Higher Education as a Factor in the Development of the Knowledge Economy in Russia

World experience shows that advanced countries, such as Japan, South Korea, Singapore and others, have achieved a high level of economic development and well-being of the people on the basis of turning science into a direct productive force. According to experts, the economic growth in these countries was ensured by the total capital by 17%, the development of natural resources by 19%, and the contribution of the human factor almost two times more than these two factors combined, more precisely, by 64%. An important role in the process of preparing highly qualified personnel for the economy is played by the higher education system. In a number of post-Soviet states, including Russia, universities and institutes of the Academy of Sciences play a significant role in shaping the knowledge economy. However, in recent years, due to low quality of graduates of higher education, a situation has arisen in Russia where, with an excess of graduates, the need for the sectors that make up the knowledgebased economy is not satisfied. The authors attempt not only to show the leading role of higher education in the development of the knowledge economy, but also to analyze what problems prevent Russia today from reaching the front lines in the world. Keywords—knowledge economy; higher education; public policy