FORMATION OF PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCIES IN AGRO-ENGINEERING AREAS OF TRAINING IN NATIONAL RESEARCH UNIVERSITY

Introduction. Improving the quality of training of engineering personnel is one of the strategic factors of education in higher education. At the same time, a set of educational technologies aimed at acquiring a block of professional competencies during the training period is of particular importance for engineering training. The purpose of this work is to analyze the factors affecting the level of formation of professional competencies in the agro-engineering areas of training and suggest ways to improve the quality of mastering professional competencies, taking into account subsequent innovative engineering activities in production. Metodology and research methods. The level of formation of professional competencies of future engineers was determined on the basis of a set of qualitative indicators of training and the use of innovative educational technologies. Modern approaches and methods of forming a block of professional competencies in engineering training in the conditions of the created modern material and technical base under the development program of the National Research University are proposed. Results and scientific novelty. The creation and active use of modern educational technologies, specialized laboratories, an educational and research and production center, student design bureaus and small innovative enterprises within the framework of a national research university development program made it possible to improve the quality of the formation of professional competencies in the agro-engineering areas of training. The number of students participating in research, the number of publications in peer-reviewed journals, participation in national and international conferences in various regions of the Russian Federation, the number of scholarship holders of the President and Government of the Russian Federation and winners and prize-winners of all-Russian contests and olympiads increased by 8–10 times. Practical significance. The studies have shown high efficiency in the development of learners' professional competencies as a result of the application of modern teaching methods, the wide involvement of future engineers in research work, the creation and equipping of teaching and research and production units at the university with modern equipment.