The development and functioning of modern technologies are no longer considered as a matter of narrow specialists. It is the result of decision-making by many social actors: from governments to private investors, from scientists and engineers involved in the development of new technological facilities, to ordinary users who decide to use them at home or in the office. Therefore, the focus of modern research on technology is not on technology itself, but on the process of their interaction with society. Currently, the safety and sustainability have become one of the basic, strategic problems of mankind, which requires taking into account social factors in their design and creation. The mechanism of such accounting can serve as Technology Assessment, however, due to the lack of such institutions in Russia, it should be implemented in the higher education system. The article is devoted to the review of the existing experience, both in Russia and in the world, and the justification of the need to include programs on Technology Assessment in higher education.
Technology Assessment; higher education; social factors of technology; the impact of technology on society; research of technology.