Pochyotnyy znak "Za otlichnye uspekhi v oblasti vysshego obrazovaniya SSSR"

The honorary badge “For Excellent Achievement in Higher Education in the USSR” [«Почётный знак „За отличные успехи в области высшего образования СССР“»] is a departmental award of the USSR, a badge of the USSR Ministry of Higher and Secondary Specialised Education. It was awarded to teachers at higher educational institutions of the Soviet Union who held academic degrees and titles (usually a Doctor of Sciences and professor), for special merits in higher education, the training of highly qualified personnel, and many years (at least 15) of work at the country’s higher educational institutions.

The order awarding an individual was signed by the Minister of Higher and Secondary Specialised Education of the USSR, with the agreement of the chairman of the trade union of workers in higher and secondary specialised education of the USSR, on the basis of petitions from the administration (rector) and academic councils of higher educational institutions. Only persons who had previously received the Certificate of Honour of the USSR Ministry of Higher and Secondary Specialised Education could be awarded the badge, and at least three years had to have elapsed.