I. Arzhanova, the Executive Director of National Training Foundation, E-mail: info@ntf.ru

Modern development processes are changing routine practices of traditional social institutions and force them to work out new mechanisms and development models for successful operation and adaptation to fast-changing conditions. It is true for the Russian Higher Education system which goes through notable structural and conceptual transformation. New foundations for HEIs’ differentiation and further stratification have appeared. Simultaneously HEI, especially universities, strengthen their positions in the system of social and political relationships at national and international levels. In particular, the leading Russian universities contribute to the development of the country and individual regions. Irina Arzhanova, the Executive Director of NTF, discusses aims, new conditions of operation, ways of interaction and perspectives for the Russian system of Higher Education.