Drawing the school graduates’ attention to studying engineering and technical disciplines and specialties in higher school

It is noted that the sustainable and dynamic development of the national economy of Russia requires the saturation of the sphere of material production with engineering and technical personnel. However, the expansion of their training is constrained by the preference of the majority of school graduates for their interest in continuing education in areas and specialties of a social and humanitarian profile. It is shown that this poses new challenges in the field of vocational guidance and scientific and technical education among students and among the population. In this context, the experience of the Bryansk State University of Engineering and Technology in organizing competitions among students in schools on scientific and technical topics and holding events of the "Science 0+" festival is presented. The issues of staffing the contingent of engineering and technical areas and specialties, due to a decrease in the level of mathematical education and a contingent contingent of specialized classes, as well as a lag in the development of the material and technical base of schools, are touched upon.