Russian Senators Propose Overhauling University Entrance Exams and Licensing

The Federation Council has recommended raising minimum scores on the Unified State Exam for university admission, eliminating distance learning for engineering and technology majors, and capping tuition-paying slots in fields with excess graduates. The senators also proposed revisiting admission benefits and suspending new university licenses until licensing process amendments are made. Federation Council speaker Valentina Matviyenko called for tightening licensing requirements, citing the ease of opening a university in Russia. She suggested limiting admission for students from other regions at Moscow universities, allowing only necessary fields to enroll. The proposals aim to address the government's push for students to leave school after ninth grade and enroll in vocational schools.