Current Trends in Using Information and Communication Technologies at Universities

In this paper the authors have examined some current trends in using information and communication technologies at universities. They have justified the need to improve existing approaches to university management software products. University management is featured by intensive use of rapidly-growing information and communication technologies, especially, in conditions of economy digitalization. Introduction of the software products tested on management models of business structures is considered as the priority area for information and communication technologies at universities. The paper gives a detailed analysis of the software products introduced to university management system. The authors point out some priority tasks for implementation of the software products. Special attention is drawn to classification of software management products according to the level of the tasks. Three levels of task solution are singled out. These levels are: solving typical tasks, automation of more complex management decisions and partial solution of business process control automation. The possibility of introducing configurations of the management software product which is known as "1C: Management by Objectives and KPIs" is considered. It aims at keeping control over research and scientific work, contract-based research and the work of research laboratories at universities. Some trends of establishing a new university corporate culture based on the principles of combining commercial (quantitative) and humanitarian approaches to assess the efficiency of university management systems are substantiated. It is emphasized that quantitative approaches are based on the balanced system of indicators and the system of key performance indicators to assess efficiency of individual projects implementation. The system of quality indicators covers the level of university's performance regarding training and professional development of the staff that meet requirements of the professional standards and are aware of their social mission.