lack of interest among Russian business in innovative projects are the main obstacles to the innovative activity of young people.

The study revealed a range of student assessments of conditions for the development of innovative activities in universities. Less than 10% of students believe that now the educational process at the university contributes to the development of innovative thinking among students. About 20% believe that the educational process does not contribute to its development at all, most students take an intermediate position in this matter: they consider that it partially contributes, partially hinders. Among the conditions most effective for the development of innovative activity at the university, students indicated internships for students in advanced enterprises, project-based teaching methods and the creation of student research laboratories at universities.

Keywords:

University students, innovative activity, readiness to accept innovations, creative ideas.