SOFT-SKILLS AND HARD-SKILLS IN THE MODERN EDUCATION SYSTEM: BALANCED FOR SUCCESS

Abstract

Modern education is at a crossroads, where it must decide how to ensure a balanced development of hard-skills and soft-skills in students. Hard-skills, or technical skills, include professional knowledge and technical abilities that are easily measurable and certifiable. These include professional knowledge, foreign language proficiency, programming skills, and others. On the other hand, soft-skills, or interpersonal skills, refer to personal qualities such as communication skills, critical thinking, creativity, the ability to work in teams, and adaptability to change.

Modern education must ensure the development of both types of skills, as a successful career and effective task performance require not only specialized knowledge but also the ability to collaborate effectively, adapt, and solve problems.

The balance between soft-skills and hard-skills is essential for achieving success in the context of globalization and technological changes. Special attention should be given to the development and implementation of strategies and methodologies that promote critical thinking, creativity, teamwork, and effective communication among students.

The article highlights the issue of assessing soft-skills and their role in professional development, as well as the importance of adapting educational programs to the dynamic conditions of the modern work environment. The findings of the study emphasize the significance of soft-skills in the context of globalization and technological progress, pointing to the need for their systematic inclusion in curricula to ensure the successful adaptation of graduates to the challenges of modernity.