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Interdisciplinary Studies

METHODOLOGY FOR DESIGNING TECHNOLOGIES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF STUDENTS’ PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCIES IN THE PROCESS OF INFORMAL EDUCATION

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Abstract

This article examines the methodology for designing educational technologies aimed at developing students’ professional competencies in the process of informal education. In contemporary pedagogical practice, informal education is increasingly recognized as an important environment for strengthening practical skills, professional motivation, independent learning, creativity, and social adaptability. The study emphasizes that professional competencies cannot be formed only through traditional classroom instruction, because students also acquire significant knowledge, experience, and behavioral models through extracurricular activities, professional communication, digital platforms, project work, volunteer initiatives, workshops, mentoring, and self-directed learning. The article analyzes the pedagogical conditions, methodological principles, and technological stages necessary for organizing informal education as a competency-oriented process. Special attention is paid to the design of flexible learning technologies that integrate theoretical knowledge with real professional situations, encourage reflection, and support the individual educational trajectory of each student. The research highlights the importance of diagnostic, motivational, organizational, practical, and evaluative components in designing such technologies. It is argued that the effectiveness of informal education depends on the purposeful selection of methods, active student participation, collaboration with social and professional institutions, and continuous monitoring of competency development. The article concludes that informal education, when methodologically structured, can become a powerful mechanism for preparing future specialists who are professionally competent, socially responsible, and capable of lifelong learning.

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References

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