Educational and research networks as a component of the new digital infrastructure

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to reveal the socio-philosophical meaning of the formation of educational and research networks in the context of the digital transformation of modern society. To this end, the article turns to the theories of social philosophers who examine networks that organize knowledge. The article analyzes the history of the formation of this concept and the genealogy of the very phenomenon of networks. The summative concept expressing the essence of the new form of knowledge organization is the concept of “invisible college”, developed in the works of D. Price, D. Crane and С. Wagner. The novelty of the research lies in the fact that educational and research networks are considered not just as forms of knowledge organization, as external attributes of intellectual social growth, but as cognitive structures that themselves have epistemological value in the production of knowledge. The study reveals that in the context of digitalization and rapid technological progress, the development of national higher education networks and research centers is becoming particularly relevant, and education and science remain the most important factors for sustainable economic development and public well-being.

References

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About this article

Publication history

• Received: April 28, 2026.
• Published: June 26, 2026.

Keywords

• философия образования
• понятие «невидимый колледж»
• научно-исследовательские сети
• экономика знаний
• цифровое образование
• philosophy of education
• concept of “invisible college”
• research networks
• knowledge economy
• e-learning

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