The article reveals the nature of competition and the phenomenology of competitiveness, which attracts attention and becomes the subject of study of various sciences, namely, social anthropology, pedagogical management, pedagogical psychology and more. Based on the generalization of the views of scientists on the research problem, revealed competitiveness as a multi-vector, polyphonic, integrative socially determined characteristic of personality, the development of which is due to external factors (labor market trends, specific socio-cultural situation, mentality, needs and internal conditions). behavioral strategies, professional competencies and personal potential). The essences of such concepts as «competition», «competitiveness», «competitiveness of the person» are analyzed.

The article attempts to generalize the results of scientific investigations of domestic scientists and the experience of the staff of the MUNICIPAL ESTABLISHMENT «KHARKIV HUMANITARIAN-PEDAGOGICAL ACADEMY» of KHARKIV REGIONAL COUNCIL regarding the monitoring in pedagogical institutions of higher education as a factor of improving the quality of the educational process. The issue of the theory and practice of monitoring research in pedagogical higher educational institutions was considered, in particular: common theoretical regulations characterizing the unity of the authors’ approaches to the consideration of the monitoring phenomenon were established, its essential characteristics were highlighted; the place, role and advantages of monitoring in the higher education system and its direct impact on ensuring the quality of the educational process are defined; the objects of monitoring at the university, faculty and departmental levels are named; aspects of monitoring studies are characterized; the criterion base characterizing the essential aspects of pedagogical education and the corresponding parameters for individual criteria are determined. Based on the results of generalization of experience, an annual cyclogram of educational monitoring in higher educational institutions was formed. The analysis of the array of scientific research results made it possible to determine the prospects for further research on the problem of monitoring in pedagogical higher educational institutions.