The article discusses the advantages of training specialists in economics using specialized software products. The use of the computer programs in the learning process makes it possible to prepare students for solving a variety of practical problems encountered in real economic work, including in production. When using information systems as part of the professional competencies formation, the following goals are pursued: development of the student’s creative individuality; evolution of abstract and algorithmic thinking; analytical skills amplification through training in conceptual data analysis. In some cases, obtaining practical skills is facilitated by the use of specialized software products, including the Project Expert program. The computer program Project Expert is an IT-product designed for simulation of processes occurring in economic systems with an investment component. The main tasks implemented in the program include: determining the effectiveness of investments, forming and structuring projects, conducting empirical experiments to determine the stability of the developed model. Such the software package wide capabilities allow using the whole range of professional orientation situational tasks at various stages of training students-economists. Based on the experience of using the Project Expert software product in training economists at the Samara State Agrarian University, several levels of its application can be distinguished: from practical lessons to graduate qualifying work (dissertation). The IT-technologies use allows the graduate to carry out practical tasks that the employer puts before him in a quality manner and in the shortest possible time. Knowledge of an applied programs wide range provides a universal character of training future specialists in comparison with traditional approaches.

The purpose of the study is to conduct monitoring of technogenic pollution of soil in the Samara region. The objectives of the study are to identify the sources of technogenic pollution of soil, to analyze the minimum and maximum concentrations of heavy metal on long-term observation plots and background plots, to assess the average and the maximum values of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) in soil of observed land plots. The allowable concentration levels of heavy metals (manganese, lead, cadmium, copper, nickel and zinc) in the soil of the Samara region are not exceeded. Mean heavy metal concentrations in soil did not exceed the maximum permissible concentration (MPC) and the approximate permissible concentration (APC) and was 0.1-0.6 MPC (APC). The maximum concentration of metals in soil was 0.1-0.9 MPC (APC). However, the obtained results were higher than background concentrations of metals. The mean concentrations of aluminium exceeded the background levels by a factor of 3.4-6.7. The maximum concentrations of aluminium in soil was observed in the area of the Samara metallurgic plant (ZAO ‘Arconik’) and was 9.2 of background.