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Rashid Dumalichevich Khunagov (born on March 13, 1953)  is Doctor of Sociology, Professor, Rector of Federal State Budgetary Institution of Higher Education "The Adyghe State University".

R.D. Khunagov graduated from the Taganrog Radio Engineering University (nowadays as a part of the Southern Federal University) in electronic devices-specialty. In 1993, he defended the Candidate's dissertation, having received a scientific degree of the Candidate of Philosophy. In 1996, he became Doctor of Sociology, having defended the dissertation on management sociology. In May, 1997 he received the academic status of Professor of Philosophy and Sociology Department.

R.D. Khunagov's scientific interests cover education sociology, management sociology, political science, social philosophy, ethnology and anthropology, regional economy and geoinformation technologies.

R.D. Khunagov's researches in the field of political science and philosophy of policy expanded and deepened the analysis of the content of political subjectness significantly. R.D. Khunagov conceives of political subjectness as the ability to behave in a way that you think is right, and not allow others to dictate to you what they think should be done, to formulate your own interests and purposes, to implement your own choice and to display your own will. The criteria for providing the status of the political subject, include: consciousness of the subject defining own situation in political reality, the purposes and interests of activity; will to social actions and its realization in political practice; and autonomy of the subject in political actions and their constancy.

The analysis of attributive character and conditions needed to form political subjectness brought R.D. Khunagov to implement sociological investigations of problems related to rationality in policy and management. He disclosed the conditions of realization of institutional science and policy relationship. Also he has proved that the effective use of science in social management is possible only in the course of the interaction based on a consent concerning fundamental values. R.D. Khunagov showed that management as actualization of the power arose from need to achieve the common goals in joint activity of people. If the power, by the nature, seeks steadily for expanded reproduction of the domination relations, the management purpose is to achieve an optimality and efficiency of social and political system functioning.

Expansion of a range of studying political subjectness and problems of rationality in policy and management brought R.D. Khunagov in cognitive space of studying the evolution of socio-political systems, theoretical modeling of the Caucasian culture in a context of cultural and civilization processes and the Caucasian factor in modern Russia. He has shown that the axiological component, serving as the ontological base of the Caucasian identity, should not be underestimated and that the coexistence of various ethnic identities, along with the Russian, is a serious socio-political problem. However this is not a sign of weakness of the state, this is the argument of its historical uniqueness.

R.D. Khunagov, being engaged in problems of a civilization and personality, developed such questions as the bases of identity and authenticity of the personality, relationship of authenticity and identity in a context of a problem of "Other" and at a joint of cultures, the authenticity and identity related to socio-historical and individual memory, as well as in aspect of national security. The main function of individual memory is shown to be the community self-identification through differences from other communities and reduction of internal disagreements. It is inferred that the question related to the difference, distinction of identity and identities of distinction concerns the essence of ethnology and anthropology, and historical laws of discipline development which created its traditions and purposes.

A theoretical-methodological analysis of model of innovative development as the main form of modern educational system of Russia has become R.D. Khunagov's serious contribution to sociology of education.

R.D. Khunagov recognizes that in the conditions of increase of external challenges and new innovation-market educational environment, inadequacy of traditional models of education management becomes more and more obvious. In modern conditions of complexity and discrepancy of public processes, the traditional relying on intuition and common sense in education management leads to the simplified solutions of problems and slows down innovative processes. Nowadays any of existing or proposed models of management is not capable to consider all the variety of the new social environment, in which educational institutions function, and to answer new social challenges. R.D. Khunagov presents the social and innovative model of management which includes the following subsystems: administrative processes, theoretical-methodological bases and value essence of components and education factors.

R.D. Khunagov has made a contribution to development of economic thought. The new scientific ideas put forward by him and conceptual representations found reflection in a number of theses successfully defended by his pupils. The new concept of the socialized capital is introduced into circulation of economic researches, and specific characteristics and the main functions of reproduction of this capital are disclosed. It is shown that the socialized capital is a new form of the capital which has developed in conditions when a certain set of subjects of the social and economic relations resorts to a wide use of market tools in relation to problems of mass reproduction of the public benefits and satisfaction of the socialized requirements.

Basing on laws of the socialized capital movement in the sphere of housing-and-municipal services, the new course of reforming and modernization of this sphere was substantiated. R.D. Khunagov proposed the effective territorial strategies, tools and the means of similar reforming resting upon own institutional environment, formation of a public consent concerning reformation process on the basis of strategic coordination of interests of its subjects, adequacy of resources and instruments of reforming, reintegration of system quality of elements of the spheres and expanded reproduction of the socialized capital of the sphere on the basis of new "high" technologies.

Khunagov R.D. proposed a new scientific idea of address granting a special complex of the social generating services to new generations of a human factor of the Russian national economy to carry out institutional correction of forms of behavior, thinking and status characteristics. In line with this scientific idea, the complex of institutional techniques and tools was elaborated. Its efficiency was successfully approved in practical activities of the youth camps functioning on the Black Sea coast of the Krasnodar Territory. R.D. Khunagov showed the main results of impact on territorial development of new, to Russia, crisis- and risk-created factors of the prolonged cyclic transformation of the relations of property and rent orientation of system of appropriating resource potential and results of regional development by a small group of people. The functional and effective way of the organization of anti-crisis management at meso-level, adequate to the content of regional economic system, is substantiated. Effective strategies and tools of anti-crisis management are proposed.

R.D. Khunagov is the head of school of science "Development of Geoinformation System of a Region Sustainable Development". Development and deployment of geoinformation technologies in economic-industrial complex of the region gave the innovative direction to development of object-oriented technologies in the Republic. By means of GIS-technologies, ecological-geomorphological, ecological-climatic and ecological-soil division of the region into districts was made. The innovative three-dimensional digital model of the district providing modeling and the forecast of the dynamics of natural and anthropogenic - ecological factors was developed. Relational databases were prepared and the methodology of their structurization and storage was developed to create diverse models of the geosystems for the effective solution of economic problems of the region. Innovation of geoinformation projects was confirmed by more than 50 million rubles drawn through scientific-technical programs, grants of the Russian Basic Research Foundation, target programs of Ministry of Education and Science, agreements with organizations, as well as through establishment of the small innovative enterprise "Geo-Vertex". Two patents, seven certificates of the state registration of the computer programs and high-level diplomas were received.

In order to develop innovative digital projects of economic, tourist and town-planning monitoring, to make the system analysis of geospatial processes and to forecast the dangerous hydrometeorological phenomena, in 2010, the first Center of Space Services was created in the south of Russia to obtain results of space sounding of the territory of the Adygheya Republic in real time. The Center was established on an initiative and with R.D. Khunagov's direct participation together with Roskosmos on the basis of the University's GIS-Center.

Under the leadership of R.D. Khunagov, the Adyghe State University carries out a number of research works under the thematic plan of scientific-research works of higher education institutions of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation, within the uniform order, regional, federal and departmental interuniversity scientific and technical programs and grants of the international and domestic funds, as well as contract works, including: "Improvement of methodological, scientific-methodical and staffing provision of the education- research complex of professional training programs at Adyghe State University (within students' researches and scientific-technical creativity of youth)" and "Geoinformation system of monitoring of ecological condition of the region using an example of the Adygheya Republic" within the analytical departmental target program "Development of Scientific Capacity of the Higher School".

R.D. Khunagov conducts vigorous teaching activity. Being the professor of Philosophy and Sociology Department, he develops and reads a basic course of lectures on sociology for students of non-humanity faculties, a number of special courses on sociology of the power and organizations; makes a big contribution to development of new training programs, textbooks and manuals in the main directions of students humanity training.

In 2009-2012, Professor Khunagov R.D. took an active part in realization at the University of the international scientific and methodical Tempus project "Bachelor Curriculum for Social Work" (Tempus Project No. 144529) through the European Union as a part of consortium of the Russian and foreign higher education institutions. Being the member of Steering Committee of the project, he participated in development and deployment of primary activities of consortium in the project directions: introduction of bases of the Bologna model of education; modernization of social education in Russia; development of remote technologies in the sphere of social education; and higher education internationalization. Within the project he took part in eight conferences and seminars in Russia and abroad (Germany, France, Great Britain) where he made reports on a condition of education in the social sphere and on problems and prospects of development of social technologies in Russia (using an example of the North Caucasus and the Adygheya Republic).

Within the Tempus project, with direct participation and under the leadership of R.D. Khunagov, the Adyghe State University implemented successful transition to remote educational technologies in social work and in some other directions. Innovative educational and methodical provision in disciplines of a social cycle was created together with the European colleagues, including "The theory and practice of social work", "Prevention of social burning out", "Social problems of a family" and "Social escort of teenagers of group of risk". A network of strategic social partnership of Adyghe State University in Russia and abroad was considerably expanded.

Within the designated scientific interests and educational and methodical activity R.D. Khunagov published more than 100 scientific, educational and methodical works, including 9 monographs, 12 textbooks and manuals. Printing activity is confirmed by high level of citing.

Among monographs and manuals are the following: "A rationality problem in policy and management" (M: Vysshaya shkola, 1995); "Humanity and multiethnic Russia" (in co-authorship; Maikop: AGU Publishing House, 2001);"Strategy and instruments of anti-crisis management by region system" (Maikop: AGU Publishing House, 2009); "Innovatics in the Russian higher education: problems and prospects" (M. - Rostov-on-Don: Social and Humanity Knowledge, 2010); "The personality and a civilization in the authenticity and identity world" (Rostov-on-Don: "Antey" Publishing House, 2012); "Ethnology and social changes: expansion of area of ethnological researches" (M.: Social and Humanity Knowledge, 2012); "Innovative development of the higher education in Russia: The manual" (M. - Rostov-on-Don: Social and Humanity Knowledge, 2012).

The last of the above-mentioned editions is recommended by the Education-Methodical Society on classical university education in Philosophy and Education Sociology for students of the higher education institutions which are training in the directions of Social work, History and Psychology.

R.D. Khunagov is the scientific editor of more than 40 monographic researches and collections of scientific articles, the member of editorial boards of a number of scientific journals, the editor-in-chief of the scientific journal "Bulletin of the Adyghe State University", which was included in the List of VAK of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation, and entered into the international help system of the periodic and proceeding editions "Ulrich's Periodicals Directory" and in the international bibliographic and abstract Scopus database and took an active part in a number of the international and world scientific forums. Khunagov R.D. made reports at the 8th Annual Conference of the European Sociological Association "Conflicts, Nationality and Civil Society" (Great Britain, Scotland, Glasgow, 2007); The First Forum on Sociology of the International Sociological Association "Sociological Researches and Public Debates" (Spain, Barcelona, 2008); The 10th Congress of the European Sociological Association (ESA) "The Social Relations During a Turbulence Era" (Switzerland, Geneva, 2011) and at the 40th World Congress of the International Institute of Sociology "After West Hegemony: Sociology and Society" (India, Delhi, 2012).

R.D. Khunagov is the head of two dissertation councils on defending doctoral and candidate's dissertations on sociological and economic sciences. Under his leadership 3 Doctor's and 14 Candidate's dissertations were defended.

Since 1996 R.D. Khunagov is the rector of the Adyghe State University.

During the past years the higher education institution under his leadership has received dynamic innovative development. The number of the University's teachers who defended dissertations, increased from 40 to 82%, the quantity of specialties and training directions, from 18 to 63, and the total area of educational and laboratory base, from 23.0 to 70.6 thousand sq. m. During these years the following University structures were created: the university complex including humanity and technical college, Republican natural and mathematical school, 3 institutes and 12 faculties, basic departments of the Southern Russian Academy of Science Scientific Center, the Center of Information Technologies, the Center of Space Services, the Botanical Garden, the museums and the developed social infrastructure.

The powerful contribution is made by R.D. Khunagov to the organization and development of new schools of sciences and directions in the field of natural-science and humanity knowledge, including those in the area of the priority directions of science and equipment of the Russian Federation: "Safety and counteraction against terrorism", "Information and telecommunication systems", "Sciences about life", "Rational environmental management". This is confirmed by successful introduction of scientific results in production and social and economic spheres of the region. Under his leadership 11 schools of sciences and 28 scientific directions were created, and the tenfold growth of volume of scientific researches was reached. In 2009, a scientific research institute of complex problems was established and equipped with modern instrument base. Development of research activity is carried out with broad attraction to work of students, graduate students and young scientists.

Educational programs of Adyghe State University are certified in the European Organization of Quality and in the Commerce and Industry Chamber of the Russian Federation. The quality management system of the University, applied to educational, research, innovative and developmental activity is certified and registered in the uniform register in Federal Agency for Technical Regulation and Metrology. The University is included in the Federal register "The Russian book of honor". The Univerwsity is the winner of the competition "Hundred Best Goods of Russia". The scientific journal "Bulletin of the Adyghe State University" was included into VAK List in 15 scientific directions. There are eight dissertation councils that function in 14 specialties. New buildings for education, scientific library and business incubator were put into operation. Nowadays the educational and sports complex is erected.

R.D. Khunagov is notable for high level of professionalism and personal culture. He is recognized among the scientific and pedagogical public. R.D. Khunagov is the member of Presidium of Council of Rectors of higher education institutions of the Southern federal district, Deputy Chairman of Council of Rectors of higher education institutions of Krasnodar Territory and Adygheya Republic and the chairman of Public Council at the Ministry of Internal Affairs in the Adygheya Republic.

R.D. Khunagov's achievements and successes in scientific and pedagogical activity are noted by a number of awards and honorary titles: Honorable worker of higher education of the Russian Federation, Honored worker of science of Kuban, Honorable Doctor of Institute of Sociology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Abkhazian State University and Southern Federal University.

He was decorated with Medal of Adygheya Glory, Medal for Outstanding Contribution to Development of Kuban, Honorable Silver Medal of V.I. Vernadsky, Medal of Professional Leader of the Center of Biographic Researches in Cambridge, Silver Medal of P. Sorokin for Contribution to Development of Domestic Sociology, Honor Certificate of the Federation Council of Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, Honor Certificate of Legislative Assembly of Krasnodar Territory, Order of Sacred Sofia, the European Socrates Award, the American Gold Certificate of Quality and Medal for Contribution to Development of Science and Culture. He is the winner of Competition of scientific works in a Caucasus study of the South of Russia named after Yu.A. Zhdanov, the winner of the Russian project "Effective Management of Personnel" in the nomination "Head of the Year" (2009). In 2012 he was decorated with the Badge of Rector of the Year.

The great attention paid by R.D. Khunagov to publication activity of University allowed the Adyghe State University to enter ARES-2015 Ranking of European Scientific and Industrial Chamber and to take the 65th place among 138 best universities of Russia. The Adyghe State University received an assessment BB as a university, which is characterized by reliable quality of teaching, science and demand for graduates by employers.

The Adyghe State University in 2015 was also ranked No. 59 on the list of the top 100 universities and among 1484 universities of Russia in the Webometrics Ranking of World Universities. The Ranking is based on a composite indicator that takes into account both the volume of the Web contents (number of web pages and files) and the visibility and impact of these web publications according to the number of external inlinks (site citations) they received, as well as access to scientific knowledge in the sites of universities and in a database on the electronic Google, Google Scholar, Yahoo, Live Search and Exalead platforms and availability of wide mass audience worldwide.