Universities' Digital Product Development as a Strategic Success Factor for the Federal Project to Train Personnel for the Digital Economy

Abstract

The relevance of the study stems from several key aspects that highlight the importance of universities developing digital products in the context of providing the national economy with highly qualified personnel with digital competencies. First and foremost, this is the development of the “Digital University” model, which envisions the digital transformation of universities, including the implementation of online services, the use of AR (augmented reality) and VR (virtual reality), virtual simulators, and the creation of individual educational pathways using AI. It is also important to note the updating of educational programs with the introduction of digital components into training and retraining programs, the development of massive online courses, the creation of digital teaching and methodological complexes, simulators and training equipment, and the formation of personal development trajectories. The purpose of the study is to examine the capabilities of a modern university to address a range of strategic challenges in training personnel for the digital economy and to develop recommendations for creating a digital product. The objectives of the study were to identify applicants' preferences when choosing a university and to identify the advantages of universities in terms of ensuring the quality of training expected by students; to substantiate the need and feasibility of creating an original digital product — an online laboratory working with Moscow Exchange PJSC's information resources — that would enable the development of relevant competencies in financial, credit, and investment analytics. Results: Focusing applicants on employers requires strengthening the inclusion of career-related information on the university's website and in its work. These recommendations include: creating and actively promoting a list of partner companies with job openings and internships; introducing mandatory business projects into curricula; annually publishing graduate employment information (including the place of employment); and displaying information on the university website about the percentage of students who received offers before graduation. The university's creation of a unique digital product in the form of an online lab will help attract applicants. This product fosters relevant analytical competencies, which not only improves the quality of education but also makes the training system for the digital economy more flexible, tailored to its needs, and contributes to its development.