Lyudmila Suprunova (1944 - )
Short Biography & Significant Contribution
Lyudmila Suprunova was born on May 18, 1944 in town of Zuyevka, Kirovskaya oblast', Volga region of Russia. In 1968, she completed her higher pedagogical education as teacher of English and German languages.
In 1968-1980, working as a school teacher first, and later as a principal, she became well-known for her innovatory activities, mainly oriented in improving quality of practical aspects of training. Since 1981, Lyudmila Suprunova pursued a professoriate track in her further career - from lecturer to professor and full member of Russian National Academy of Pedagogical and Social Sciences. She undertook a few important visitorships, both in Russia and abroad, such as in the Research Institute for Theory and History of Pedagogy of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Moscow, 1994). She soon followed by specializing in multicultural education at the University of Southern, Georgia (Statesborough, 2002). From 1996 till 2006, Lyudmila Suprunova headed the Center for Comparative Education of Southern Branch, Russian Academy of Education. From 2005 to 2011 she served as the Head of Department of Pedagogy of Pyatigorsk State Linguistic University (North Caucasus region of Russia). Since 2011 she is Full Professor of Department of Pedagogy of Pyatigorsk State Linguistic University and head of the Research Centre for Multicultural Education.
In Russia, Suprunova is primarily known for her publications in comparative education, as well as single countries studies of educational systems and educational policies. Currently, she has been teaching relevant courses in comparative education, and conducts research and provides consultancies in Russia and other countries, such as in India (1980 to 1981 and then in 1986 to 1991), the United States (2002), and Mongolia (2003 to 2005). She took part in 11th Annual Congress of WCCES in Chungbuk, Korea, in 2001.
Suprunova has published more than 270 research articles, monographs, books and textbooks. She established and headed a unique scientific school in the North Caucasus region of Russia in Comparative Education incorporating relevant disciplines, such as multicultural education and educational policy. Eighteen postgraduate students successfully defended their dissertations under her advisement; moreover, over 100 researchers have been involved into different projects under the leadership of Suprunova.
Based on applying comparative methods, with cases of different countries, such as Russia, Mongolia, India, and the United States, Suprunova has drawn important generalizations with regard to aspects of pedagogy and studies in education, some of which include: (1) determination of national education systems by concurrent cultures and traditions in education; (2) dependence of the aims of education and upbringing being relevant to societal conditions and community interests; (3) development of innovations in education to resolve contradictions between persisting pedagogical practices and quickly changing needs of the society.
Lyudmila Suprunova developed (1998) a model for research in comparative education based on a geographically tri-level analysis: (1) Global, (2) Russia, (3) a region of the Russian Federation. The conceptual framework and its' key standpoints have significantly increased the quality of region-targeted research, as it is situated in the context of past and current global and national trends.
Since 1998, Suprunova is one of leaders of the Russian national program in science and education, entitled, "Peace for the North Caucasus through the Languages, Education and Culture". The program is targeted for prognosis and modeling of science and education development, promotion of peace in this multi-confessional and multicultural region populated with a number of ethnic groups.
Suprunova also led task forces consisting of scholars of the North Caucasus on the projects entitled "Special Characteristics of Educational Development in the Region of North Caucasus" (1998-2000) and "Scientific and Methodological Provisions for Modernizing Professional Education in the North Caucasus" (2006-2007). The two projects contributed significantly to theories and practices in Russia-wide. Furthermore, her work has received receptivity by community stakeholders and politicians because of its impact on stabilizing social tensions and promoting peace in the region of North Caucasus.
For her outstanding contribution in development of pedagogical science and practices, Professor Lyudmila Suprunova was awarded with the honorary title of "Distinguished Educator of the Russian Federation" (1996) and with the Medal of Konstantin D. Ushinsky, founder of Russian pedagogy (1999). She was also awarded with special honors from the Government of Mongolia (2005) and the USSR Embassy in India (1990).
Educational Background
Pyatigorsk Pedagogical Institute of Foreign Languages, Pyatigorsk; Diploma in Pedagogy with Qualification of Teacher of English and German languages (1963-68)
Academy of Pedagogy of the USSR, Institute of General Pedagogy, Moscow; Candidate of Sciences (PhD), dissertation in General Pedagogy (1985)
Russian Academy of Education, Institute of Education and Pedagogy Theory, Moscow; Doctor of Sciences (D.Sc.), specialization in General Pedagogy (1995)
Professional Background
Pyatigorsk Secondary School No. 1, Teacher of English Language, Principal (1968-1981)
Pyatigorsk Pedagogical Institute of Foreign Languages, Associate Professor, Department of Pedagogy (1981-95)
Pyatigorsk State Linguistic University, Full Professor, Department of Pedagogy, Director of Research Center for Comparative Education (1995-2005)
Pyatigorsk State Linguistic University, Full Professor, Head of Department of Pedagogy (2005 – 2011)
Pyatigorsk State Linguistic University, Full Professor, Head of Research Center for Multicultural Education (2011 - present)
Affiliations (associations, organizations, institutions)
National Academy of Pedagogical & Social Sciences (Moscow), Full Member (since 1995)
Russian Council for Comparative Education, Full Member (since 1994)
Member of the Council on Doctor of Sciences and Candidate of Sciences Degrees Dissertations in General Pedagogy at Pyatigorsk State Linguistic University, Pyatigorsk, Russia (since 1999)
Selected Publications
Suprunova, L.L. (1996). Schools in India on the Eve of 21st Century, Moscow: Pedagogy Press, 187 pp. [in Russian]
Suprunova, L.L. (1996). Concepts for Comparative Education Research in the North Caucasus Region of Russia, Pyatigorsk, 20 pp. [in Russian]
Makayev, V.V., Suprunova, L.L., et al. (1998). A Glossary of Terms in Comparative Education and History of Pedagogical Thoughts, Pyatigorsk, 115 pp. [in Russian]
Suprunova, L.L. (1999) Radhakrishnan: an article for Russian Pedagogical Encyclopedia, Vol. 2 (pp. 241-242), Moscow: BRE [in Russian]
Suprunova, L.L. (1999) R. Tagor: an article for Russian Pedagogical Encyclopedia, Vol. 2 (p. 411), Moscow: BRE [in Russian]
Suprunova, L.L. (2002). Methodological Problems in Comparative Education, Pedagogika (2), 107-110. [in Russian]
Suprunova, L.L. (2007) Education in Mongolia: the Difficulties and Achievements of the period of transition. Russian Education and Society. Volume 49, Issue 1 (pp.78-97).
Suprunova, L.L. (2008). Modernization of Education in India. Moscow: Progress-Traditsiya, 325 pp. [in Russian]
Suprunova, L.L., Danilova E.S. (2009). Approaches and Methods of Research in Comparative Education in the Works of B. Holmes, Pedagogika (1), pp. 89-100. [in Russian]
Suprunova, L.L. (2012). The Multicultural Education Framework as a Resource for the Youth Subculture Development. PSLU Bulletin. International Version (2-3), pp. 131-133. [in English]
Suprunova, L.L. (2012). The Functions of Research in Comparative Education in the Regions of the Russian Federation, Russian and Foreign Pedagogic 1(4), pp. 63-78. [in Russian]
Suprunova, L.L., Sviridchenko Y.S. (2013). Multicultural Education. The Textbook for the Students of the Universities. Moscow: Academia. 240 pp. [in Russian]
Suprunova, L.L., Obraztsova L.V., Tarasova O.A. (2013). Technologies in Innovative Education: Development and Perspectives. The Textbook for the Students of the Universities. Saarbrücken, Deutschland: AV Akademikerverlag GmbH & Co.KG, LAP LAMBTRT Akademik Publishing. 381pp. [in Russian]
Suprunova, L.L. (2013). Multicultural Education in Russia: Traditions and Modern Trends. Reconstructing Education, Culture and Identity in a Global Age. 2013 KAME International Conference. May 9 – 11, 2013, Seoul, Korea (pp. 241 – 253).
Created: 7/22/2008
Updated: 8/04/2014
Contributed By: Andrey Uroda, The University of Hong Kong
