Transformation of higher education in the context of the supporting univesity creation: the social and economic analysis

The article is devoted to define new result of the restructuring of higher education that meets the requirements of the economy and society. It examines the origin and development of the transformation of higher education in modern conditions. The authors, following other researchers, use the term “modernization” and “transforma- tion”, conclude that the modern educational space at present, is changed with the desire to the competitiveness of domestic specialists. The last three years, the Russian higher school lives under the badge of the May (2012) decrees of the President of Russia Vladimir Putin. The Ministry of education and science of the Russian Federa- tion, consistently pursuing a line on increasing the effectiveness of Russian universities, developed a set of mea- sures and started their practical implementation. The article discusses a new project of the Ministry of education and science of the Russian Federation about the creation of supporting regional universities. Special attention is paid to the synergetic effect, which is created by optimization of the network of educational institutions of higher education. According to the authors, it is determined by the achievement of the targets. One of them is the social effect, which manifests itself in achieving target values of indicators for the success and competitiveness of Uni- versity in the field of education; the impact of research and technological works; capacity building; international and national recognition. Also there is an economic effect, which manifests itself in achieving target values of entrepreneurial activity. The authors examine the methods and prospects for joint development of universities, their influence on the economy and society.