CURRENT STATE OF EDUCATIONAL AND METHODOLOGICAL SUPPORT FOR THE TRAINING OF SKILLED WORKERS IN THE ENERGY SECTOR FOR ENTREPRENEURIAL ACTIVITIES

Abstract

Relevance is driven by several factors reflecting the contemporary challenges of Ukraine’s education system and the energy sector's operation. The urgent need for a comprehensive analysis of existing educational programs, instructional materials, and pedagogical approaches in terms of their compliance with modern requirements has become critical, especially in the context of the rapid development of renewable energy. Additionally, there is an increased need to assess the readiness of the developed educational and methodological framework to foster not only technical skills in students but also entrepreneurial thinking tailored to industry-specific needs. Identifying the strengths and weaknesses in the system for training skilled workers and determining directions for its improvement and modernization are also essential in alignment with current requirements for the installation and maintenance of renewable energy systems.

Objective: To present the findings of an analysis of the current state of educational and methodological support for preparing skilled workers in the energy sector for entrepreneurial activities, identifying the strengths and weaknesses of existing methodologies for organizing the educational process in institutions of vocational (technical) education.

Methods: A theoretical analysis of official, scientific sources, and internet resources was conducted to ascertain the research problem's state of investigation, create its theoretical basis, and identify key concepts and approaches to educational and methodological support for preparing skilled workers in the energy sector for entrepreneurship. Praximetric methods were applied to study and analyze progressive pedagogical experience in developing educational and methodological support, curricular plans of institutions of vocational (technical) education involved in training specialists in renewable energy, as well as educational programs, textbooks, and instructional materials. A comparative method was used to examine various approaches to planning the educational process for preparing future skilled workers for entrepreneurship and its methodological support. Modeling was used to develop a conceptual model of educational and methodological support, providing a holistic view of the structure and components of an effective educational and methodological complex. Generalization and forecasting were employed to identify successful practices in developing educational and methodological support for training skilled workers for entrepreneurship, recognize existing challenges, and propose possible solutions.

Results: Based on the theoretical analysis of the source base, the current research status of educational and methodological support for the educational process was assessed. An analysis of various approaches to planning the educational process revealed advanced pedagogical experiences in developing educational programs, textbooks, and instructional materials for future skilled workers, while also identifying several significant shortcomings that require comprehensive resolution. By comparing different approaches to preparing future skilled workers for entrepreneurial activities, the primary components for enhancing the effectiveness of educational and methodological support were modeled, and key strategies were developed to address challenges in its development.

Conclusions: The content of Ukraine’s regulatory and legal framework, along with the scientific foundation for educational and methodological support for entrepreneurial skill development, especially for future renewable energy specialists, includes legislative acts, scientific publications, and contemporary internet resources. There is a necessity to develop educational resources that not only foster general entrepreneurial skills but also account for the unique aspects and challenges of specific professional fields. This would allow students to gain a more comprehensive and practical understanding of entrepreneurship within the context of their future specialization, enhancing their preparedness for real labor market conditions and potential entrepreneurial activities in their chosen fields. The analysis of educational and methodological support for forming entrepreneurial competence in future energy sector specialists identified several significant shortcomings: a gap between theoretical concepts of entrepreneurship and their practical application in renewable energy, insufficient integration of modern digital technologies and simulation models, a lack of emphasis on developing "soft skills," limited implementation of an interdisciplinary approach, and the absence of integrated business incubators and accelerators focused on the energy sector’s specifics. Fundamental research in pedagogy and renewable energy should serve as the foundation for creating innovative teaching methods aimed at developing entrepreneurial competence in future renewable energy specialists.