Abstract
The article analyzes factors that have influenced the transformation processes in the higher education system and created a new context for the management activity in this sphere, also considers the formation of competitive environment issues of higher educational institutions in Kazakh educational market.Authors pay special attention to the ongoing development strategies of universities.Two levels of managerial approaches and decisions making process in the higher education field are indicated: the level of the national higher education system (macro level) and the level of the university (micro level).Approved, that competition as a consequence of the commercialization of higher education institutions has become an important institutional state in the system of higher education in Kazakhstan.