DRIVING FACTORS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF REGIONAL HIGHER EDUCATIONAL SYSTEMS

Abstract Higher education is undergoing a significant transformation in Georgia and around the world. Universities and the state have to solve complex and sometimes multidirectional problems. Analysis of theoretical studies of the types of universities and the factors that determine them allows us to form an idea of possible development drivers, and a multiparameter methodology for assessing the state of higher education will enable us to identify the factors that have the most significant impact on changes in the state of higher education. The study showed that the factors affecting the development of the higher education system depend on the university's development strategy and economic model, as well as state programs containing recommendations for developing the educational environment. The presence of a leading university in the region significantly impacts the development of regional higher education systems, since the creation of such universities was initially aimed at accelerated development. This situation is economically conditioned and explained by the high dependence of universities on the state budget. At the same time, based on the leading university, an academic environment is formed for research, teaching staff, and students. It is the activity of research and teaching staff in research activities, and students in the academic sphere, that positively affect the dynamics of the development of regional systems. The growing gap between the leading universities and other universities leads to monopolization, reduced competition, and, as a consequence, a decrease in the efficiency of activities. There is a need for structural restructuring. The private factors influencing the development of the higher education system include indicators of scientific activity and student performance. The conducted analysis allows us to assert that the recorded trends will intensify and further differentiation of regional higher education systems will be observed with a simultaneous improvement in individual universities’ research and educational characteristics. However, due to the growing disproportions in their development, a separate study is needed on the feasibility of structural restructuring within regional systems.