ASU News

Svetlana Lyaucheva, PhD and Professor at Adyghe State University, has achieved a historic milestone as the first faculty member from the university to join the Expert Council of the Higher Attestation Commission (HAC)  under the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of Russia. 

She has been appointed to the Expert Council on Philosophy, Sociology, and Cultural Studies. The HAC's primary mandate is to oversee the state's scientific certification process. It serves as the ultimate authority in awarding academic degrees. Members of the HAC review scientific dissertations and make the final determination regarding an applicant’s eligibility for Candidate or Doctor of Science degrees.

Selection of HAC members considers several criteria, including the number of monographs and publications in scientific journals indexed in both Russian and international databases, the Hirsch index (a measure of scientific productivity), research and teaching experience, the number of candidates supervised or mentored, patents for inventions, awards received at the state, departmental, or international levels, and other scientific honors. The commission is appointed by the Russian government for a four-year term.

Svetlana Lyaucheva is a distinguished graduate of Lomonosov Moscow State University and a professor of philosophy. She earned her Doctor of Philosophy degree in 2005 and was promoted to the rank of professor in the Department of Theory and History of Culture in 2007. Her research interests encompass multi-layered identity, ethnic and religious identity, processes of identification, ethnic culture, and the interplay of ethnic and religious values, as well as traditions and innovations within contemporary culture. Additionally, a significant portion of her scholarly work focuses on issues related to higher education, philosophy, and scientific methodology.

Professor Lyaucheva has been recognized as an Honored Worker of Higher Professional Education of the Russian Federation and as an Honored Scientist of the Republic of Adygea. She has received the P. Sorokin Silver Medal for her contributions to the development of Russian sociology and is the recipient of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation’s award for the advancement of student research. Furthermore, she is a laureate of the Yu. A. Zhdanov Competition for Scientific Papers in Caucasian Studies in Southern Russia.