The subject area of the article is divided into three components: first, the function of a university as a generator of knowledge; secondly, the quality of education offered by a university in general and quality indicators in particular; third, the efficiency and effectiveness of educational activities in universities. The purpose of the article is to clarify the substantive features of the subject area. A complementary set of methods, including comprehensive comparative analysis, analogies and extrapolations were selected as the optimal methodological tools for understanding the subject area and achieving the goal of the study. The obtained results and a number of factors that determine the efficiency and effectiveness of educational activities in universities can be used in the organization and management of such activities in universities. The key conclusion is to use the results of the study, including the outlined subject area of complex and systemic nature, which corresponds to the problems and challenges of educational activities in modern universities. Key words: q uality level of education activities, idea, content of universities' mission statements, effective teaching, criteria and indicators of efficiency, efficiency of educational activity as a component in delivering the highest quality higher education.