The purpose of the article: The article clarifies and justifies the mission of a modern regional university, which focuses on the activities of a university on the development of human capital in the region.Materials and methods: Based on the data of scientific literature, strategic documents of the state, materials of regional statistics, surveys of respondents, the strategic direction of the formation of a regional university is justified - orientation of its mission, research and educational activities on the development of human capital. A range of directions for improving the functioning of a regional university has been proposed and justified in order to bring the content of its activities in line with the regional focus and the new mission.Results of the research: Regional universities are presented in the article as high-tech educational organizations of higher education, the vector of strategic development of which should be focused on maximum integration into the economy and social sphere of the regions. Structural components of human capital are proposed - education capital, health capital, labor, cultural and moral capital, intellectual capital, entrepreneurial capital, social capital, cyclically interacting with each other in the process of personal and professional development of a teacher. Applications: This research can be used for universities, teachers, and students. Novelty/Originality: In this research, the model of The mission of the regional university and its focus on the development of human capital in the region is presented in a comprehensive and complete manner.