Author: Yevgeny V. Kalinkin, Dr. Sc. (Ec.), Prof. of Finance & Prices Dprt., Honored Worker of Higher Education of the Russian Federation

Abstract: The paper explores the issues of rational combination of federal and regional policy in the field of professionals’ preparation. There are specified the directions for expanding the social-economic role of higher education institutions in regions. There is grounded the necessity of improving the professionals’ preparation through organizing innovative-educational clusters in regions on the basis of leading specialized universities.

Key words: system of professionals’ preparation in regions; improvement of regions’ independence in human capital formation; integration between higher education institutions and consumers of professionals; vocational-educational clusters; Federal law «On education».