The article considers ways of development and integration of the Ukrainian classic university into the world educational space from the perspective of current challenges. It also reveals the impact of the wide range of knowledge fields offered by classic universities, educational programs, in particular interdisciplinary ones, their personnel and methodical support, the combination of scientific research and the educational process on the quality of personnel training to meet the needs of the domestic and international labour market. Our own vision of promising directions for the development of university education programs through the introduction of a dual form of obtaining higher education is proposed: the involvement of employers in the educational process (training of personnel for their own needs) at all stages of the formation and implementation of educational programs. Taking into account globalization processes, the advantages of classic universities in promoting the mobility of participants of the educational process, including the European market of providing educational services, are highlighted.