Competencies of the future: what skills do graduates of Russian universities need

Abstract

In the modern high-tech world, the competencies of university graduates are becoming crucial for their further employment and career growth. According to experts, it is the so-called «soft» skills associated with the personal development of graduates and their ability to learn throughout their professional activities that play a key role in the successful socialization of young professionals. However, many traditional educational programs of Russian universities still pay insufficient attention to the formation of such competencies among students. The labor market of modern Russia is in a state of rapid transformation. According to the forecasts of experts of the World Economic Forum, more than half of all jobs may disappear or undergo significant changes in the next 10- 15 years under the influence of digitalization, automation and the development of artificial intelligence. This calls into question the relevance of a number of existing professional skills and requires employees to constantly develop themselves and learn throughout their work. The purpose of this study is to analyze the requirements for higher education in the Russian Federation in terms of the necessary skills and abilities of future specialists. The research methods include an analysis of labor market trends and employer requirements, as well as a survey of students and graduates of leading Russian universities. The results indicate the growing importance of the so-called «soft» skills – effective communication, critical thinking, problem solving and adaptation – along with professional competencies.