DEVELOPMENT OF SOFT SKILLS AS THE FOUNDATION OF PROFESSIONAL MOBILITY OF SPECIALISTS IN THE MODERN EDUCATIONAL PROCESS

Abstract

In the modern world, characterized by rapid socio-economic transformations, globalization, and digitalization, there is a pressing need to revise traditional approaches to professional training. As technological advancements lead to the rapid obsolescence of hard technical skills, increasing importance is placed on the development of soft skills, which ensure adaptability, communication flexibility, critical thinking, emotional intelligence, and the ability to engage effectively in professional environments.Contemporary research confirms that the demand for specialists with well-developed soft skills is steadily growing. These competencies play a crucial role in ensuring professionals’ competitiveness, their ability to navigate career mobility, and their overall professional growth. European educational standards, international human capital development programs, and corporate management strategies emphasize the necessity of integrating soft skills into the educational process, highlighting the importance of studying effective methods for their development.At the same time, several unresolved issues remain in the academic discourse, particularly concerning the methodology for soft skills development, their conceptual definition, the systematization of structural components, and the mechanisms for assessing their formation. The insufficiently developed conceptual framework for integrating soft skills into professional education necessitates further interdisciplinary research and the implementation of innovative pedagogical technologies.This article is relevant due to the necessity of both theoretical substantiation and practical implementation of modern approaches to developing soft skills among students. The aim is to prepare highly qualified professionals capable of effectively adapting to the challenges of the modern labor market. The use of project-based learning, interactive teaching technologies, group assignments, and modeling of professional situations emerges as a promising direction, enhancing the overall preparation level of future specialists.