The future of universities and the universities of the future (part I)

The article provides an analysis of the current state of the higher education system, examines possible directions of transformation of universities in the era of knowledge societies, in the period of universal globalization and digitalization in response to the challenges of modernity. New models of universities, approaches to the assessment of ongoing changes are presented. The author’s vision of the mission of universities at the present stage is given. The influence of global rankings on the differentiation and transformation of universities is shown.