Professional education in the conditions of industry 4.0: global challenges of modernity, contradictions, perspectives of improvement

The authors analyzed the dialectical contradictions in the development of the institution of education in Russia, which impede the sustainable growth of the national economy, the development of society and the strengthening of Russia’s competitiveness in the international arena. In their study the authors rely on the conceptual and categorical apparatus, global patterns of social development and other basic provisions of the theory of Risk Society by U. Beck and his followers. The writing of the article was greatly influenced by the provisions of the theory of the Creative class by R. Florida and others. The methodological basis of the study was the developments, concepts and hypotheses presented in the publications of domestic scientists, reflecting the practice of functioning of Russian educational institutions. The development and justification of practical recommendations were carried out on the basis of the implementation of general scientific approaches; within the framework of a systematic approach, when writing the article, methods of comparative and logical analysis were used. Based on the results of the analysis it was proposed to applya marketing approach for the timely identification of the needs and requirements of all participants regarding the formation of demanded specialists on the labor market; perspectives of improving the educational process for the development of cross-professional students’ skills, subsequently contributing to the formation of transprofessionals, have been identified.