DEVELOPMENT OF GENERAL COMPETENCIES OF SPECIALISTS: NATIONAL FEATURES AND GLOBAL CHALLENGES
Abstract
The article is dedicated to exploring the national features and global challenges in the process of forming and developing these competencies in the Ukrainian educational and professional space. The article substantiates the relevance of the study in the context of Ukraine’s European integration and the need to adapt to global standards, emphasizing the impact of national factors such as historical context, sociocultural characteristics, and the current state of the educational system. Underestimating the role of general competencies can lead to the uncompetitiveness of graduates in the labor market and hinder societal progress. The contribution of both foreign and domestic scholars to the study of the competency-based approach is highlighted. It is noted that, despite the significant number of works, the issue of integrating general competencies into the Ukrainian education system, taking into account its national features and global challenges, remains insufficiently researched. The authors of the article reveal the essence and classification of general competencies (cognitive, social, self-management, digital). They detail the national characteristics of their development in Ukraine, which include the influence of historical heritage, the state of the educational system, labor market dynamics, sociocultural factors, and significant adjustments made by the full-scale war, which, on one hand, accelerated the development of adaptability and stress resistance, but on the other, posed new challenges regarding psychological resilience. Key global challenges are discussed, such as digital transformation (artificial intelligence, automation), globalization and intercultural interaction, changes in the labor market, environmental and social issues, as well as the increasing need for lifelong learning. Prospective directions for the development of general competencies in Ukraine are identified, including the modernization of educational programs, targeted training of pedagogical staff, strengthening interaction with employers, the development of effective assessment and feedback systems, the formation of a culture of self-development, and a focus on psychological support and resilience development. It is emphasized that effective development of general competencies requires a comprehensive strategy that considers both national features and global challenges. Further research directions are outlined.
Key words: general competencies; soft skills; transferable skills; professional training; higher education; lifelong learning; competency-based approach.
Downloads
References
Дуб, А.Р., & Дуб, Н.Є. (2021). Напрями підтримки розвитку професійно-технічної освіти в контексті сучасних і перспективних викликів ринку праці. Державне управління: удосконалення та розвиток. 11. https://doi.org/10.32702/2307-2156-2021.11.34
Княжева, І.А. (2022). Компетентнісний підхід як домінанта сучасної професійно-педагогічної освіти в умовах євроінтеграції. Науковий часопис Національного педагогічного університету імені М. П. Драгоманова. Серія 5: Педагогічні науки, Спецвипуск 1, 178–185. https://doi.org/10.31392/NPU-nc.series5.2022.spec.1.28
Ковтунець, В.В., Лондар, С.Л., Мельник, С.В., & Кастель-Бранко, Е. (2021). Вимоги ринку праці України до освіченості працівників. Освітня аналітика України, 4, 5–20. https://doi.org/10.32987/2617-8532-2021-4-5-20
Сипченко, О., Черкашина, Л., & Гарань, Н. (2019). Формування загальних компетентностей майбутніх викладачів засобами інноваційних технологій в освітньому середовищі ЗВО. У кн.: Гаврилова Л. (ред.). Професіоналізм педагога в умовах освітніх інновацій: колективна монографія. Hameln: InterGING. 180–194. https://doi.org/10.19221/978-3-946407-06-5
Baatz, J., & Wirzberger, M. (2025). Resilience as a professional competence: a new way towards healthy teachers?. Social Psychology of Education, 28, 56. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11218-024-10010-8
Heckman, J.J., & Kautz, T. (2012). Hard evidence on soft skills. Labour Economics, 19(4), 451–464. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.labeco.2012.05.014
Kaplinskyi, V., Stoliarenko, O., Stoliarenko, O., Berezyuk О., Chumak, M., & Hаtezh, N. (2024). Developing Future Teachers’ Creativity as a Crucial Element of Systemic Work in the Neuropedagogical Environment. Revista Romaneasca Pentru Educatie Multidimensionala, 16(3), 375–385. https://doi.org/10.18662/rrem/16.3/898
López-Serrano, A., McGowan, N., & Moreno-Ger, P. et al. (2025). Teaching soft skills in higher education through serious games: validation of the Compete! gamification. Smart Learn. Environ. 12, 49 https://doi.org/10.1186/s40561-025-00401-5
Michel, F., & Traifeh, H. (2024). Bridging the gap: Exploring challenges and recommendations for aligning higher education with future of work. In EDULEARN24 Proceedings. 5351–5360. https://doi.org/10.21125/edulearn.2024.1307
Palenski, T., Hills, L., Unnikrishnan, S. et al. (2024). How AI Works: Reconfiguring Lifelong Learning. Postdigital Science and Education, 6, 1216–1239. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42438-024-00496-y
Robles, M.M. (2012). Executive perceptions of the top 10 soft skills needed in today's workplace. Business Communication Quarterly, 75(4), 453–465. https://doi.org/10.1177/1080569912460400
Schwab, K. (2016). The Fourth Industrial Revolution. Crown Business. https://law.unimelb.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/3385454/Schwab-The_Fourth_Industrial_Revolution_Klaus_S.pdf
World Economic Forum. (2023). The Future of Jobs Report – 2023. https://www.weforum.org/reports/the-future-of-jobs-report-2023/
Zhao, Y, Pinto Llorente, A.M, Sánchez Gómez, M.C. (2021). Digital competence in higher education research: A systematic literature review. Comput Educ. 2021 Jul;168:104212. Epub 2021 Apr 8. PMID: 36568577; PMCID: PMC9759745. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2021.104212
References (translated and transliterated)
Dub, A. R., & Dub, N. Ye. (2021). Napriamy pidtrymky rozvytku profesiino-tekhnichnoi osvity v konteksti suchasnykh i perspektyvnykh vyklykiv rynku pratsi [Areas of support for the development of vocational education in the context of current and future challenges of the labor market]. Derzhavne upravlinnia: udoskonalennia ta rozvytok, 11. https://doi.org/10.32702/2307-2156-2021.11.34 [in Ukrainian].
Kovtunets, V., Londar, S., Melnyk, S. & Castel-Branko, E. (2021). Vymohy rynku pratsi Ukrainy do osvichenosti pratsivnykiv [Requirements of the Ukrainian labor market to the level of education of employees]. Osvitnia analityka Ukrainy, 4, 5–20. https://doi.org/10.32987/2617-8532-2021-4-5-20 [in Ukrainian].
Sypchenko, O., Cherkashyna, L., & Haran, N. (2019). Formuvannia zahalʹnykh kompetentnostei maibutnikh vykladachiv zasobamy innovatsiinykh tekhnolohii v osvitniomu seredovyshchi ZVO [Developing future lecturers’ general competences by means of innovative technologies in the educational environment of HEI]. In: L. Havrylova (Ed.), Profesionalizm pedahoha v umovakh osvitnikh innovatsii [Professionalism of the teacher in the context of educational innovation]: kolektyvna monohrafiia. Hameln: InterGING. 180–194. https://doi.org/10.19221/978-3-946407-06-5 [in Ukrainian].
Abstract views: 22 PDF Downloads: 11




