The relevance of the topic. The improvement of higher education technologies and their adaptation to the modern needs of the digital economy from the perspective of the formation of entrepreneurial thinking provide for new forms of organization of educational and project activities in universities, implemented at the stage of completing the final qualification work as a startup. Goal. The purpose of the work is to study the substantive aspects of the implementation of project activities in the «Startup as a diploma» format. Methodology. The theoretical and methodological basis of the research was made up of general scientific methods of knowledge, as well as publications by domestic and foreign scientists devoted to the problems of human resource management and the development of youth entrepreneurship. Results and conclusions. The Startup as a Diploma program allows you to support and develop the initiative of students in the field of youth entrepreneurship and is aimed at developing flexible skills, project and management skills, the formation of entrepreneurial and financial competencies, the development of a trajectory of personal growth and professional self-realization in the business environment. Such project activities embody a successful symbiosis of science and practice integrated into the educational process. The conducted research indicates that project activity in the startup format contributes to the formation of entrepreneurial thinking. By developing skills in creating startups, problems of preventing youth unemployment, self-employment, and strengthening business innovation are being solved. The expansion of such practices serves as a good basis for the formation of financial competencies and entrepreneurial skills of graduates of higher education. The scope of application. The results of the study can be used in the process of developing and implementing strategies for the formation of an entrepreneurial business environment in the region.
