THE CURRENT STATE OF CARTOGRAPHY LEARNING IN THE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS OF GEOGRAPHY STUDENTS IN HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS OF UKRAINE (ON THE EXAMPLE OF THE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS OF TARAS SHEVCHENKO NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF KYIV)

Background. Cartography is an important educational component at the bachelor's level of higher education in the training of future geographers. It serves as a foundation for developing students' cartographic worldview, providing a system of knowledge about the methods of representing the surrounding world, and laying the groundwork for basic approaches and cartographic culture in the creation and use of cartographic works. Scientific and technological progress, along with other dynamic processes directly related to the safety of educational activities in higher education, highlight the need to justify and rapidly implement modern forms and methods of teaching cartography in all educational programs for geographers. Methods. The general methodological foundation of the study is based on the core principles of invitation theory. To achieve the set goals and tasks, the following approaches were employed: a systemic approach, methods: of analysis and synthesis, abstraction and concretization, comparison, scientific classification, and information. Results. It has been established that the majority of educational programs in the studied area include a mandatory component, "Cartography," or an integrated course, "Cartography with the Basics of Topography," which are taught in the minimum necessary volumes (90 and 120 hours, respectively) to provide students with a basic level of cartographic competencies. The most optimal placement of cartographic disciplines in the geography curriculum is in the 2nd or 3rd semester. The existing forms of organizing cartography lessons in geography training include lectures, practical sessions, and consultations. Current directions for optimizing cartography education include blended learning, increasing the role of interactive technologies, adaptive learning, and the integration of artificial intelligence elements. A necessary condition for professional teaching of cartography in higher education is the presence of highly qualified personnel with a basic education in cartography and the appropriate competencies at a sufficient level. Conclusions. The current state of cartography education in the training of geographers at Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv is characterized by the minimum required volumes, a well-coordinated place in the curriculum, and innovative teaching methods.