Global Competitiveness of Universities

Abstract

The chapter examines key factors of universities’ global competitiveness, mainly regarding conducting scientific research, provision of educational services, and accomplishing important social tasks. The author emphasizes the critically important role of a state for development globally competitive universities. The results of the statistical analysis held on the basis of 50 countries revealed close positive interrelation between the level of overall expenses for higher education per student, between national higher education quality and including universities of one or another country into the Shanghai ranking of universities. The optimal parameters of public and private expenses for higher education per student that are effectively associated with the formation of world-class universities are suggested. The author determines key barriers on the way of establishing national world-class universities in Ukraine, including a shortage of higher education institutions’ financial resources and an inefficient university sector’s governing/management model. Finally, appropriate political priorities, strategic goals, and directions of public policy of Ukraine in the field of scientific research and education aimed at creating competitive universities are suggested.