Competition in the russian education: theory and contradictory reality

This research article is devoted to little explored aspect of modern Russian education competitive environment. This includes different aspects of university activities related to supporting real competitiveness. Problem analysis is based on addressing theoretical foundations of actor competition research, including structure of modern competitive groups in higher education sphere, peculiarities of role and functional strategies of higher education institutions belonging to different groups. National and regional levels of competitive environment in higher education are analyzed. Comparative analysis methods and case studies are applied. Research proves the need for theoretical review of Russian higher education development in the context of competition theory and practice, consideration of competitive factor in developing regional and national educational policy and emphasizes the key criterion of university competitiveness: quality of education results. The article demonstrates impossibility of evaluating university competitiveness level according to resource and processual approaches. Further research into Russian universities’ competitiveness should be conducted in the context of educational competitive environment evolution not limiting it to quantitative indicators of university development. The article contains description of competitive groups’ structure existing in Russian higher education. It is useful for university executives and educational administrators as well as researchers in the field of organizational environment of modern higher education development.