This study analyzes various publications of scientists on the training of future IT specialists and the features of training programming using online simulators. The authors of the article made a comparative description of different online platforms for teaching programming according to certain criteria, selected interesting tasks from the online platform hackerrank.com, which have already been used to teach students. Online programming simulators have significant potential in organizing an effective distance learning system in Ukrainian universities. It is important to use online simulators in the learning process as an additional tool for the formation of professional competencies, which provides more intensive involvement of students in the process of writing code and practical (situational) application of existing knowledge. Gamification of the process of training future IT specialists helps to increase cognitive activity, and hence – the quality of the educational process and distance learning in particular. The authors recommend the use of online programming simulators as an additional tool for teaching computer science disciplines, taking into account their functionality, as well as the level of preparation of students and the expected learning outcomes.

The article contains research on use of open and specialized geoinformation systems to prepare students and postgraduates on specialties: 101 “Environmental Sciences”, 103 “Earth Sciences”, 122 “Computer Sciences”, 183 “Environmental Technologies”. Analysis of the most common world open geoinformation systems is done. Experience of geoinformation systems use for students and postgraduates teaching for different specialties is described. Predominant orientation towards the use of geoinformation systems in educational process is determined based on the analysis of scientific publications and curricula of the most popular Ukrainian universities. According to the authors the material that is given narrows knowledge and skills of students and postgraduates, particularly in computer modeling. It is concluded that ability of students and postgraduates to use geoinformation systems is interdisciplinary. In particular, it develops knowledge and skills in computer modeling of various processes that may arise in the further professional activity. Examples of professional issues and ways to solve them using geoinformation systems are given. Recommendations are given on the use of open and specialized geoinformation systems in the educational process. It is recommended to use both proprietary (ArcGis, MapInfo) and open GIS (uDIG, QGIS, Whitebox GAT) to teach students. Open GIS (uDIG, QGIS, Whitebox GAT) and specialized (Modular GIS Environment, GEO + CAD, GeoniCS, AISEEM) can be used to teach both students and postgraduates.

Training and professional development of nuclear power plant personnel are essential components of the atomic energy industry’s successful performance. The rapid growth of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technologies allowed to expand their scope and caused the need for various studies and experiments in terms of their application and effectiveness. Therefore, this publication studies the peculiarities of the application of VR and AR technologies for the training and professional development of personnel of nuclear power plants. The research and experiments on various aspects of VR and AR applications for specialists’ training in multiple fields have recently started. The analysis of international experience regarding the technologies application has shown that powerful companies and large companies have long used VR and AR in the industries they function. The paper analyzes the examples and trends of the application of VR technologies for nuclear power plants. It is determined that VR and AR’s economic efficiency for atomic power plants is achieved by eliminating design errors before starting the construction phase; reducing the cost and time expenditures for staff travel and staff training; increasing industrial safety, and increasing management efficiency. VR and AR technologies for nuclear power plants are successfully used in the following areas: modeling various atomic energy processes; construction of nuclear power plants; staff training and development; operation, repair, and maintenance of nuclear power plant equipment; presentation of activities and equipment. Peculiarities of application of VR and AR technologies for training of future specialists and advanced training of nuclear power plant personnel are analyzed. Staff training and professional development using VR and AR technologies take place in close to real-world conditions that are safe for participants and equipment. Applying VR and AR at nuclear power plants can increase efficiency: to work out the order of actions in the emergency mode; to optimize the temporary cost of urgent repairs; to test of dismantling/installation of elements of the equipment; to identify weaknesses in the work of individual pieces of equipment and the working complex as a whole. The trends in the application of VR and AR technologies for the popularization of professions in nuclear energy among children and youth are outlined. Due to VR and AR technologies, the issues of “nuclear energy safety” have gained new importance both for the personnel of nuclear power plants and for the training of future specialists in the energy sector. Using VR and AR to acquaint children and young people with atomic energy in a playful way, it becomes possible to inform about the peculiarities of the nuclear industry’s functioning and increase industry professions’ prestige.

Today there is a significant demand for improving the quality of the educational process in higher education institutions, in particular, through the improvement of principles and methods of teaching various sciences by enhancing the practical skills of students and graduate students. The implementation of this task is particularly difficult in the context of distance learning (for full-time and part-time) and blended learning. This study corresponds to the current direction, as it concerns the study of the possibilities and feasibility of using additional tools for teaching disciplines within NoSQL. Paper’s focus is on the justification of the use as an additional tool of a number of massive open online courses (MOOC) distance learning platforms, a comparative analysis of a number of platforms for their compliance with the established criteria. Examples of using MOOC MongoDB University within the discipline “Organization of NoSQL databases” are given. To confirm the facts of the expediency of using MOOC as an additional tool in blended learning and distance learning mode, the data of the survey of students are presented.

Ecological and economic indicators are a kind of indicator of the economic state of the regions, the ongoing processes, trends in the regional economy, the quality of life of population and characterize the sustainable development of the regions. These indicators should take into account the regional power structures that make management decisions for regional development. Often, these indicators are formed in isolation from each other, and the analysis of statistical reports does not allow the data to be formed up-to-date. The study identifies the reasons associated with the problems of sustainable development of the region’s economy, and notes the connection of these problems with the quality of life of the population. It is noted that ensuring a high level of economic development in the regions is often at the expense of the state and quality of the environment. It is noted that Russia is following the path of international trends in the development of the regional economy – compliance with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This is due to the support of the global strategy of economic development within the framework of the “green economy”. The article examines the components of the environmental quality indicators of the Russian regions, and also establishes a correlation between them and the criteria for evaluating the effectiveness of the work of the heads of regions and regional executive authorities, which ultimately reflects the level of development of the region as a whole. In the work, using the National Environmental Rating for 2020 of the subjects of the Russian Federation, leaders and outsiders among the regions of the Russian Federation are identified by the level of their environmental condition. According to the results of the ecological and economic assessment, the authors ranked the complex indicator of the state of environmental indicators in the regions, which include a list of six indicators: the level of emissions of harmful substances, the discharge of polluted wastewater, production and consumption waste, water consumption, energy consumption, and environmental protection costs. The researchers analyzed the positions of the Voronezh Region in terms of the quality of life in the region and finding a position in the environmental rating of the subjects of the Russian Federation. The authors propose a grouping of regions by the value of a complex indicator, study the indicators of the ecological state of the regions, and correlate between sustainable development and the quality of life of the population of the regions