NEW FORMS OF UNIVERSITY COOPERATION: INTERNATIONAL NETWORK UNIVERSITIES

Abstract

The role of universities in terms of internationalization of education and growing demand for professionals who meet the requirements of the new digital and innovation economy is the key one. Educational institutions of higher education should meet both global development criteria and local goals depending on the needs of specific territories. In this regard, new forms of interaction between higher education institutions at the international level, university networks are emerging and developing. The article presents the results of research and systematization of available information on international university networks. 33 international networks of universities, including 13 associations, 12 networks, 8 consortiums selected according to the certain requirements were accumulated, reviewed and analyzed; those requirements comprise international character, functioning for at least 2 years, existence of cooperation agreements between the network structures, presence of more than 4 structures. To collect information the author used the data from the websites of international networks of universities, annual reports, articles, texts of agreements with partners and other data. The analysis of networks was carried out according to various criteria: the geographical and territorial distribution of network universities and various forms of networking, types of interaction between partner universities and the most popular projects being implemented, the specifics of implementing double diploma programs and network programs between partners. The conclusions about the effectiveness of university networks are presented. The existing problems and prospects of development are defined. Among the issues the author includes the existing system of managing network universities, as well as the willingness to provide resources to partners for the realization of common goals. One of the most important condition for implementing the network interaction is the availability of technological information and communication platform the presence