Quality Assurance as Internal Mechanism of Increasing the Competitiveness of the Higher Education Institution in the Context of International Integration

Background/Objectives: The objective of this study is to demonstrate that international independent assessment of education quality supports the internal mechanism of improving the competitiveness of educational institutions in the Baikal Region. Methods: Theoretical and methodological basis of research is represented by methods of independent expert assessment of education quality (certification, auditing, accreditation, ranking); identifying strategic perspective directions and technologies based on the Foresight methodology (scenario approach, expert panels, technological road mapping of the transition from the current state to the stages of development, bibliometric analysis of the database on the quality of education). Findings: The process of consistent regulation and standardization of higher education in Russia is an important component of international harmonization of educational systems. Ensuring higher education specialist training at the level appropriate for future needs of domestic and international labor market predetermines the ever-increasing interest in the educational process quality not only on the part of the state but also on the part of society as a whole. The development of competition in the education market and increased requirements to the quality of education in the labor market place new demands on educational organization management and determine the need for independent evaluation. The basic approaches to an independent evaluation of the quality of educational programs, which give proof of the graduates’ readiness for independent activity in the professional field, are: assessment of higher educational establishment quality of conformity with international management standards through external audit carried out by independent experts; professional public accreditation of educational programs; expert scenario planning of strategic directions to improve the quality of education at the university. Applications/Improvements: The study will help organize, assess and improve educational processes to meet the new requirements set by competition in the modern labor market.