INFORMATION SECURITY IN RUSSIAN UNIVERSITIES: IMBALANCES AND PROSPECTS

Abstract

Information security has become one of the key areas of engineering education in Russia; however, its development is accompanied by significant structural imbalances. Based on federal monitoring data of higher education institutions, a comprehensive analysis was conducted of programs in the field of UGSN 10.00.00 «Information Security.» The study included 149 universities, with a total enrollment of 47,189 students in 2024. The results revealed a high concentration of training: 70 leading universities account for 80% of all students, while dozens of regional monopoly institutions implement programs with fewer than 250 students. This situation undermines staffing stability, prevents the establishment of independent departments, and limits the development of research infrastructure. Within the analysis, benchmarks of organizational sustainability of educational programs are proposed. The minimum level (50-70 students) ensures only basic functioning of a program. The threshold for departmental stability (120-180 students) allows the formation of a teaching staff and the development of master’s programs. The optimal level (from 250 students) characterizes a center of competence - a structural core of training that includes the full educational cycle, doctoral studies, and research laboratories. Thus, federal monitoring should be used not only as a tool of statistical reporting but also as a mechanism for strategic governance of educational policy. Its analytical potential makes it possible to identify centers of competence, determine program sustainability, and build a balanced national system of human resource development in the field of information security.