State policy in the sphere of training cadres of doctors of sciences and its implementation in the universities of Siberia in the postwar period

For a long time the organized form of training highly qualified PhDs across the country did not exist. Only in 1947 the Doctoral institute of USSR Academy of Sciences was established. It allowed universities to attach their staff to its institutions for writing and defending doctoral dissertations. Its efficiency was quite high. However, it played an insignificant role in terms of training the staff for the needs of regional universities, firstly, because of the small amount of job positions intended specially for PhDs. Secondly, some scientists who got degrees did not return to their universities after its completion and thesis defense. In 1956 the Doctorate was cancelled. In this regard, from the 1940s to the 1950s in the whole country, and especially in Siberia, the situation with the training of highly qualified teaching staff remained unsatisfactory. Number of PhDs among the teaching professors in the universities of the country was quite insignificant. Acordingly, looking for a new model of the organization of PhDs training in the country continued. Greater efficiency was demonstrated by a new form of doctoral studies which came into practice since 1962. It was a relocation of candidates of sciences, engaged in teaching and working on their dissertations, to positions of senior scientific workers (PhDs) on the condition of relieving them of teaching for 2 years. This opportunity was used quite successfully by peripheral universities and allowed some of them, especially the largest universities of Siberia, to qualitatively strengthen their teaching staff. The number of universities that exploited this model to train their PhDs was increasing mainly due to the activity of higher educational institutions in Siberia and the Far East. The main disadvantage of the senior researchers institute was the fact that not all the relocated scientists defended their dissertations on time. The vast majority of them defended their doctoral dissertations a year later after the terms of their appointment expired. Among the main factors influencing the delayed dissertation's defense by the senior researchers (PhDs) were the unsatisfactory selection of the doctoral candidates and the lack of control over the work of senior researchers by the management of universities. Senior researchers (PhDs) were often bothered by the high educational, social and administrative burden which they could not refuse completely. Insufficient material resources for experimental studies, the lack of educational and laboratory facilities, the lack of funds for travelling with official missions and etc. influenced the PhD's training negatively. There were difficulties with the publication of major PhD's findings and with the design of doctoral dissertations.

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