Introduction. The article is devoted to studying the field of higher education in the pandemic and post-pandemic period. The research subject is the consequences of the pandemic and the specifics of reforming the Russian higher education, which has been significantly transformed in the last years. The reasons for a possible collapse in higher education are considered. New technologies and teaching methods are being explored and introduced in the changed framework. The work analyzes new methods and models of education. The issue is fundamental, as currently, the educational services market is becoming a system-forming factor. It creates an environment for developing human capital and nurturing talent in an innovative economy. The common patterns of relationships between the state and educational institutions must be reformed to create such environment and ensure the competitiveness of the educational services market. The purpose of this article is to identify strengths and weaknesses, and new opportunities for the educational process in the field of higher education.
Results. In the course of the research, the following results were obtained. 1. The main trends in the global educational market are identified, such as growing inequality of opportunity, narrowing internationalization, and new communication environments. 2. The specifics of the country are studied. Data are obtained on the opportunities and prospects of this market in different countries and the development dynamics. 3. The digital divide is revealed in different regions and educational institutions. 4. New methods of planning and organizing the educational process are proposed. The result of the research is the substantiation of the need to move to a new model for constructing the educational process, which involves the change in methodology and teaching methods (using heuristic, problem-based, interactive learning techniques), as well as serious organizational changes. At the same time, despite all the negative characteristics, the crisis is obvious to have become an incentive for the introduction of innovations in the education process. This concerns ensuring continuity and the use of new educational methods. With each step, the level of mastery of new technologies increases. Discussion. 1. In the process of analyzing the higher education market, particularly during the pandemic, the need has become obvious to find solution to the growing problem of inequality in the level and quality of knowledge. 2. Different levels and different financial state of universities lead to increased barriers to accessing latest technologies. 3. In the changed conditions, it is necessary to adjust the education system methodology and clarify the system of competencies. The main research results are presented in the form of conclusions and recommendations. Scientific novelty: general statistics of the pandemic impact on the global higher education market are provided. The damage caused by the pandemic to the education market are identified, and recommendations are proposed to the damage minimizing and further development. The main trends and prospects of the higher education market in the post-pandemic period are analyzed, such as narrowing of the higher education process internationalization and strengthening of the role of education in the human capital development.