An academic or manager. To the issue of would-be managers training at higher school

The article examines the major trends in educational content while managers' training and the associated role of an academic. The use of innovative technologies samples based on educational platforms, systems, training games, etc. are provided. All of them are able to diversify the process of obtaining professional knowledge and to mitigate the problems of managers-to-be adaptation to new conditions after graduation. A conclusion is made about the positive and negative aspects of transferring a part of the academic's roles from doing pedagogical activity to the field of managing an educational process. Besides, the article depicts the issue of social innovation that according to the researchers seems to be actively and forthcoming implemented in educational sphere. Some aspects of on-going topic are presented for discussion among pedagogical community.