Elena Yevgen'evna Fedotova (1962 - 2007)

Short Biography & Significant Contribution

Elena Fedotova is a renowned scholar in comparative education, who worked in Russian Eastern Region of Siberia, in the city of Tomsk. Her consultancies and field work have significantly contributed to the theoretical improvement of the Russian scholarship in comparative education, as well as the implementation of valuable educational reforms.

Professor Elena Fedotova led many experimental sites and pilot projects during her career span. She was responsible for extensive networking with colleagues abroad, and was on the cutting edge of international educational innovations. Characteristically, she sought and maintained a unique combination of research and practice in her diverse and global activities, including coordinating partnership projects with Europe and the USA, sending students for studies abroad, and adopting international experience for teachers' in-service training.

In 1989, Fedotova was among the first to head the US-Russia laboratory for professional education, involving innovations and mobility programs carried out in 7 states of Russian Siberia and 5 states of the US. Ohter initiatives that she spearheaded could be seen throughout her career. For example, in 1990s she collaborated with fellow educationalists and included a Danish governmental program for students, called "Democracy in Education", a US-Russia faculty exchange program for tertiary institutions coordinated by the Centre on Education and Training for Employment, Ohio State University. Other activities of similar nature included project in the states of Wisconsin and Oklahoma, programs that fostered the exchange of experience and improving teaching methods.

In 2000s, Fedotova worked as Director of International Information Center, Tomsk State Pedagogical University, linking various levels of stakeholders, including, the city (being the leading scientific center of Siberia) with international partners. Under auspices of the "Partnership in Education" project, Tomsk State Pedagogical University concluded long term inter-institutional agreement with the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. She also coordinated activities within "European Year of Citizenship through Education" in the Tomsk and Kemerovo regions of Russia. Due to her outstanding transnational expertise in the issues of civic education and citizenship education, Elena Fedotova received exclusive rights for translation into Russian of official publications by the Council of Europe. Examples include the "Sites of Citizenship: Empowerment, Participation and Partnerships" and "Education for Democratic Citizenship: a Life-Long Perspective," under editorial review of the Center for Civic Education in Moscow.

Other contributions by Elena Fedotova within the her last years included visitorship in Indiana University on the project "Internationalization of Pedagogical Education Being a Necessary Condition for Further Integration of Russia into International Learning Environment" (grant by Carnegie Endowment for International Piece), TEMPUS/TACIS coordinating internship in the Institute of Education of the University of London, leadership in the project "Comparative and International Education as a Factor towards Global Piece and Security" (International Peace Research Association).

Educational Background

Tomsk State Pedagogical Institute, Faculty of Foreign Languages, 5-year Diploma with Honors, Qualification of Teacher of English and German Languages (1979-1984)

Academy of Pedagogical Sciences of the USSR, Research Institute for Vocational Education and Professional Orientation, Postgraduate Studies, Candidate of Sciences (PhD) Degree in Pedagogy (1986-1989). Dissertation title: "Professional Training of Youth of the Federal Republic of Germany under Scientific and Technological Progress"

Tomsk State Pedagogical University, Department of Philosophy and Theory of Education, Doctor of Sciences Degree in Pedagogy (1999-2002). Dissertation title: "Theory and Practice of Pre-Employment Activities in Schools and Vocational Institutions in Foreign Countries (based on experience of the USA, Germany, and Denmark).

Professional Background

Tomsk State Pedagogical University, Department of Pedagogy and Psychology, Assistant Professor (1984-1986)

Academy of Pedagogical Sciences of the USSR, Research Institute for School Development in Siberia, the Far East, and the Russian North, Head of Laboratory "USA-Russia Vocational School to Develop Vocational Education in Siberia" (1989-1992)

Tomsk Polytechnical University, Cybercenter' International Laboratory for US-Russia Curricula and Teaching Methods Coordination, Associate Director (1992-1997)

Tomsk Institute for Education Employees In-Service Training, Laboratory of International Educational Standards, Director (1997-1999)

Tomsk State Pedagogical University, Department of Pedagogy and Psychology, Associate Professor (1997-2003)

Tomsk State Pedagogical University, Director of International Information Center (2001-2007)

Tomsk State Pedagogical University, Department of Pedagogy and Psychology, Full Professor (2003-2007), courses: "Globalization and Education", World Trends in Educational Development", "Comparative Education".

Affiliations (associations, organizations, institutions)

Russian Council for Comparative Education, Member

Comparative and International Education Society (CIES), Member

Tomsk State Pedagogical University, Member of Scholars' Council of Institute of Educational Theories

Tomsk State Pedagogical University, Member of the Council on Doctorate Dissertations in Pedagogy

Selected Publications

Fedotova, E. & Kopytov, A.D. (1998). Education for Career: Contemporary American Experience. Tomsk: Tomsk State University Press. [in Russian]

Fedotova, E. & Kopytov, A.D. (1999). International Educational Programs: A Textbook. Tomsk: TOIPKRO Press. [in Russian]

Fedotova, E. (2001). Contemporary Educational System of Denmark. Tomsk: Tomsk State University Press. [in Russian]

Fedotova, E. (2002). Preparing School Leavers for Employment: Contemporary International Experience. Tomsk: Tomsk State University Press, 280 pp. [in Russian]

Fedotova, E. (2003). European Integration Influencing System of Professional Education. Moscow. [in Russian]

Novikova, T.G., Prutchenkov, A.S., & Fedotova, E. (2003). Theory and Practice of Organizing Pre-Specialization Training. Moscow: Moscow: In-Service Training in Education Academy Press, 112 pp. [in Russian]

Novikova, E.G., Prutchenkov, A.S., & Fedotova, E. (2004). Portfolio as a "Folder" of a Student's Personal Achievements: Theory and Practice of Implementation. Moscow: In-Service Training in Education Academy Press, 112 pp. [in Russian]

Kopytov, A.D., et al. (2004). Development of Innovational Educational Institutions in Russia and Abroad. Tomsk: Institute of Educational Systems Development under RAE, 224 pp. [in Russian]

Novikova, T.G., Fedotova, E., et al. (2004). Portfolio in Practice of Education Abroad. Educational Issues (3), 201-241. [in Russian]

Novikova, T.G., Fedotova, E. et al. (2005). Using Student Portfolio in Pre-Specialization and Specialized Training. Moscow: Higher School of Economics (State University) Press., 110 pp. [in Russian]

Fedotova, E. & Novikova, T.G. (2005). International Experience of Using Portfolio in Specialized Training. Vneshkol'nik (6,7) [in Russian]

Fedotova, E. (2006). International Experience of Applying Portfolio Learning and Its Adaptation Potential for Russian Education. Vneshkol'nik (9) [in Russian]

Kopytov, A.D., Fedotova, E., et al. (2007). Civic Education in Russia and Abroad: Current Situation and Tendencies. Tomsk: Institute of Educational Systems Development under RAE, 264 pp. [in Russian]

Fedotova, E. (2008). Elementary Vocational Education in the USA, Germany, and Denmark: A Comparative Analysis. Moscow: Moscow: In-Service Training in Education Academy Press, 102 pp. [in Russian]

Created: 7/15/2008

Updated: 7/22/2008

Contributed By: Tatyana Novikova, Russia; Andrey Uroda, The University of Hong Kong