The Digital Department project in developing digital competencies in future preschool teachers

The article examines the Digital Department project as a modern mechanism for developing digital competencies in students of higher education institutions who do not have specialized IT training, including future preschool teachers. Digital transformation education The digital age requires teachers to possess modern skills and abilities, including the effective use of digital tools, the design of interactive learning resources, and the provision of digital security for students. The Digital Department project aims to create structural units within universities that provide students with additional qualifications in digital technologies. This article provides a detailed analysis of the experience of Mari State University, which implemented the professional retraining program "Applied Web Technologies. Basic Level" in the 2023- 2024 academic year. The program is aimed at students in non-core fields and focuses on developing skills in the design, creation, and maintenance of web resources, multimedia, and interactive applications. University faculty and representatives of the regional IT community participate in the training, ensuring the practical focus and relevance of the content. The competencies acquired by students enable them to apply digital technologies in educational activities, develop interactive teaching materials, and effectively utilize digital tools in teaching. The experience of Mari State University confirms the importance of digital departments for training a new generation of teachers capable of working in conditions digitalization education .