Abstract: CIS countries typically demonstrate a rather low level of R&D/GDP intensity and low share of expenditures for science, low development of hightech economic sector and negative saldo of the trade balance in relation to innovative products. At the same time, problems of transnational integration in the sphere of innovation within the Union State started to attract interest of researchers at the turn of the 2011 - 2012. One of research aspects is the need to develop efficient instruments that would ensure efficient transnational integration of Russia and Belarus in the innovation sphere. The object of the present research is the integration of Russia and Belarus within the Union State. The subject of the research is the combination of institutions that provide for the integration of the Union States in the innovation sphere. The authors of the article pay special attention to institutional issues and integration prospects of the Union State members in the innovation sphere including the need to develop a single strategy that would guarantee productivity and efficiency of all institutions under research. The methodological basis of the research involves analysis of fundamental researches and modern theoretical researches in the sphere of institution development, innovation activity and transnational integration including that within the Union State. Based on the analysis carried out, the authors have defined the key problems and development prospects for Russia's and Belarus' institutions that ensure the development of integration processes in the innovation sphere. In conclusion, the authors agree with experts and researchers, both Russian and Belorussian, and come to the conclusion that despite numerous institutional and political issues, the authorities, business entities and social communities of the Union State members understand the need to activate the innovation cooperation. In 2012 during the Union State Programs Forum held in Minsk it was underlined that innovation activity is the guarantee of stability both of an individual entity and state in general, that being true for the Union State, too. Thus, it is important to develop transnational information research data base of fundamental and applied problems that would ensure active information exchange between specialists from different countries and strengthen legal basis in the sphere of protection of rights to intellectual activity products as well as to activate process of creating and developing regional and national innovation networks. Implementation of the above described transformations will require to create new institutions as well as to develop institutions that already exist in the innovation sphere which makes the rationale of the present research.  

Abstract: The subject of this research is the indexes of monitoring of the quality of educational activity in the Russian universities. The object is the sphere of education in Russia. The article reveals interconnection between the status of the system of monitoring in educational sphere and quality of university education. The authors define the forms and methods of contribution to the education process in light of establishment of pool of the education facilities that will represent Russia in international level. List of parameters that ensure increase in the quality of attestation of the universities alongside the monitoring of their efficiency is being determined. Methodological basis of the research consists in the analysis of indexes of educational activity efficiency, as well as results of monitoring of the Russian universities, which became the foundation for formulations of the author’s suggestions and recommendations. Special interest represents the authors’ recommendations on amending the Federal Law No. 273-FZ “On Education in the Russian Federation” of December 29, 2012 that could allow grading the educational facilities and expand the perception about the efficiency of their activity. The scientific novelty substantiates that the proposed methodological approach may gradually transform the system of monitoring and attestation procedures by significantly increasing their efficiency. Implementation of the proposed by the authors indexes and similarity of the selected methodological approach with the world standards must contribute into the quality integration of universities into the international educational space.