Contemporary higher education: tendencies and problems

Abstract

The article addresses the following research problem: what characteristics should higher education acquire to become a catalyst of social innovations, especially in the countries in transition? The article analyses the opportunities for contemporary higher education to become a catalyst in the context of societal transformations. The analysis in first part of the article focuses on the complex state of the countries in transition and the processes which determine specific aims of contemporary higher education and the need for the implementation of social innovations. The second part examines the peculiarities and importance of the activity of innovation catalyst in a society in transition; specific focus is made on attempting to involve every citizen into knowledge production and application of, when a changing social state presents new requirements and interests. The third part discusses the potential of higher education for making a positive innovative impact on the processes of societal transformations in order to provide as many as possible members of the society with intellectual emancipation.[...].