Pavel Zhdanov — Candidate of Science in Politics, Specialist of the Department of Analytics and Monitoring of the State Autonomous Sociological Research Center. E-mail: zhdanov@5top100.ru

Irina Trostyanskaya — Candidate of Science in Politics, Head of the Analytical Research Department of the State Autonomous Sociological Research Center. E-mail: trostyanskaya@ sociocenter.info

Andrey Barsukov — Head of the Department of Analytics and Monitoring of the State Autonomous Sociological Research Center. E-mail: barsukov@5top100.ru

Nadezhda Polikhina — Acting Director of the State Autonomous Sociological Research Center. E-mail: polihina@sociocenter.info

Address: 50a/8, Zemlyanoy Val Str., Moscow, 109004, Russian Federation.

The article presents the results of studying the competencies of university leaders, including those that ensure university effectiveness in the global academic marketplace. Rector appointment and selection procedures are analyzed across countries. The study uses pre-collected data on careers of 93 university leaders, of which 52 are in charge of Russia’s leading universities (including 21 Project 5–100 institutions) and 41 govern foreign universities ranked in the top 100 of the QS World University Rankings® 2018. The following parameters are analyzed as constituent parts of university leaders’ rectorship experience: working abroad experience, business work experience as Head of Department or higher, academic work experience including top management positions, scientometric indicators, work experience in public service, age, years of teaching and research experience, years of university leadership experience, years of rectorship at another university. Significant differences have been revealed in the competencies possessed by university leaders in Russia and abroad. The rectors of top foreign universities have a more diverse experience in varied fields necessary to ensure university effectiveness, and they also demonstrate higher career mobility.