The issue under study is seen as urgent since Russian education at all levels is facing an important task - to achieve a new quality - thus making it necessary to revise the objectives and methodology of preparing university students for professional work. According to the Federal State Education Standards of Russia undergraduates must be trained to be engaged in various activities including teaching. The Bachelor of Design Studies programme at Kazan Federal University trains students to teach arts-centred disciplines at different levels of continuous art education. Therefore, the issue of forming academic students' system of values becomes important as it ensures their readiness to work in the system of art education. The system of values of the person forms a complex multi-level hierarchical system and occupies a borderline position between the motivational sphere and the system of values, thus organising a relation of the inner world and the world outside. Defining acceptable ways to implement various motivators of human activity and, at the same time, being an integrative core of human goal-setting, the system of values is a functional and psychological body of self-development and self-actualization necessary for professional self-determination. The article presents the results of a study of the system of values of the Design Studies graduates at Kazan Federal University. The authors also provide the contents of the system of values of an Art teacher at the experience of a number of teachers of the city of Kazan, Russia. The study has shown that the system of values of a teacher is determined by his or her emotional and psychological state, satisfaction and fullness of life, and its meaning. The system of values influences behaviour and activities, determines the motivation sphere, professional direction of the teacher, willingness to be guided by these values in their professional activity. The system of values of a teacher determines their position, direction, and contents of professional activity. The system of values of a student is dominated by the values of self-development necessary for the career of a designer, however, students are not fully aware of the values of educational work. The authors of the article propose possible solutions to the issue.
