Since the end of spring 2012, the name of this person is well known to Russian students, schoolchildren, as well as their parents. And here there is nothing surprising - after all, Dmitry Livanov occupies the chair of the Minister of Education and Science of the Russian Federation, which means that he directly affects the life of the above categories of the population. His track record has more than one high-profile reform in the field of education, his steps are often criticized, but the state continues to trust him with a high position … What inspires the official to continue his active work?
“I will work as long as the employer has confidence in my work, ” the minister once said, and this quote from Dmitry Livanov was spread over many domestic media outlets.
Where did he come to the very top of the Russian state pyramid of Lebanon? Who is he? How did he differ from other statesmen? How did he rise to his current position and what constitutes a manager?
The origins
Livanov Dmitry Viktorovich first saw the light of February 15, 1967. He was born in the family of the Moscow intelligentsia. His grandfather was a KGB colonel, and his father Viktor Livanov was a well-known aircraft designer who created the Il-96-300 aircraft and headed the Ilyushin Aviation Design Bureau for some time.
Dmitry's parents divorced when the boy was very young, and almost nothing is known about his mother. But it is known about the stepmother - Rogozina Tatyana Olegovna, who is only 14 years older than the stepson. The second wife of the father turned out to be her spouse. She is a Doctor of Economics and has held senior management positions all her life.
The future Minister Dmitry Livanov began his education in Moscow school No. 91, which he graduated from as an almost excellent pupil - the young four of Livanov had only basic military training. With such a certificate and such an origin, the path to a young and capable Muscovite opened wide enough and with great prospects …
graduate School
Naturally, after school Dmitry Livanov goes on to study further. And he opts for the Moscow Institute of Steel and Alloys (specialty "Physics of Metals"). He graduated from MISiS in 1990 with honors, after which he studied there for two more years in graduate school. Then he defended his thesis and in 1992 received a Ph.D. in the field of physical and mathematical sciences.
And after only 5 years, Livanov already flaunted the degree of “Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences” (specialization - solid state physics). Later (in 2003), he received another higher education, graduating in absentia from the Moscow State Law School, which was very useful to him later in his future management work.
Carier start
It is only natural that Dmitry Livanov began his career in the scientific field, which was facilitated by his education. He did not have to go far - a talented graduate student was left to work in his native university immediately after the defense of the candidate. At first he was just a researcher in the laboratory of synthesis of MISiS. Then he became a senior researcher, then he held the post of assistant professor of theoretical physics. And even later he worked as vice-rector for international cooperation, combined with a professorship in the same department.
From scientists to managers
In the spring of 2004, Dmitry Livanov, whose biography was previously exclusively connected with science, decided to take a sharp turn in his career. He was invited to head the department of state science, technology and innovation policy at the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation. And he agreed.
True, at the same time, he did not completely part with MISiS, continuing to profess there until 2012, only at the department of metal science and non-ferrous metals. From the end of autumn 2005 to the beginning of spring 2007, Livanov served as state secretary, replacing the then Minister of Education and Science Andrei Fursenko.
In this position, Dmitry Viktorovich first declared himself throughout the country and caused a flurry of criticism. He called for a reduction in the rights of the state academies of the country, in fact depriving them of the ability to independently dispose of money, land, etc. According to the concept developed by the official, the scientific and managerial functions of such institutions should be clearly divided.
Livanov was accused of trying to destroy domestic fundamental science - and the RAS (Russian Academy of Sciences) was especially outraged.
In the end, the government approved the charter, which was developed by the academicians themselves. But thanks to the efforts of Livanov and some amendments to the law, the rights of the academies were largely curtailed. So, for example, they could no longer uncontrollably dispose of the land and affirm their presidents.
Rector of MISiS
Meanwhile, Dmitry Viktorovich’s connection with his native institute was not interrupted. He remained a professor at MISiS, and in 2007 was elected rector of this university.
Under Livanov, the school is undergoing dramatic changes. The new leader implements in practice the theoretical developments that appeared during his time in the ministry. For example, MISiS was the first of the Russian universities to switch to a foreign system of undergraduate and graduate programs.
In 2008, Dmitry Medvedev, who was then the President of Russia, assigned the institute a higher status - he became the National Research Technological University. And Dmitry Livanov, as a promising employee, entered the first hundred of the Russian reserve of managerial personnel.
The Minister
Vladimir Putin, who again headed the Russian Federation in the spring of 2012, decided that such valuable personnel should not remain in the shadows. And already in May of that year, Dmitry Livanov, member of the United Russia party and rector of one of the most prestigious universities in the country, became the Minister of Education and Science of the Russian Federation, replacing his former boss Fursenko. And literally from the very first days, ardent activity began, which made the whole sphere of national education shake and caused more than one scandal in Russian society. And he continues to periodically call them to this day.
Livanov's initiatives
The Minister of Education and Science of the Russian Federation D. Livanov, not yet being the head of the department, believed that there were too many students in Russia. He did not change his beliefs after 2012 either. Already as a minister, he openly declared the need to cut budget places in universities by almost half, with the subsequent elimination of "free" as such and the introduction of a system of educational loans.
Livanov also advocated the introduction of rigorous testing for admission to universities - on the model of foreign systems, and proposed in addition to the exam to introduce additional exams for applicants for admission.
In his opinion, the state is absolutely useless for an abundance of people with diplomas from academies, universities and institutes, when there is no one to study at vocational schools and, accordingly, work in factories - too.
The conflict between Dmitry Viktorovich and the Russian Academy of Sciences continued, the level of which he publicly called lower than that of ordinary universities, and demanded reform. In addition, in the fall of 2012, the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia published a list of higher educational institutions of the country, which, according to officials of the department, worked inefficiently.
Scandals and criticism
Due to the upheavals associated with the RAS and other scandalous projects, a member of the United Russia party Livanov nearly flew out of this organization. He was sharply criticized in the scientific community, and State Duma deputies seriously sought to deprive the Minister of membership in the most influential Russian party structure. Livanov’s reaction to such attempts was the statement that he was not the author of the academy reform project.
The actions of the Minister of Education and Science were also seriously criticized by Vladimir Putin, who reprimanded him and accused him of not fulfilling his obligations. This was in the fall of 2012, and a year later the President actually took his words back.
Among the scandals of a smaller scale, one can name the situation with the law prohibiting foreigners from adopting Russian children. Livanov categorically opposed him, which caused a wave of negativity in certain circles.
Also, everyone had a story with the theft of budget funds, the involvement of which Dmitry Viktorovich tried to prove the prosecutor. According to prosecutors, the state budget lost the equivalent of one million dollars due to the fact that Livanov allegedly illegally contracted the LLC Teplokon company to reconstruct the building of MISiS.
Another “fire” broke out in society after the publication of Dmitry Livanov in his microblog, where the Minister of Education and Science angrily spoke about the work of one of the cellular companies, using obscene expressions and making a bunch of grammatical errors. Many were outraged by the behavior of man, which should be the standard of culture and literacy. Users on social networks and journalists in the media sarcastically questioned whether Livanov Dmitriy could pass the exam, who is “tortured” by all Russian school graduates?.. The Minister, in turn, made excuses and said that he did not write the text for the microblog.
There were other scandals related to the name of Dmitry Livanov. But he stubbornly continues to bend his line, despite criticism. One of the latest initiatives of the official was the decision to reduce the number of universities in the country. In his opinion, many institutions (especially non-state ones) are frankly weak and should not occupy a place in the sun, mutilating the minds of their students.
Awards and outstanding achievements of Dmitry Livanov
In addition to the candidate and doctoral dissertations, Livanov Dmitry Viktorovich can boast of other achievements. For example, in his track record is more than 60 publications of a scientific nature (of which about 50 are in foreign media) and the authorship of a textbook for higher educational institutions “Physics of Metals”, which was published in 2006.
For one of the cycles of scientific work, Livanov, as a young scientist, was awarded the Russian Academy of Sciences with a gold medal. And in 2011, he won the government prize as a representative of the educational sector.
What does the minister like
From time to time, Russians ask how many languages Dmitry Livanov knows, which is largely West-oriented and advocates toughening up the admission tests, particularly in English.
Of course, you won’t take it to polyglot, but besides Russian, the minister is fluent in Italian and, of course, English. At the last, he writes his scientific works for foreign media, and also loves to read detective stories in the original. In general, this genre of literature is Dmitry Viktorovich's passion.
He also loves theater and has a passion for extreme travel. So, for example, many remember Livanov’s loud vacation spent at the North Pole. Just then, the whole country was discussing a terrible story, during which a 55-year-old teacher ordered the murder of her 13-year-old student, who did not reciprocate her sinful passion … People believed that the education minister should have been in the workplace at such a disgraceful moment for the country. At least until the end of the investigation. And condemned him for leaving.
Personal life of Livanov
Almost from school, the charming and attractive Dmitry Livanov was considered an enviable groom. During his student days, he led a stormy personal life, and they say that one of the novels ended in the birth of a child. There is information that the boy was called Konstantin, and that Livanov, although not immediately, recognized his son. True, this information is not confirmed in official sources. And the minister himself prefers not to talk on this topic.
But it is reliably known that Dmitry Viktorovich has been married since his student days. But here again confusion. According to some sources, he was married not to anyone, but to the daughter of the then rector of MISiS, Yuri Karabasov, who, in addition, was allegedly the supervisor of studies at Livanov. This fact is indicated in many biographical information and causes idle gossip.
People with irony say that Dmitry Livanov, whose wife is the daughter of such an influential person, simply could not help completing the institute successfully and defend his dissertations. In addition, while others needed many years to protect, then everything happened at an amazing rate. Naturally, no one wants to associate such efficiency with the giftedness and hard work of the future minister. But with his personal life they are willingly associated.
According to other sources, the wife of Livanova Mordkovich Olga Anatolyevna has nothing to do with the rector of MISiS, and all this is the invention of journalists. Among such sources, an interview with Olga herself plays an important role, in which she is surprised at the innocence of people who believed gossip. After all, neither her last name nor middle name are in any way connected with Mr. Karabasov.
Well, Olga Anatolyevna was born in 1967, on June 15, and is almost the same age as her husband. She is a mathematician major. He holds a diploma from the Russian State University of Oil and Gas named after Gubkin. He works in the field of IT and was even nominated for a national award in this field.
The couple has three children. Of these, two relatives - a son and a daughter, and one boy Livanov and Mordkovich were adopted at the age of one. The Minister of Education and Science has repeatedly joked that he has someone to practice in terms of education and training technologies, because he is a father with many children. Whether the children of Dmitry Livanov criticized for his experiments is unknown …
But even if so, he continues to be an active and proactive person who always strives only forward and is ready to break through to the stars through the thorns of the most dense scandals.
Whether the minister’s political activity is successful and whether his work is for the good of the country is what the Russians will decide. We will not draw any conclusions. But in the end we give one folk joke that walks among the masses and is very popular among many citizens of our country.
