3. Discussion of the research outcomes
3.1. The process and forms of state regulation of university’s international scientific and educational contacts in the
USSR
The impulse was given by the USSR Ministry of Higher and Secondary Education. The main legislative
documents were processed. Those documents regulated wide circle of issues connected with foreign trips for
scientists and professors, graduate and undergraduate university students as well as for the employees of research
institutes that reported to the Ministry of Higher Education Institutions (Petrov, 2004). By the order of the Minister
of Higher and Secondary Education # 932 passed on November 22 1974, a new instruction about foreign trips was
introduced. According to that instruction, foreign trips were to contribute to the development of international
scientific and educational ties, their main objectives were to strengthen and develop friendship and cooperation with
the communist states, to study the achievements of foreign science and technology, to participate actively in the
work of the international organizations dealing with issues of science and education, etc. (Siberian PhysicalTechnical
Institute archive). The main forms of international relations in scientific and educational spheres were
bilateral cooperation of the USSR with communist, capitalist and developing countries; the USSR membership in
the scientific and technical commissions, committees and UN institutions, other international organizations; the
scientific and technological events held in the USSR with participation of foreign experts. One can consider logical
the fact that in the conditions of the Cold War proceeding at that time, the main foreign partners of SPhTI in
particular as well as the higher education institutions and country scientific research institute on the whole were
educational and scientific institutions of Eastern European and Asian countries entering the group of socialist states.
However, quite often the staff of institute took, or planned to take training in the capitalist countries (England, the
USA, Germany, etc.).
Soviet republics’ Ministries of education regularly sent instructive letters to the heads of higher education
institutions and scientific research institutes. According to those instructions, each educational and scientific
establishments of the country was to make the list of the employees recommended for long and short-term business
702 Alexander Sorokin / Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 214 ( 2015 ) 700 – 705
trips to foreign higher education institutions and scientific research institutes with the indication with the concrete
options of perspective countries and institutions in which training was supposed. Thus, the priority of selecting
candidates for training and business trips was given to young research associates and teachers no senior than 35
years by the time of trip with an academic degree of doctor, and then candidate of science. Financing of business
trips and training, behind an exception, so-called, scientific tourism, was provided with the relevant ministry. On the
basis of the lists, justifications of needs for a foreign trip and other documents sent from the universities and
institutes to the USSR Ministry of Higher and Secondary Education they made the general list of applicants for
training which was included into the annual comprehensive plan of international scientific and technical activities.
That plan was approved by the USSR State Committee of Council of Ministers of Science and Technology. On
finishing training, within a month those who had taken a trip had to submit 3 copies of the report approved by their
university academic the State Committee on Science and Technology (GKNT). The reports were considered by
various scientific and technical commissions of GKNT. The State Committee members issued the conclusion about
the expediency of a trip abroad. Thus, the trips abroad and training of young scientists were in sight of the
organizations of various levels, and control on them was exercised at the highest state level.