Multimedia and Technology in Learning

Abstract

This study intends to identify the most necessary comprehensive skills that will increase students' ability to find a suitable job after graduation, as well as to identify the importance of soft skills in the students' competitiveness in the labour market. The author selected several general scientific methods for the study, including an attempt to adopt the grouping and modelling method to the theoretical representation of the relationship between soft skills and students' competitiveness. Grouping skills based on the existing classifications allowed distinguishing seven basic groups (communication skills; critical thinking and problem-solving skills; teamwork; lifelong learning and information management skills; entrepreneurial skills; ethics, morality and professionalism; leadership skills), and also dividing them according to priority and importance in achieving a higher level of competitiveness. Modelling and identification of the relationship between competitiveness and soft skills took into account the objectives of this study. Along with the main results of the study, the author made a conclusion about the importance of parenting and high school in training soft skills in students, and their practical application in future professional activity. The article identified several promising areas of research, which will allow us to focus on in-depth study of the issue and its comprehensive scientific substantiation. The results of the study have several limitations that correlate with the previously identified areas of future research. They include only the theoretical substantiation of the hypotheses and the limitations of possible methods due to the lack of developed indicators for measuring soft skills and student competitiveness.