DEVELOPMENT OF VOCATIONAL EDUCATION IN THE DIGITAL ERA: CHALLENGES AND PROSPECTS

Abstract

Today, the issue of restoring Ukraine's human potential in the realities of martial law and future post-war reconstruction is gaining particular urgency. In particular, the task of ensuring an uninterrupted supply of highly qualified personnel to the defense-industrial complex and key sectors of national production is critically acute. The object of research is the vocational education system in the context of the digitalization of the economy. The problem being addressed is the mismatch between the content, forms, and methods of vocational training and the modern requirements of the digital labor market, as well as the insufficient integration of digital technologies into the educational process. Based on the results of the study, the directions for the modernization of vocational education on the basis of digital transformation are substantiated, and the key challenges and prospects for its development are identified. The essence of the results obtained lies in the development of conceptual approaches to updating the content of vocational training through the introduction of digital competencies, the use of innovative educational technologies (online platforms, blended learning, adaptive systems), and the formation of a model of interaction between education, business, and the state. The proposed results allowed solving the specified problem due to their comprehensiveness, consistency, and orientation towards the needs of the labor market, which ensures an increase in the quality of vocational training and its adaptability to rapid technological changes. At the same time, they are distinguished by an integrative approach to competence building, a combination of traditional and digital learning formats, and an emphasis on continuous professional development. The results obtained are explained by the influence of global digitalization processes, the growing role of information technologies, and the need to train competitive specialists. The practical application of the results is possible in the context of updating educational standards, increasing the digital competence of teachers, developing the material and technical base of educational institutions, and active cooperation with employers.