Abstract
Background/Objectives: In terms of new approaches to the system of higher professional education, the problem of teaching non-core disciplines is acute; as they are basic ones and should be completely revised. Methods/Statistical analysis: The presented personal-activity approach to teaching, educational methods selected by the authors, a complex of means to develop the cognitive interest have formed the basis of the elaborated model for development of cognitive interest in high school students while studying mathematics. Findings: Analysis of the existing teaching methods had led to the conclusion that the applied methods of teaching mathematics in high schools do not always lead to the desired result, so the modern specialist’s level of mathematical knowledge is insufficient. The paper proposes to improve the process of teaching mathematics to the university students majoring in biotechnology by means of professional orientation on future activities of students and thus to raise the level of student performance and arouse interest in the study of mathematics, laying the foundation for research activities using mathematical methods in modern biotechnology. Application/Improvements: The theoretically substantiated and experimentally validated data can be used to improve methods of teaching the nonmajor university disciplines. Keywords: Cognitive Interest, Professional Orientation, Teaching Mathematics