Abstract
Since the early 2000s, the system of governance of higher education institutions in Kazakhstan has un-dergone significant transformation, characterized by decentralization, increased autonomy of higher education institutions, and increased competition. This transformation is consistent with global trends in higher education development, which are influenced by New Public Management (NPM). This study offers a comparative analysis of university governance models in Kazakhstan, Germany, and the United States. The study identifies key differences in the institutional configurations of the selected countries based on NPM parameters. The results of the study contribute to the theoretical discourse on university management, and deepen the understanding of the institutional dynamics of university management and offer conceptual guidelines for the development of reform strategies.