The paper looks at the urgent problems of the Russian higher vocational school from a philosophical and social viewpoint, and maintains that its current situation and prospects should be analyzed in the context of complicated social processes and socio-economic reorganizations undertaken at the turn of the 20th – 21st centuries.

Facing a cultural crisis, the Russian society requires new cultural, political, economic and social ways out. The research shows that a considerable decline in the specialists’ competence level results from the low education quality requirements and decreasing social status of vocational education. The authors emphasize the culture study aspects of professional activity and regard them as the basis for vocational training quality assurance aimed at raising the professional competence.

In authors’ opinion, the aspect of culture studies remains the most important in the process of liberalization and humanization of vocational education, since the modern culture is an effective instrument of world perfection as well as students’ self-development and self-understanding.

1. Absava N. D. Where people lingered? Perspectives rights in a globalizing world / edited V. V. Partsvaniya. St. Petersburg: Publishing House of St. Petersburg Philosophical Society, 2003. Р. 43–49. (In Russian)

2. Asmolov A. G. Мanagement methodology changes in the world of education. Module-competence approach as a basis for transition training to professional standards of the third generation. Samara, 19–20 maja. 2011. 143 р. (In Russian)

3. Benin V. L. Education as a factor of national security. Socium i vlast’. 2011. № 1. Р. 11–15. (In Russian)

4. Zhukov E. D. Effect mosaic nature culture sociodynamics education. Obrazovanie i nauka. 2006. № 3. Р. 109–117. (In Russian)

5. Ilyenkov V. Philosophy and Culture. Moscow: Politizdat, 1991. 464 р. (In Russian)

6. Kuszhanova A. J. Social and philosophical problems of the theory of education. St. Petersburg: Synthesis Polygraph, 2003. 471 р. (In Russian)

7. Leont’ev А. Н. Аctivity. Consciousness. Personality. Moscow: Mysl, 1975. Р. 33–47. (In Russian)

8. Likhachev D. S. Culture and its role in human life. Selected: thoughts on life, history, culture. Moscow: Rossijskij fond kul’tury, 2006. Р. 88–112. (In Russian)

9. Russia as a transforming society: economy, culture, management: materials IV scientific and practical Intercollegiate Conference. Orenburg: OGIM, 2010. 136 р. (In Russian)

10. Florensky P. A. I thought watersheds. Moscow, 1990. 200 р. (In Russian)

11. Fromm E. Psychoanalysis and Ethics. Moscow: The Republic, 1993. 415 p. (Translated from English)

12. Belohradsky V. Je vzdelany na ceste stat se zbozim? Pravo. 2003. № 1. Р. 5. (Translated from Czech)

13. Radl E. Utecha z filosofie. Praha: MF, 1969. 138 р. (Translated from Czech)