MATHEMATICAL MODELLING AS A MEANS OF DEVELOPING ANALYTICAL SKILLS OF FUTURE ENGINEERS

The increasing complexity of engineering systems and technologies in today’s innovation-driven environment calls for highly qualified engineers with strong analytical skills. These skills are essential for problem identification, structuring information, hypothesis formulation, and interpretation of results in diverse professional contexts. However, a lack of sufficient analytical proficiency among many engineering graduates often hinders their ability to effectively address complex technical and design-related challenges. This article explores mathematical modeling as a powerful pedagogical tool for developing analytical skills in future engineers during mathematics education at the university level. By analyzing recent Ukrainian and international research, the article highlights the cognitive, metacognitive, and professional benefits of mathematical modeling. It reveals that although modeling is widely used in STEM education to support concept mastery, its specific influence on cultivating analytical thinking in engineering students remains underexplored. The study proposes a structured approach to mathematical modeling that mirrors the engineering mindset: identifying real-world problems, abstracting systems, constructing mathematical models, testing hypotheses, and analyzing and interpreting results. Special emphasis is placed on how mathematical modeling stimulates critical thinking, systems thinking, and the ability to work with quantitative data. A practical example demonstrates how optimization tasks in construction using 3D printing technologies can be solved efficiently through the application of mathematical tools in MS Excel. Students are taught not only how to build functional models, but also how to interpret data and derive evidence-based solutions that maximize profitability and minimize resource usage. Furthermore, the article shows how embedding modeling into the mathematics curriculum helps bridge the gap between abstract mathematical knowledge and its practical applications. Real-world tasks increase student motivation and demonstrate the relevance of mathematics to future engineering practice. The study concludes that modeling-based mathematics education supports the development of essential analytical competencies necessary for innovation and competitiveness in modern engineering professions.