Acquiring transdisciplinary knowledge by engineering students of Russian universities

Introduction. The paper investigates the problem of modernization and development of engineering education within the contemporary context of global challenges. The aim of the research is to identify the particularities of acquiring transdisciplinary knowledge by students pursuing a degree in the field of engineering. Materials and Methods. The researchers took synergetic and systemic approaches to the study and conducted an analysis of university-level engineering education. The experimental substantiation involved processing and analyzing students' examination results using the elements of cluster analysis. Results. The authors have identified the main features of acquiring transdisciplinary knowledge by students pursuing a degree in the field of engineering. It has been revealed that the discipline ‘The Russian language and Standards of Speech' can be considered as an integrating discipline in the curriculum ensuring acquiring transdisciplinary skills by engineering students. Moreover, the study has summarized international experience of applying transdisciplinary approach to training highly qualified specialists. The authors have proved that the discipline ‘The Russian language and standards of speech' is one of the most effective means of promoting figurative thinking, which is significant for developing creative thinking of prospective engineers. Transdisciplinary approach, based on the rational relationship between the known and the unknown, creates sufficient motivation which can arouse and maintain students' interest in the essence of problems in the process of learning and acquiring new knowledge. Conclusions. The authors conclude about the specificity of acquiring transdisciplinary knowledge by university students pursuing a degree in the field of engineering.