The American perspective on improving the effectiveness of universities in the first quarter of the 21st century

The book“Our higher calling: rebuilding thepartnership between America anditscolleges anduniversities” by American authors Holden Thorp and Buck Goldstein examines the state and problems facing American higher education in the 21st Century. Researchers believe that despite the generally successful performance of U.S. universities in the world rankings, alarming symptoms caused both byinternal problems of theAmerican university environment and increased competition in the university sphere from other countries. The authors believe that external symptoms include a reduction of foreign students in the US universities in recent years and innovative researches according to abroad universities, and that internal ones include the financial problems ofboth students and universities, which are reducing the percentage of undergraduate graduates and the overall number of colleges and universities. All these problems create additional difficulties in the promotion of innovative education and employment of graduates. The monograph’s authors see a way out of this situation in the fact that the universityshould not be managed as a commercial enterprise, it should be provided with a significant budget support. In the preparation model of humanitarian specialists societal good is primary and preparation for employment after graduation is secondary. Teaching methods should combine the best of the traditional lecture model and new teaching tools (computer technology, Massive Open Online Courses and etc.). The higher education requires not only the necessary and full funding for its development, but also constant attention from the state and public institutions, as well as business structures.