The global problems in higher education are common truth in an age without precedent in the past an age of unique economy of knowledge. Significant attention is given to the global picture, the "broad" picture of higher education in the "economy-market" meta-system with its four autonomous and interdependent subsystems: 1) University; 2) Organizations; 3) "Think tanks"; 4) State institutions. Non-governmental Organizations. Non-profit Organizations. While summarizing the ideas and recommendations of the most influential living thinkers, also known as the pleiad of The Thinkers 50, formed in the period 2001-2013, the authors of this study provide an overall concept, principles and approaches for gradual transformation of higher education as an adequate strategy and tools of the economy of knowledge. They also share their completed projects at the University of Ruse, Bulgaria, both as an argument of approbation and a call to other universities for exchange of experience and effective cooperation of mutual interest and benefit.