On April 5, 2024 the international academic conference «Rankings and accreditation are drivers of quality education» dedicated to the memory of V. Navodnov, NCPA Director, Doctor of Engineering, Professor, was held.

The National Centre for Public Accreditation, Russian New University, and the Guild of Experts in Higher Education hosted the event.

The Conference was dedicated to the discussion of key aspects of higher education quality assurance under modern conditions. It encompassed a wide range of issues: from quality policy and quality evaluation of higher education to new models and advantages of public accreditation. Representatives of governing bodies in education and science, experts in quality evaluation of higher education, experts in higher education presented as speakers. The participants discussed the importance of expanding the boundaries of knowledge and overcoming challenges that HE face today; they also exchanged opinions about the role of rankings as an effective tool of HEIs’ positions in a modern educational environment. New trends in the development of academic rankings that take into account the prospects of big data and AI were identified. The participants discussed the issues of designing standards of new generation that encompass modern challenges in higher education. Approaches to evaluation and ranking of artistic HEIs were considered, however, these approaches have more questions than answers at the moment.

When discussing these important issues, the participants exchanged their experience and ideas for the improvement of the HE quality assurance system.

The conference aroused a keen interest of the academic community, employers and subject-specific institutions: more than 200 people took part in the event.