The ways of system thinking development of future engineers
The article examines the issue of updating the contexts ofprofessional training of the technical university students and cadets. The demand of the strategic training program presented in the State Program “National Technological Initiative” is proved. The article reveals the necessity of making changes in the engineering education in general, the introduction of new methods and a number of innovative educational technologies aimed at development ofthe systems engineering thinking in general. The author postulates development of the students ’ systemic engineering thinking as the basis of the best implementation of general scientific and special professional knowledge in the area of professional activity. The main goal of development of engineering thinking is promotion and implementation of technical innovations to achieve effective results, as well as to find solutions to technological and production problems. The article represents the use of a synergetic approach as a methodological basis of the research. Systemic thinking is presented as a characteristic that promotes holistic perception of phenomena and processes. The potential of metacognitive educational technologies, such as technologies of development of critical thinking, technologies of systems analysis, reflexive technologies, for development of engineering thinking is shown. They contribute to development of reflexive mechanisms, the ability to generalize, systematize, convey, and work with systems. The article presents the structure of engineering thinking; it provides the results of students’ systems engineering thinking development. The author offers typical tasks aimed at systemic thinking explication. The stages of systems thinking technology include problem acceptance, idea generation, design development, and project implementation. The author argues that updating educational basis aimed at developing the systemic engineering thinking of students, which is taken as a basis at the educational institutions of the Ministry of Defense, will contribute to achievement of high quality military education adequate to the requirements of the 21<sup>st</sup> century.