The concept of 4K+. Soft skills development among students and employees of higher education organizations (based on the experience of a volunteer center)

Abstract

Introduction. Soft skills are a factor that positively influences the employment demand of higher education institutions graduates. Formation of soft skills can take place while students obtain higher education, and the optimal environment for this is volunteer activity, including at major international events. Effective development of soft skills results from motivation, educational level, appropriate conditions (participation in the abovementioned events), and from mentoring by teachers and employees of an educational organization, having extensive knowledge, authority and their own soft skills, allowing them to give impetus to the students. In turn, soft skills development in teachers and staff is possible through their motivation and the appropriate conditions, such as improvement of training and professional development programs. Materials and Methods. The authors, using their knowledge and expertise, employed traditional theoretical (analysis and generalization) and private (expert assessments, observation and description) research methods. Results. Successful soft skills development in students occurs during volunteering at major international events and is based on motivation, necessary conditions, and successful mentoring (leadership). To effectively develop soft skills, it is necessary to improve education programs and advanced training programs, as well as create other necessary conditions. Conclusion. It is advisable to supplement education programs and advanced training programs for teachers and staff of higher education organizations with current innovations in the field of working with the young generation and of organizing the volunteer movement, as well as creating practical conditions for teachers to develop their own soft skills. Creating a volunteer register in higher education organizations when integrating information about volunteer experience into presentation papers of recruitment agencies is one of the technical conditions for soft skills development among students.