This topic analyzes the global trends that occurred in the world education system during the XX century. Over the course of the century, important processes such as the expansion of compulsory general education, the massification of higher education, the renewal of pedagogical approaches, the introduction of innovative technologies in education, and the strengthening of the principles of humanism and inclusivity were formed. Additionally, the international integration of education, the emergence of global assessment systems, and the development of the concept of lifelong learning are highlighted as the main features of the XX-century education system. These trends serve as a solid foundation for the development of modern education today.