Macro-regional rating of the institutes of higher education of CIS countries, Georgia, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia in 2012-2013

The Interfax Information Services Group with the assistance of the Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia which is the base institution of the CIS countries in the sphere of the informational support of the education systems of the member-states of the Commonwealth of Independent States (according to the decision of the Council of the heads of governments from Nov. 25, 2005, and Nov. 20, 2009), and with the help of the Intergovernmental fund of the humanitarian cooperation of the CIS member-states begins to collect data for the formation of the macro-regional rating of the institutes of higher education of CIS countries, Georgia, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia in 2012-2013. The macro-regional rating of higher education institutions of CIS countries, Georgia, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia will allow to determine efforts and achievements of each of these countries by the increase of competitiveness of their universities, to make active mechanisms of scientific and educational systems, first of all in such directions, as development of students and academic mobility, elimination of the new and remaining barriers on the way to free exchange of scientific information and knowledge: development and realization of joint educational programs at all levels; development of the market of highly skilled work and market of the academic labor. It is expected that it will give new momentum to the development of academic system of the countries which are taken part in a ranking, ability of flexible and fast response for preparation of highly-qualified national personnel at the global level. Besides, the creation of HEIs ranking of CIS, Georgia, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia will have a positive impact on the implementation of a modern system of quality assurance in higher education based on an independent evaluation of universities and educational programs.