The article provides a review of the regulatory documentation framework for the modernization of education in Russia, due to the joining the Bologna process. The directions refected at the level of the federal law on education, national doctrines and projects, federal target programs, letters of the Ministry of Education, and professional standards are considered. The change of the ‘knowledge' paradigm to the ‘competence' one is accompanied by the increasing use of digital technologies in all aspects of life, including education. Technological progress has led to computerization, and further informatization of education. The ubiquitous spread of the Internet, directed by the Federal target program «Electronic Russia» (2002-2010) and the National project «Education», should have expanded the boundaries through the implementation of e-learning and distance learning technologies, promote democratization and accessibility of education, make the educational space more open. However, the monitoring has revealed problems with the overall strategy of e-education, the availability of the learning environment, and the availability of educational and methodological support. One of the possible ways to solve the problem is to appeal to open education and the implementation of massive open online courses, which are now designed by the leading Russian universities. A change of requirements for the participants of the educational process, an increase in students' autonomy, a tendency of forming an individual learning path, the use of project and group techniques based on digital technologies are seen. These measures should contribute to the competitiveness of the Russian higher education in the world.