Abstract
The presented research draws attention to the formation of research competencies among students who play a key role in modern education. The authors prove that conducting scientific research contributes to increasing the intellectual activity of students. The literary review of the article provides definitions of the content of competence and competence, as well as clarifications of the meaning of research competence. The process of developing students' research competence is assessed by the levels of cognitive, procedural and reflexive components before the start of experimental training. The experiment was carried out using an integrated approach, including a theoretical course and practical tasks. Significant changes were achieved through the successful development of technology for the development of biological growth regulators, which indicates a high level of assimilation of the material by students. The analysis of the results highlights a marked improvement in creative thinking and cognitive abilities among students who are interested in scientific research. The post-experimental data also reflect the increased participation of students in research, supported by their active participation in projects and writing scientific articles. The results emphasize the effectiveness of the methodology and justify the introduction of a new discipline into the curriculum. To further improve the process of forming students' research competencies, recommendations are offered on making additional changes and conducting the second stage of experimental training. The authors conclude that the research work of students is not only an important factor in their professional training, but also contributes to intellectual self-development, which is reflected in improving the quality of their scientific works.