GLOBAL TRENDS IN HIGHER EDUCATION

The sphere of education is undergoing today a stage of serious transformation due to the internal features of the existing system, and moreover, due to external factors, the number and significance of which cannot be left unnoticed. The development of technologies in all spheres of life leads to the transformation of teaching methods and approaches, makes us think about what people engaged in higher education should do in order to ensure high quality educational services, their accessibility, flexibility and relevance. This article is a study of trends affecting the higher education system, especially in Russia. We came to the conclusion that the most significant environmental aspects for the universities are as follows: globalization aspects, digital economy and information technology, knowledge economy, Industry 4.0., mass of higher education, concept of lifelong learning, financing features of the universities, advanced teaching methods and individual development path. We believe that the future competitiveness of universities depends entirely on how successful the current stage will be and whether it will be able to fully meet the challenges of modern world.