A Toolkit to Assess the Level of Universal Competencies (Soft Skills) of Pedagogical University Students

Abstract

As science and technology develops rapidly and the knowledge gained over the years of study devalues equally rapidly, a university should not only provide students with specific, highly professional knowledge and skills, but also develop universal competencies (soft skills), which include the ability to self-study, self-development, communication and cooperation, creativity, critical thinking and others. These are the skills that are increasingly valuable and will be more valuable in the future for the personal and professional success of a young specialist demanded by an employer. In the absence of unified and validated methods for diagnosing universal competencies, and with the uncertainty and inconsistency relating to the basic set of soft skills required for a young specialist at the start of his/her professional career, difficulties arise in organizing the educational process in high education to integrate the development of hard and soft skills. The aim of the study was to develop a toolkit for assessing and monitoring the level of development of universal competencies in students of a pedagogical university. The proposed toolkit was tested at the Institute of Natural Science and Sports Technologies of the Moscow City University. It made it possible to identify strengths and weaknesses in the educational process, acting as a sensitive diagnostic tool and facilitating the choice of a strategy aimed at increasing its effectiveness for developing students’ universal competencies. The proposed approach is universal and can be used in different contexts.