Integration of Professional-Practical Aspects and Value-Semantic Aspects of the Educational Ideal of Homo Innovaticus While Training Innovative Engineers

Abstract

Commitment to innovative economy sets a task for higher engineering education to find ways of training the so-called ‘innovative engineers’ possessing a high innovative potential. This implies that the modern educational ideal for higher engineering education should be homo innovaticus (innovative person). Following the idea of a humanitarian understanding of the ‘innovative development of society’, the author proves that innovation should be understood not only in the professional and practical but also in the spiritual (cultural) sense. Innovative development of society in the conventional sense is an imperative that ensures the physical survival of mankind, while to ensure ‘the spiritual survival of mankind’, it is equally important to build a society capable of opposing spiritual impoverishment of people, destruction of their values and moral standards. In their professional activities, innovative engineers must be able to maintain a balance between the values that ensure technological progress and those that ensure preservation of universal and native cultures. For this purpose, in the process of engineering education, it is necessary to develop the university graduates’ ability to comprehend humanity and sociality, bridging the gap between humanitarian and technical culture and eliminating traditional dehumanization of engineering and technical education. The paper proves that professional and practical aspects of homo innovaticus as an educational ideal should be integrated with its value-semantic aspects. The author proposes ways of introducing value-semantic components into the contents of training innovative engineers at technical universities.