This paper attempts to define key trends observed in new-generation mining engineer training today. A comparative analysis, which looked at recent developments in teaching concerned with innovative technology and transformation of scientific knowledge in general, indicates the need for a new educational paradigm. Actual interaction between humans and their environment was taken as a hypothesis about professional knowledge and skills. The role of the axiological components of the new paradigm was revealed in the light of the communication nature of the society. A methodology was developed to build a new-generation engineer model. The paper reveals the role of a learner's metacognitive ability in the development of new teaching techniques. The paper highlights how important it is that an engineer was striving for environmentally friendly technology. The authors defined the effect of the altered environment on engineering. The paper substantiates why one can only be said to have hard and soft skills if one is able to apply critical and creative thinking. It was found that training an engineer under the new paradigm is inevitably related to the ability to reflect. Analysis of the linguistic modality serves to support this statement.