UAVs as a STEM Tool for Students’ Professional Self-Determination

On May 15, 2026, as part of the Science Days at Berdyansk State Pedagogical University, a university-wide lecture was held. The speaker was Marharyta Pohrebniak, a senior lecturer at the Department of Professional Education and Technologies. The meeting was dedicated to the topical theme: “Unmanned Aerial Vehicles as a STEM Tool for Students’ Professional Self-Determination.” The lecture took place online and aroused considerable interest among students, teachers, and future specialists.

During her speech, the lecturer described in detail the rapid changes in the modern labor market in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. It was emphasized that today in Ukraine there is an urgent need for technical specialists—engineers, designers, and operators of modern equipment. Marharyta Pohrebniak demonstrated that drones have long gone beyond the media sphere and entertainment content. They are actively being implemented in the agricultural sector, logistics, construction, geodesy, scientific research, and other areas.

Special attention was paid to the use of drones as a powerful tool for integrated STEM education. Studying UAVs allows for the organic combination of physics, computer science, technology, geography, mathematics, and engineering. Introducing students to these technologies helps them make an informed choice regarding their future profession and reduces psychological anxiety by providing a sense of control over their own professional future. In addition, the attendees learned about modern online educational platforms (such as Prometheus) that offer free courses for training future engineers and designers of FPV drones.

The lecture received positive feedback from the audience and inspired the implementation of innovations in the educational process.

Based on materials from the Department of Professional Education and Technologies