FUNCTIONS OF MODERN UNIVERSITIES: COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF MISSIONS OF INTERNATIONAL AND NATIONAL INSTITUTIONS

Abstract

The article is devoted to the study of modern university priority functions. The aim of the research is to identify university strategic priorities in the context of implementing socially important functions. The main research method was content - analysis of university missions. Pool included international universities with high positions in Shanghai rating (159 universities), Russian universities, members of classical universities association (47 universities). Content -analysis performed two interrelated tasks. The first was to identify the degree of manifestation of teaching, research, professional, social, cultural and didactic functions of the university in the texts of missions of international and national universities. The second was to single out priority contents in each of the named functions. The research demonstrated that teaching and research functions are declared as priorities in the missions of most universities. Missions of national and international universities reflect traditional topics for universities: social service, orientation towards advanced research, formation of academic environment, teaching students to think, training qualified staff. New topics deal with creation of education services and promoting knowledge on a global scale; conducing global research in the context of international openness and cooperation; universities’ aspiration to conduct economic and entrepreneurial activities; orientation towards sustainable development of the region; training leaders aimed at personal achievements and professional success. Russian universities are characterized by high professional content, orientation towards innovation activities and sustainable development of the region. Results of the research can be used for altering strategic aims.