INNOVATIVE TRENDS IN MODERN HIGHER EDUCATION

Abstract

The article offers a review of innovative concepts in modern higher education along with providing the in-depth analysis and evidence summary of its key trends that are currently relevant and are gaining popularity in most world countries. Thus, the authors attempt to attain the research objective which is to explore the major global trends and innovations in the area of higher education as well as the opportunities for their application in domestic institutions of higher education. The study used general scientific and special research methods: scientific generalization and systematization – to reveal the characteristics of innovative international trends in higher education; comparative analysis – for mapping certain aspects of the national and world-class higher education; system analysis – to identify the factors driving innovation development in higher education; the logical synthesis – to explain the results of the study. The survey of modern global education trends has enabled to shape the following major innovation tendencies, such as: integration of systems thinking entailing the harmonization of assessment and grading systems and diplomas at different education levels to prevent duplication and improve timely accomplishment of training programs; creating the new and enhancing the current financial aid schemes and funding models that promote actual effective performance, etc.; human vs. artificial intelligence competition; building sustainable communities (from both, socio-cultural and economic perspectives); maintaining a combination of traditional and non-traditional learning which is primarily manifested through offering wider flexible opportunities for adults wishing to get tertiary education or undergo further retraining; identification and assessment of competences as well as ensuring training programs compliance with the needs of the contemporary labour market. It is argued that a failure to respond to the above challenges, the outdated higher education standards that are not keeping pace with technological progress, innovations and growing demand for relevant specialists in the labour market make many of the domestic education institutions lag behind. The education system also fails to pay due attention to modern realia of professional domain and applied issues of professional training which triggers devaluation of University degrees and hence leads to the imbalance in the labour market, characterized at present by a significant unemployment rate among persons with higher education.