The key aspect in the process of Russia's revival is culture, which absorbs the nation's centuries-old experience, its values, which ultimately predetermine the country's development. Domestic culture is characterized by a huge heritage and an abundance of traditions, the latter representing the people's interest in soft values. The founders of these values, people with high creative potential, are prepared to a greater extent by higher school. In Russia, education has always played an outstanding role, being an important factor in the formation of moral values, as well as influencing the development of mentality and intellect. It has always been hereditarily important for the Russian higher school to aim its students not only at professional training, but also at giving them a wide scope in as many fields of thought as possible. This contributed to the development of students' balanced judgment and freedom of thought.
The article deals with the system organization of higher mining education in Russia in the 20s of the XIX century. The educational system of higher mining educational institutions that trained specialists for the mining industry is analyzed. Changes in this system and their reasons are shown. The project of development of higher mining education developed by the head of the Department of Mining and Salt Production E.V. Karneev is analyzed in detail. The reasons why it was not realized are revealed.
