Digital Competences as an Integral Part of Training Specialists in the Context of Modern Challenges

The purpose of research. This study aims to identify new approaches to the formation of digital competencies of university graduates in the digital era. The relevance of this study is based on the requirements of the modern labor market for qualified specialists with skills in the digital environment, in multitasking conditions, able to constantly improve their level of qualification and digital literacy, which in turn serves as a guarantee of the development and competitiveness of the socio-economic complex of all regions of the country. This study shows that in the modern period, the educational process in higher education institutions (universities) should be based on the constant interaction of graduating departments with representatives of the practical sphere, considering all innovative developments of the socio-economic complex of individual regions and the country as a whole. In addition, this study confirms the relevance of the fact that in the modern period, digital competencies instilled in university graduates contribute to the implementation of modern tasks of ensuring the technological leadership of the country.
Materials and methods. In the course of conducting the research and presenting its results in the form of this article, a whole range of methods was used, such as studying and analyzing scientific sources, comparison, generalization, classification. Special methods of working with electronic libraries and platforms, web services and Internet sources were also used.
Results. This article proves that digital competencies in the modern period are one of the main components in the training of highly qualified specialists. Digital competencies allow graduates of various fields of education to implement individual development trajectories and immediately after graduation to take high-paying positions at competitive enterprises in various regions of the country. This paper identified a number of factors that determine the need for intensive training in digital competencies. These include high speeds of information transfer, the need to analyze data using statistical, mathematical and systems analysis, multitasking and the ability to work with modern software products and digital devices. In addition, digital competencies of university graduates in the digital era consider the entire range of employers’ requests, which in turn contributes to an increase in the level of competitiveness of industries and sectors of the economy and the successful implementation of strategies for the country’s socio-economic development.
Conclusion. This paper analyzes scientific approaches to the study of digital competencies, considers modern models and frameworks of digital competencies (digital skills), and classifies them. In addition, economic, social, administrative, technological and educational effects of increasing the level of regional development based on the development of digital competencies of university graduates are identified. The author has proven that digital competencies contribute to the fulfillment of strategic tasks for the training of highly qualified personnel and ensuring technological independence and technological leadership of the Russian Federation. 

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