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[References: p. 614 (9 tit.)]

The paper analyzes the available approaches to the evaluation of international competitiveness of higher education institutions based on contemporary world rankings. We discuss university performance indices and outcome indicators such as ARWU (Academic Ranking of World Universities), THE (Times Higher Education World University Ranking), and QS (QS World University Ranking) as well as a number of alternative techniques. Specific features and limitations of the world university ranking systems are investigated and so are the potential reasons for high positions of the leading national universities. The investigations of the Russian and Western researchers and experts are shown to support the fact that the national higher education institutions demonstrate world-level competences in certain fields of science. The data reported contribute to the development of the competitiveness theory and could be used by the top management of universities in designing and correcting their development strategies.