The relevance of the research into the development of a strategic model for the formation of professional competencies of university students is due to the everincreasing demands of the society and employers for graduates of universities. The consequence of high rates of introduction of informatization and robotization in all spheres of professional activity, on the one hand, and the sluggishness and conservatism of the higher education system, on the other hand, has been an increase in the "gap" between the level and the quality of professional competencies among graduates of institutions and those requirements which employers demand from them. It is quite obvious that the activity to correct this situation should be strategically oriented and based on the application of modeling, which was done by the authors of the article. The leading scientific method applicable within the framework of this study was the method of comparative analysis of the best practices of different countries on the formation of professional competencies among university students. In addition, the methods of sociological research on the theoretical and practical issues of planning and modeling the process of forming professional competencies of university students were used. The result of the research was a generalization of scientific and theoretical approaches to the definition of promising areas of activity for the strategic management of the formation of professional competencies of university students. In addition, the interrelationship of the main components, products of the professional activity of the graduate of the university and its professional competences has been determined, and the main elements of the strategic model for forming the professional competencies of university students are described. The scientific and practical significance of the research results is that with the help of this model the university can develop a strategic model for the formation of professional competencies of university students, adapted taking into account the specifics of certain areas of student education.