«Closed» Academic Environment and Local Academic Conventions

Abstract

The paper presents an analysis of the comparative characteristics of the closed and open academic environment. Possible effects of formation of local academic conventions are discussed. Survey data obtained from interviews of representatives of 30 departments of universities of St. Petersburg, producing professionals in economics, allowed to estimate several parameters of the closed academic environment and its impact on the values and individual careers of lecturers. The study revealed that the environment on the surveyed faculties is characterized by high degree of isolation. It also shows the differences between the strategies and values between those lecturers who have graduated the given university and those who had received education apart.