The article is devoted to the practices’ study of increasing the international competitiveness of a regional university through the joint educational programs development and implementation. The paper provides a review and systematization of legislative acts on the education of foreign citizens in Russian universities. The main system elements of joint educational programs aimed at improving the international competitiveness of higher education institutions have been highlighted. The implementation results of a joint educational program at the Penza Branch of the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation under an agreement with the Eastern Institute of the Shandong University of Finance and Economics (People’s Republic of China) have been presented. The directions of further cooperation with partners within the framework of joint educational programs have been outlined. The article materials will be relevant for heads of universities, branches, as well as vice-rectors as a practical case in the development of international activities.

   The article is devoted to the study of the projects’ significance of the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs (Rosmolodezh) and the All-Russian Public Organization “Russian Union of Youth” (RUY) for the value orientations’ formation of youth.

   The research subject is the values shared by the target audience of these projects.

   The study purpose is to determine the role of Rosmolodezh and RUY projects in the value orientations’ formation of young people.

   The main results of the study are the identification of the basic values that are formed among young people within the framework of Rosmolodezh and RUY projects, the factors’ identification influencing the process of forming value orientations, as well as confirmation of projects importance as a mechanism for the value orientations’ formation of young people. The application field of the research results is the development of strategies, programs for the value orientations’ formation among young people and the practical projects’ implementation of youth organizations and the state aimed at the value orientations’ formation of young people. The research prospects are connected with the possibility of further consideration in the context of other projects, as well as deepening into the mechanisms’ study of value orientations formation. The article conclute that the Rosmolodezh and RUY projects are an important tool for the value orientations’ formation among young people and for such a successful value orientations’ formation it is necessary to take into account the specifics of the youth audience, as well as to use innovative methods of working with it.

   Innovation activity in higher education serves as a catalyst for economic growth at the regional level. Modern economic realities require active introduction of scientific and technological achievements in the educational process, which inevitably affects regional economic development. The increasing contribution of higher education institutions to regional economy is due to a number of factors such as education quality improvement, research activities development, and scientific developments commercialization. The Education Development State Program data, examples of the world’s leading universities and reports on the research activities of Russian universities for 2015–2022 have been analyzed, and a multi-parametric assessment of innovative projects effectiveness in higher education carried out. The study included a comparative analysis of investments in scientific research and their impact on the regional gross domestic product, as well as the analysis of scientific developments commercialization cases. Between 2015 and 2022 the amount of funding for scientific research in leading Russian universities increased by 37 %, which was accompanied by an increase in the number of patents by 24 % and commercially successful projects by 18 %. The examples of St. Petersburg and Novosibirsk universities show an increase in direct investment in the regions by 15 and 20 %, respectively, due to scientific developments commercialization. The study also shows that the average growth of regional gross domestic product in regions with active innovation activity in universities amounted to 5.6 % per year.

In the conditions of rapid qualitative changes in socio-economic relations in the Russian society and cardinal transformation of the world structure, the authors set the goal to present a conceptual approach and theoretical foundations of the national economy model transformation. The methods of content and logical analysis, as well as general scientific methods of abstraction, generalization, and synthesis were used in the problem formulation within the framework of historical and systemic approach to studying complex issues and challenges characteristic of socio-economic formations development transitional periods. The political and economic aspects of the influence of the world structure transformation on the tasks and foundations of the national state economic mechanism adaptation have been considered. The interrelation of the social structure evolution and the increasing role of national wealth effective management to ensure sovereign development and increase public welfare has been outlined. The preconditions have been analyzed and the necessity of updating the modern nation-state economic model substantiated, as well as the conceptual provisions and basic principles of updating the economic model formulated. Possible ensuring solutions in the sphere of public power, including improving the mechanism of state control over the effective use of national assets for implementing the justice principle in the economic relations system have been defined.

   The article continues the research on the prospects of achieving digital maturity in Russian metallurgical industry as one of the digitalization drivers of the Russian economy. The analysis results showed that the metallurgical business has a high innovative potential for the digital maturity growth. The second part examines the application of Industry 4.0 technologies in domestic metallurgy by the example of industry leaders in digitalization.

   The purpose study is to determine the directions of digital transformation in metallurgy to achieve digital maturity in new geopolitical conditions based on the innovative activity assessment of industry leaders.

   The study object is Russian metallurgical companies (technological development of the industry) drivers.

   The study subject is the digital transformation process of metallurgical companies in the conditions of economic sanctions.

   The research methodology is based on the innovation activity assessment. The research methods include indicative, comparative, and statistical analyses. The impact of the economic sanctions imposed in 2022 on the digital transformation in the industry has been assessed, problems and approaches to their solution have been identified. The study results demonstrated the significant potential of the metallurgical industry to achieve digital maturity due to the high innovative activity of industry leaders, despite the sanctions. The key areas of digital transformation are digital twins, machine vision and artificial intelligence, the creation of metal products and secondary raw materials marketplaces, which corresponds to the global digitalization trend. This paper is a continuation of the article “The digital maturity of the Russian metallurgical industry: drivers and growth challenges in the new geopolitical environment. Part I. Assessment of the innovation potential of digital transformation”.

   The article is devoted to the development of using matrix readiness concept to manage innovative digitalization projects. One of the concept features is the application of existing methodologies for assessing the readiness level of innovation and considering them in the conditions of the VUCA-world and the BANI-world. To do this, these concepts, their structure, influence and role in the modern world have been described in more detail. To develop the concept, existing methodologies were used to assess the technology readiness level (manufacturing readiness level, customer readiness level), as well as their totality. The relationship between the product lifecycle model and the matrix readiness methodology has been analyzed thoroughly. Various types of existing business intelligence, strategic and project management matrices considered. In addition, the importance of digitalization and its applicability to the methodology of matrix readiness have been outlined. The principle of flexibility in the enterprise structure has been considered.

   The article discusses promising areas that contribute to the formation of a closed-cycle economy or, in other words, a circular economy in the Russian fuel and energy complex. The basic principles of the circular economy model aimed at preserving the environment through the transition from linear business models to more closedones and by increasing the efficiency of natural resources use have been outlined. The data on the estimates of the negative impact combustion of associated petroleum gas have been presented, the methods of its rational utilization and further use as raw materials for high-grade products have been analyzed. The petrochemical complex is presented as one of the fundamental elements of the circular economy. The advantages of using biogas as a supplement and alternative to fossil natural gas when moving towards a circular economy have been substantiated. The importance of implementing biogas projects in Russia in modern conditions has been emphasized. Factors’ number of constraining the development pace of the circular economy in the fuel and energy complex sectors have been identified. The key support measures and stimulation of companies by the state have been outlined.

   In the conditions of innovative economy development, the formation issues of the personnel and research potential of the region at the expense of local universities’ graduates are of particular importance. The article puts forward and confirms the hypothesis that a number of socio-economic development indicators of Kemerovo region significantly affect the number of graduates of regional universities, which can be predicted considering changes in these indicators. With the help of the created model, it is possible to study the impact of each of the arguments of the model on the number of university graduates, predict their dynamics, identify targets for the management decisions development in the field of regulating the number of young specialists with higher education (necessary for the regional economy), as well as formulate strategic planning tasks and assess university development the potential. The results of the study can be used by structural divisions of the Government of Kuzbass, the leadership of universities and organizations of the Kemerovo region.

   The relevance of the study is emphasized by the urgent need caused by the sanctions and geopolitical tensions, which manifested itself in disruptions in the foreign materials and consumer goods inflow to Russia.

   This in turn affected the operation of the country’s vast manufacturing sector. Such a scenario requires innovative conceptual paradigms development for managing the industrial sector in the forced import substitution era. This article attempts to identify and critically evaluate both existing and emerging strategic directions required to upgrade the nation’s industrial machinery to ensure its operational efficiency in the present circumstances. A scholarly effort con sisting of a thorough analysis and expert papers synthesis relevant to this issue has formed the basis of the study. The ways of solving the problems facing the Russian manufacturing industry in the conditions of forced adaptation and modernization have been traced and identified. The socio-economic vector occupies a central place in the formulated resolution, proclaiming the harmonious unification of efforts to diversify production as a potential lever to stimulate inter-sectoral industrial growth. The author has not only identified various areas ripe for strategic transformation, but also emphasized the critical turn towards a socio-economic trajectory that seeks to utilize all available factors. Collective organization of diversified industrial activities can indeed serve as a catalyst to break the current industrial impasse.

   The article presents an analysis aimed at assessing the most important performance indicators related to the production process development in the metallurgy sector of the domestic industry.

   The paper considers the imposed anti-Russian sanctions, as well as the period characterized by the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the country’s industrial production development with a special focus on the metallurgical industry. Through a detailed analysis, the author focuses on key indicators that effectively reflect the Russian metallurgy progression. The dynamics of metallurgical exports to various world markets has been examined. The data obtained and conclusions of the study provide a clear picture of the Russian metallurgy state in a complex geopolitical environment and healthcare crisis conditions.

   The Russian exports of processed food products analysis since 2014 has revealed a stable growth in this area, corresponding to the general dynamics of domestic agricultural products sales in the world market. At the same time, the share of processed food products in the total volume of domestic exports from 2014 to 2021 increased from 1.7 to 3.1%, which is a favorable factor in reducing the mineral-raw materials orientation of Russia’s foreign trade. The increase in processed products exports contributes to the export-oriented nature of the domestic food industry, which grew from 6.5 to 11.6 % over the period. This is also due to the fact that import substitution programs development and competitive imports limitation after the counter-sanctions introduction in 2014-2015 had a favorable impact on the food industry and allowed to maintain and increase a number of export directions. Over the past few years, the key areas of sales in the global market have been the products of the oil and fat and sugar beet industries. Along with the sale of finished products, the food industry wastes export, which are raw materials for fodder production, is also considered important. With the overall positive dynamics of processed food sales, the only direction showing a decrease in exports is tobacco and tobacco products. The reduction in tobacco products exports is explained by the change in the transnational corporations policy who own the Russian cigarette business, which, in addition to the Russian market, until 2014 also partially filled the markets of the Commonwealth of Indepen dent States and Eastern Europe countries.

   The article analyzes scientific approaches to the definition of the terms “infrastructure”, “customs infrastructure”, “infrastructure in the field of customs services”, including in the context of functional aspects.

   The study purpose is to form theoretical approaches and analyze the categorical and conceptual apparatus of the infrastructure in the field of customs as an institution of customs service, the consumers of whose services are the state, society and business.

   The problem urgency is due to the ongoing changes in the external and internal environment of customs administration: the service orientation global vector of public administration.

   The study objective is to form the author’s definition of the concept of service customs infrastructure, reflecting the target function, economic, functional, technical and social characteristics. The study concept is based on the theory of service-oriented customs administration in the field of customs services and on methodological approaches of the scientific school of the Russian Customs Academy. Based on the types’ analysis of customs services, the interests’ system of customs sphere subjects, a systematic approach to the concept under study has been substantiated, and a structural model of infrastructure in the field of customs services, classification of its elements according to vertical and horizontal principles have been developed. The analysis of regulatory and legal documents defining the standard requirements for the objects of production and information technology infrastructure of the automobile checkpoint is carried out. The results obtained allow us to propose the author’s definition of infrastructure in the field of customs services in a narrow and broad sense. Conclusions have been
drawn about the directions of improving the infrastructure in the field of customs services based on a service-oriented approach.

   The relevance of the study is due to the fact that under the conditions of sanctions there are problems not only with the arrival of imported raw materials and goods to the Russian market for the uninterrupted process of industrial production, but also with the processes of supplying Russian oil and gas abroad.

   In this regard, the paper is aimed at identifying and analyzing exis ting and new opportunities for the full and efficient operation of Russian industry. The leading approach (or method) to studying the problem is deve loping measures for new sales and supply channels formation for the Russian oil and gas industry further development. Oil and gas products supply vo lumes abroad before and after sanctions implementation have been assessed. Based on the results of the study and scientists’ works, it has been concluded that in the future it will be necessary to continue the search for new ways of both supply and realization of oil and gas raw materials and products for the Russian industrial production stable operation in the near future.

   Industry is the basis of economic development, therefore, studying the real sector allow us to assess the physical scale of the economy of individual countries and the world as a whole. The industrial production structural distribution by countries and macro-regions reflects the real balance of power in the global arena. Retrospective analysis allows us to see this process in dynamics, which contributes to the correct construction of models of further international cooperation, foreign trade and infrastructural development in this direction.

   The purpose of the study is to assess the dynamics of the industrial production shift from West to East in recent decades.

   The tabular, graphical and descriptive methods were used, and it allowed us to visualize the indicators retrospective analysis results. In the course of the work it has been proved that by now there is parity in the level of industrial production between the countries of the collective West and East. It makes it possible to change the term “developed countries” meaning and extend it not only to European and North American countries, but also to a number of Asian and Latin American countries due to the ever-growing importance of these countries’ industry on a global scale.

   The study subject is the interim measures’ institute of the tax authority.

   The study relevance is due to the incomplete decisions’ execution of tax authorities adopted based on the results of tax audits, which leads to the excessive restrictions’ problem on private property of organizations and individual entrepreneurs.

   The study purpose is to substantiate the need to exclude interim measures of the tax authority from the Tax Code of the Russian Federation.

   The study used an analysis of the regulatory legal framework, taxation practices, statistical data, and economic publications on interim measures of the tax authority. The conclusion is made about the presence in the existing mechanism of collecting taxes, penalties, fines of tax authorities’ numerous powers and other state bodies, duplicating each other, having an excessive nature and allowing, when used, to guarantee the decisions’ execution of tax authorities adopted based on the tax audits’ results without interim measures.

   The legal foundations’ study for ensuring infrastructural interaction between business and higher education is the basis for building a hypothesis about the need to improve the conditions for the effective use of scientific developments, the development of intellectual capital and commercialization, as well as for the practical applicability of research achievements. The article analyzes the legislative basis that forms the basis for the interaction of business and higher education, where it is justified that small and medium-sized businesses should act as entrepreneurial activities. The analysis made it possible to identify shortcomings in the legislation that do not consider the requests of all interested parties (stakeholders). The interrelation of national projects is considered and it is highlighted that at the moment there is a trend in legislation to create conditions for interaction between business and higher education. In addition, a number of arguments are given justifying that in order to achieve economic development considering digital transformations of the economy, it is necessary to create conditions for ensuring infrastructural interaction between business and higher education, where small and medium-sized businesses act as entrepreneurship with the active participation of authorities.

   The article presents the mechanism proposed by the author for managing the economic security of an enterprise, which is developed using a system-wide approach to management and the theory of functional systems. Within the framework of the developed mechanism, based on the theory principles of functional systems, it has been envisaged to implement managerial influence on the existing economic security system of enterprises, the effectiveness of which is reflected in ensuring the ability of this system to be flexible and adaptable to changes in the external environment. The economic security management of the enterprise at the present stage of the managerial thought development is filled with transformational processes and is associated with the formation of such a state of the mechanism that must meet the requirements for ensuring and guaranteeing the economic security of the enterprise, its sustainable functioning in the market and development both in the present and in the future.

   The article studies theoretical and methodological aspects of monitoring of re gional economic policy, as well as a comparative analysis of key areas of regional policy with the Russian constituent entities. The unique factors and special conditions affecting the development of the Donetsk People’s Republic (hereinafter – DPR) regional economic policy have been outlined, the convergence processes at the meso- and macro-levels to the average indicators of Russian economic well-being noted. The realization concept of the anti-crisis management in the agricultural complex of the DPR strategy, considered from the position of interfering effective economic and managerial decision affecting positive results achievement in ensuring the stability of the DPR regional economic policy corresponding directions, has been proposed. The matrix of the crisis management methods application optimality has been developed, considering the criteria of segmenting application frequency and cost aggregation index.

   The purpose of the study is to substantiate DPR’s effective regional policy monitoring in interfering its sustainable elaboration of the successful implementation of the anti-crisis management strategy causal dependence on the example of the agricultural complex.

   Mortgage lending is one of the most popular, but expensive types of lending. State participation through incentives increases the attractiveness of mortgages, but at the same time leads to sectoral, territorial, and subjective injustice.

   The study objectives are to determine the reasons for the differentiation of preferential mortgage conditions for different participants, to analyze the consequences of such differentiation, as well as to justify the need and develop regulatory measures in this area.

   The research used domestic and foreign scientists’ scientific works in the field of preferential mortgage lending, regulatory legal acts and program and strategic documents for the development of the mortgage bank lending market, as well as data generated by the authors on the basis of official statistical materials. Methods of statistical analysis, system-logical analysis, as well as general scientific methods such as induction, deduction and synthesis are used for analytical data processing. The audit of preferential mortgage lending programs revealed discriminatory factors by industry, territorial principles, as well as in relation to borrowers and lenders. Preferential programs should be targeted, conditions should be transparent, and methodological approaches should be the same for all participants involved in the implementation of programs. Differentiation of preferential mortgage lending programs should be regulated by the state, otherwise it may lead to discrimination.

   The dairy cattle breeding role in the economy of the Non-Chernozem zone is historically great, therefore, the development analysis of this industry with the intensive technologies use is an urgent task.

   The study purpose is to identify the causes of stagnation in beef production with positive dynamics in the dairy industry.

   The paper examines the dynamics of increasing the cows’ productivity by region; the concentration process of milk and cattle meat production. The intensity assessment of production in the young dairy breeds’ fattening is given. Research methods include economic and statistical analyses, as well as comparison. The change in the placement of dairy cattle breeding has been revealed: new large-scale projects are being built in the Chernozem zone and in the regions of the Non-Chernozem zone with high grain yields. Approaches to stimulating beef production in the current conditions at the regional level are considered. The state regulation expediency of the dairy and beef cattle breeding placement has been substantiated.

   The article purpose is to develop criteria for certification of marketplaces based on the most significant classifications.

   Within the framework of the study, the existing classifications are presented, the relationship between them is analyzed. Based on the review of classifications and economic analysis, a mechanism for the certification of commodity marketplaces has been developed: the criteria for certification, the form of the marketplace passport and the appendix to the passport with the main economic indicators have been highlighted. As an approbation, the certification of the Ozon marketplace (Internet Resheniya) has been carried out. On the basis of public reporting, an appendix with the main economic indicators has been completed. The results of the work will be of interest to researchers of bilateral markets, investors, potential and current marketplaces participants in the context of the digital transformation of the economy and the growth of e-commerce in Russia. The vectors obtained as a result of the certification process can be used to compare Russian product marketplaces not only with each other, but also with foreign platforms.

   The high importance of the chemical industry for the Russian economy in the socio-economic and foreign trade aspects causes increased attention to this industry. The need to provide all production, household and agricultural areas with products and raw materials supplied from chemical enterprises poses the task of reducing dependence on imports, which has developed over the past decades for most commodity items. The negative effect of import dependence became apparent after the introduction of anti-Russian sanctions back in 2014 and significantly intensified in 2022. These events have accelerated the work towards self-sufficiency in key chemical products. The study highlights the main stages of developing the program measures on import substitution, the evolution of some target indicators values and its implementation degree. The current state of the chemical industry in the country has been showed, its bias towards export-oriented industries assessed (fertilizers, synthetic rubber, ammonia, polymers, tires production). The attention to low-tonnage chemistry has decreased, which led to the deficit of its domestic production and the imports growth. The article studies the state of exports and the balance of trade in the main chemical products produced and consumed in Russia.

   The study purpose is to identify the relationship between the provisions’ implementation of the regional investment standard and the growth of the gross regional product (GRP) in the Russian Federation subjects.

   The average values’ statistically significant deviation of the GRP dynamics in 11 pilot regions of the Russian Federation and other subjects of the Russian Federation as an introduction result of regional investment standards developed by the Agency for Strategic Initiatives for the Promotion of New Projects (ANO “ASI”) together with the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation has been summarized. It is established that there is a statistically significant difference in the dynamics of the average GRP of the pilot and other regions of the Russian Federation, due to the implementing process of the provisions of the ANO “ASI” Standard. The provisions’ introduction of the ANO “ASI” Standard since 2012 has caused a statistically significant difference in the dynamics of the average GRP of the pilot and other regions of the Russian Federation. In fact, a significant outstripping dynamic of macroeconomic indicators for the development of pilot regions has not been achieved. The revealed situation testifies to the uneven movement of financial flows in the Russian Federation: about 45.8%
of the profit of organizations falls on Moscow and St. Petersburg (2021). Despite the lack of outstripping dynamics of GRP and investments in fixed assets in comparison with the average value in the Russian Federation, the pilot regions managed to ensure a more stable dynamics of GRP in 2020. Despite the presence of partially lagging macroeconomic indicators’ dynamics of the pilot Russian Federation regions in comparison with the average values for the Russian Federation, the introduction of regional investment standards is an important condition for effective interaction between territorial authorities and a wide range of investors.

   The modern media sphere is changing under the influence of socio-cultural, technical, technological and media processes. The article studies such a phenomenon of the media sphere as transmedia, which is characterized by the nonlinearity and hybridity of audiovisual forms. It is a new key feature of the media sphere and makes significant changes to screen art. As a result of the research, foreign theory and practice of forming the design of transmedia projects have been studied. The possibilities of using foreign experience in Russian conditions have been determined. Recommendations given for conducting a transmedia project in various areas have been, including improving the transmedia narrative in its basic concept using a systematic approach. The developed recommendation and methodological base for the formation of the design of transmedia projects has been practice-oriented. This method is aimed at solving problems, at the practical implementation of this approach to the implementation of transmedia projects. The recommendations demonstrate the need for narrative knowledge within the framework of a transmedia narrative, allowing users to engage and be motivated by a transmedia narrative, rather than simply distributing content through media channels. The possibility of using classical elements of an integrated approach to the formation of the design of a transmedia narrative in the transmedia approach has been investigated.

   The article explores the problem of social inequality in modern American society. The author draws attention to various aspects of this phenomenon, including economic inequality in terms of income, wealth, access to education and health care, age, racial-ethnic and gender aspects. In the USA the social in-equality level is one of the highest in the world. The article cites statistics and scientific papers that demonstrate the growing gulf between the rich and the poor. It also emphasizes how racial and gender discrimination affects social inequality, preventing individuals from realizing their full potential. The problem of social stratification has been shown. The article also focuses on the poverty rate and the phenomenon of the working poor. The author gives an illustration of social inequality by cities and states. Social inequality in the USA has a long history and an increasing trend, i.e. it is a chronic social inequality. General scientific methods, systemic and complex approaches were used. The article presents an overview of social inequality problem in the USA and suggests ways of its solution. It emphasizes the need for an integrated approach and cooperation between different population groups to achieve a more just and equitable society.

   The article examines and analyzes personal and psychological qualities’ relationship of a leader in different cultural environments. The personal and psychological qualities of the head have a direct impact on the development of the organization and the effectiveness of its activities, as well as the entire team as a whole. The study used the Kettel method (16-factor test) to obtain a general characteristic of the leader (intelligence, dominance, sociability, etc.). In addition, the Tunic technique was used in the article, due to which the creativity of the leader was determined (curiosity, complexity, imagination, risk-taking).

   The study purpose is to identify the relationship between the personal and psychological qualities of the leader.

   Testing has been conducted, in which experts (managers) took part from various organizations of Armenia and Russia. In general, 80 managers were studied, and a correlation has been carried out. A positive correlation between the personal and psychological qualities of a leader in different cultural environments has been found between complexity and dominance. The study result is the fact that with the help of testing a more detailed description of the manager has been presented. In the future, after psychological selection, this will help the bosses to coordinate their managerial activities more precisely, which will affect the quality of work in general and the psychological climate in relations with subordinates.