ВЛИЯНИЕ ЦИФРОВИЗАЦИИ НА СИСТЕМУ ПРОФЕССИОНАЛЬНОГО ОБРАЗОВАНИЯ

The effects of the Fourth Industrial revolution and digitalisation have had impact on education, on evolution and development of educational and retraining needs. The objective of the suggested research was to analyse and generalize on-going and future changes in the context of transformation of qualification requirements addressed to graduates of educational programs, particularly regarding their digital skills, as well as digitalisation of the university environment. Different interpretations of terms referred to digitalisation process are suggested. The role of human of capital at a new stage of technology development is highlighted. Based on generalisation of some approaches within international researches the article differentiates key effects of digitalisation regarding prospects for introduction of new learning technology and methods in the sphere of education, followed by expansion of educational environment, accelerated development of VR technology, artificial intelligence, mass open online courses, individualisation of learning. The core approach suggests system adaptation of the university activity in all fields to new conditions, considering the views of international experts about the risk areas and threats that the universities might encounter in the course of digitalisation process. The article describes the program of development of educational, scientific and expert activity of Russian transport universities worked out within the framework of development of digital economy in Russia, arguing that it is focused on prospective advantages of inclusion of digital technology into the academic ecosystem.