Olga А. Shteinbreher

The relevance of the research is due to the increased attention of the government to the development of information technology, as well as the growing demand of the labor market for competent IT specialists. A modern IT specialist should have not only professional skills, but also be able to work in a team, meet deadlines, adapt to the changing requirements of the project, present the results of the work and interact with other members of the development team. The training of such a specialist, in addition to traditional teaching methods, requires the use of active and interactive methods, including the method of project-based learning. The aim of the article is to develop and test the technology of project-based learning, used to build up the professional competences of IT specialists. To do this, an analysis of the international and domestic experience in the implementation of project–based learning was made at the initial stage. It showed that universities have two strategies for its application: an integrated approach with interdisciplinary projects throughout the entire period of study and an individual approach within individual disciplines. Training of IT specialists was implemented on the basis of the Kuzbass Humanitarian and Pedagogical Institute of the Kemerovo State University, the methodological basis of which was competency–based and activity-based approaches. Teams of developers were formed of 2-nd – 4-th year students, who work in realistic conditions (competency-based approach), and who were given tasks to develop a specific software product (activity-based approach). As a result of applying this approach, 68 projects were implemented during period 2022-2025, in which 450 students participated. During the self-reflection, 89% of all project participants noted the acquisition of new skills, including skills in working with new technologies and teamwork experience, planning their time to meet deadlines for developing and presenting the results of their work. The theoretical significance of the research lies in substantiating the conditions for the implementation of project-based training for modern IT specialists based on the "Training Company" technology and taking into account the specifics of their training. The practical significance lies in the proposed recommendations on the organization of project-based training for IT students, tested on 450 students: the way of teambuilding, the distribution of roles, and the algorithm for evaluating projects. The results of the study are applicable to other universities that provide training for IT specialists.