Social mapping used to study international academic mobility

The paper deals with the use of social mapping while studying the current issues of university competitiveness and the specific nature of students’ international academic mobility. The research analyzes education services exports and imports on both international and Russian markets and provides the statistical data of the UNESCO Institute for Statistics and Center for Sociological Research of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation over the past 5 years. The study presents the social maps with quantitative indicators of the social process under review. The author concludes that inbound and outbound international academic mobility is unevenly implemented in Russian universities. Its causes, effects, and constraining factors are revealed. In conclusion, it is recommended to improve university competitiveness through the expansion and intensification of international academic mobility.