The paper researches the prospects of quality increasing of future economists during the professional training. It is noted that modern society needs people who are ready able to think independently, analyze, design, creatively apply knowledge, effectively cooperate in the process of activity solve this problem through the organization of project activities. The purpose of this study is to determine the conditions for the effective formation of project activities skills in future economists during the process of professional training. Research methods are the following: analysis of literature on this problem, the test of cognitive abilities of Shane Frederick. Frederick Shane's test of cognitive abilities to determine the type of thinking was conducted. Having analyzed results of the test we came to the conclusion that 36% of respondents have developed analytical thinking, which demonstrates a manifestation of cognitive reflection. As a cognitive (intellectual) aspect of reflection, analytical and synthetic person skills and the ability to correlate his/her own actions with the objective situation are distinguished. At the stage of direct implementation of professional activity, the future economist uses cognitive reflection as a way of comprehensive analysis of the problem, organization and implementation of project activity. The method of projects as a pedagogical technology involves a set of research, search, problem methods, creative in its essence. The authors emphasize that projects implemented in the university within the framework of the educational program should be aimed at better training of graduates for future professional activities. Types of projects and examples of project task are given. The authors come to the conclusion that for the of the project activity implementation the necessary condition is the creation of a problem situation in the form of cognitive tasks, containing some contradictions in the conditions and concluded with questions which objectify this contradiction.