Influence of innovative environment on development of professional competence of academic staff

Educational systems operate within innovative environments, including those extending beyond the education sector. In external environments, a social demand for the education sector is formed, driven by the relatively rapid development of various innovations in different fields. There are multiple connections between the innovative environment, from which requests for graduates and demands for interdisciplinary project implementations arise, and the education sector. Preparing personnel to fulfill these demands is a function of the administration and academic staff of higher education institutions (HEIs). The innovative environment creates favorable conditions and becomes a factor in developing various aspects of education, particularly the professional competence of academic staff. There is an objective need for the academic staff who can organize education in such a way that graduates will be competent enough to meet the stated social demands. At the same time, the members of academic staff are direct participants in the development of innovative environments, engaging in project development and the fundamental basis of technological advancement. The article aims to identify the regular connections between the innovative environment and the development of professional competence of the academic staff in higher education institutions. The article characterizes the innovative environment significant for the development of professional competence of academic staff and identifies the features of the innovative environment. The relationships are substantiated, and the factors influencing the development of professional competence of academic staff in the contemporary period are defined. The patterns of developing professional competence of academic staff in the innovative environment are formulated.