Social risk management of distance learning in higher education institutions

the article discusses issues that correspond to such a specialty from the list of the Higher Attestation Commission as «5.4.7. Sociology of Management (sociological sciences)». The authors of the article consider current issues of distance learning, the use of discursive information technologies in the educational process of the university. The article shows the experience of introducing distance learning during the spread of coronavirus infection, when the entire Russian education system was urgently forced to adapt to the online learning format. The authors present the results of sociological research using methods of included observation and a questionnaire survey of students. The purpose of the research was to identify the respondents' attitude to distance learning, to consider the social risks that may hinder the successful acquisition of knowledge and skills in the process of obtaining higher education online, as well as to consider management technologies that help reduce social risks. The research was conducted by the authors on the basis of the Laboratory of Sociology and Social Technologies of the Faculty of Pedagogy and Psychology of Bryansk State University named after Academician I.G. Petrovsky. The research revealed the attitude towards online learning among the direct participants in this process - students. Both the positive and negative sides of distance learning were analyzed. It has been revealed that there are problems of a technical nature, communication sphere, disciplinary plan, difficulties for independent development of educational materials, and the like. The positive aspects include the management of new information technologies, the use of which is important for further employment prospects in the chosen profession, and it is also important that the educational material is available at any time, the conditions of the educational process are comfortable, and monitoring of academic performance is possible not only during the session, but also at each lesson. The authors draw conclusions about the need to use managerial information technologies in the educational process of higher education institutions, taking into account both negative and positive phenomena that were identified during the sociological research. In the future, distance learning can be improved and can become an effective form of the educational process, because the identified shortcomings of online learning can be eliminated.

management, information technology, electronic learning system, education, online conference, social risks, higher education institution