DIRECTIONS OF INCREASING THE COMPETITIVENESS OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN MODERN CONDITIONS

Abstract

The article is devoted to the study of issues related to the competitiveness of higher education in modern conditions. The essence of education is outlined, its role and contribution to the establishment of a sustainable relationship between it and scientific and innovative activities are clarified. The definition of the category "competitiveness of higher education" is formulated, the approaches to its understanding are highlighted, the levels of competitiveness in the higher education system are highlighted, and the relationship between them is established. The main components of the higher education system, elements of its internal and external environment are clarified. Therefore, a set of economic, political, socio-cultural, political and demographic factors exert a significant complex influence on the competitiveness of higher education, which indicates the need to take intoaccount such systemic influence and understand the importance of the educational sphere in social development. The current state of higher education development is characterized by the transformational conditions of functioning and development and the need for its adaptation to the processes of globalization and digitalization. Currently, the domestic system of higher education is dealing with such challenges as problems of financing the field and employment of graduates, the formation of fair conditions for access to education, the need to improve the qualifications of workers in the field of education, and the insufficient level of international cooperation and collaboration. Modern trends in the development of higher education include the following: an increase in the number of models of scientific production and the intensification of the participation of higher education institutions in commercial scientific projects and programs due to a decrease in the level of investment and financing in the field ofhigher education, an increase in the amount of international mobility of applicants and teachers, the emergence and development of new types international partnership. The factors affecting the level of competitiveness of higher education in modern conditions are outlined: demographic, socio-cultural, economic, political and technological. The main challenges and trends in the development of higher education were studied and highlighted, on the basis of which the main directions for increasing the competitiveness of higher education in modern conditions were formulated.