Corpus-Assisted Discourse Analysis of Russian University 3.0 Identity

This article explores a trend in the modern Russian higher education system where universities are collaborating with state, industry and civil society to advance sustainable transformations. With empirical evidence, the author argues that this could be interpreted as a new mission for the university. The study seeks to add to the international debate on the third University mission. The analysis is conducted in a methodological framework combining corpus linguistics methods and approaches of discourse analysis. The study is twofold. First, this article will follow the question how corpus techniques contribute to discourse linguistics and discourse analysis and in a broader dimension to evidence-based interpretation of linguistic facts. The analysis undertaken is within a methodological framework that is interested in using discourse analysis to uncover the socio-cultural, political, ideological loads upon text structures. The framework itself is in line with recent trends towards corpus-assisted discourse analysis. The corpus linguistic techniques can identify discursive devices that are repeatedly used. From this perspective, the transformation of the university and its mission in modern Russian society are discussed. Second, the article reflects contemporary changes of institutional models of higher education towards 3.0 and 4.0. Based on the mission statements of leading Russian universities, the author discusses how certain values can be foregrounded or backgrounded in texts representing self vision and strategic goals of contemporary universities. The study showed that the discourse analysis in combination with corpus-based methods was an appropriate method to identify new significant features of the Russian university as a reflection of social changes and transformation moving towards model 3.0. We can see the growing orientation of Russian universities towards an international scale and a leading role on the global arena. The rhetoric of the free market, leadership and international excellence is established in academic discourse and is a part of higher education research. The basic functions are connected with implementing the national policy for economic development, social constructive role, innovative research, breakthroughs, commercial application of research. The university mission statements reflect a tendency to discursive uniformity and standardization. Within its mission statements, the Russian university discursively constructs its identity as a significant part of the state system, as business-facing and business-friendly, competitive, leading globally. Results could be tied to further social and cognitive research of identities and their construction in and through discourse.

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