The Future of Education

The present article addresses the issue of arising need for Russian universities to enter high positions in the world rankings such as Times, QS World University Ranking. The phenomenon of ranking can be classified as an academic revolution which is under way in the educational environment all over the world. We have to admit that nowadays the mission of rankings implies something more rather than just defining the activity level of universities, they are becoming the pattern of globalization and marketization of the higher education systems and the instrument in “the fight for quality”. The author runs the analysis of the ranking system criteria, focusing on QS, and describes the reasons preventing Russian universities from being at the first lines of the ranking table. Some initiatives undertaken by universities in the framework of the government program “TOP-100”are given by the author as an example. This program is urged to create eligible conditions to bridge the gaps between ambitions and existing resources and real capabilities. In a stepwise manner the author describes every criterion of QS Ranking while making an attempt to forecast the feasibility of these criteria and assessment of the current situation in the Russian universities. The findings of the analysis are the author’s proposals as to revision of the national higher education methodology. In conclusion the author supports the idea that modernization of higher education in Russia should take into account the requirements of the ranking systems and perceive them as challenges to improve the system as a whole.