Contradiction between the existing management technologies and conditions of ex-ternal environment requires changes in university management at present, primarily in terms of interaction with external environment, which is the community as a whole with its educa-tional needs and demands, and individual clients of educational services represented by en-terprises and organizations. University management under current conditions must ensure flexibility and adaptability to market conditions in the long-term, strategic period. The article examines the factors that influence the efficiency of higher educational in-stitutions management, and suggests directions for improvement of university management system under conditions of external environment turbulence.