University Association as a Factor of Competitiveness in Educational Activities

The purpose of the thesis is to scientifically substantiate the key aspects of the relationship between the association of universities and the competitiveness of their educational activities in order to develop practical recommendations for managing the process of university unification. Theoretical and methodological bases of university competitiveness in the conditions of modernization of professional education, indicators of measurement and factors influencing competitiveness of educational activity of the university are considered. The analysis of the results of the unification of higher education institutions of Russia and foreign countries is carried out, the specificity of the foreign experience of university unification and unification processes as an instrument for the development of higher education in Russia is highlighted. A methodology has been developed and implemented to justify the interconnection of universities and the competitiveness of their educational activities. The key aspects of the interconnection of university associations and the competitiveness of their educational activities are determined, taking into account the positive and negative effects resulting from the unification. Practical recommendations on managing the process of university unification with the purpose of increasing the level of competitiveness of their educational activities are offered. Key words: university unification, university competitiveness, educational activity, tools for assessing the quality of educational activity, factors of increasing the competitiveness of the educational activity of the university.