COMPETITIVE POSITIONING OF HIGHER EDUCATION SCHOOLS AND DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION

The processes of technological development and digitization of the economy find their projection on universities. As a producer of knowledge, they are expected to respond strategically to the challenges of scientific and technical progress to absorb the existing digital potential, at least in two aspects: in relation to the formation of the quality of human capital, according to the needs of the labor market and in terms of the quality of research activity and the transfer of knowledge - to increase innovation activity and the development of the national economy. In this regard, the research thesis is that in conditions of the knowledge economy and Industry 4.0, the main factors for the competitiveness of HEIs and for their competitive positioning are derived from the cooperation between science, education and business and their strategic transformation from classical to research universities, with an equal focus on their educational and research activities.