Features of Soft Skills Formation in Higher Education Students in the Conditions of the Higher Education Pedagogical Institution

The article analyzes and summarizes Ukrainian and international scientific experience about soft skills, which are non-technical, non-material, specific personality skills, which in combination with hard skills, ensure the successful self-realization of higher education applicants in their future professional activities. A survey of employers of the specialty Secondary education in subject specializations was conducted and the need for higher education applicants to acquire such soft skills as critical thinking skills, effective oral and written communication, ability to work in a team, self-motivation, creativity, moral tolerance, stress resistance, pedagogical leadership, etc., and the need to update and improve the quality of training for higher education applicants in pedagogical institutions of higher education. Within the framework of a scientific study, taking into account the professional standard “Teacher of an institution of general secondary education”, an attempt was made to identify ways to form soft skills for higher education applicants in the implementation of educational and professional programs of the specialty Secondary education in subject specializations at the Sumy State Pedagogical University, in particular, the study of the cycle of general and vocational training, practical training, final certification, non-formal education, building an individual educational trajectory, etc. The forms and methods of teaching are considered – seminars and laboratory classes, trainings, independent work; essays, project activities, abstracts, discussions, presentations, which is of particular importance in the era of online learning. Theoretical and practical developments of scientific research that are structured on the basis of analysis, generalization, and empirical methods will contribute to the modernization of educational and professional programs, the improvement of the internal system for ensuring the quality of higher education. Keywords: soft skills; educational program; teacher, students; employers; forms and methods of teaching; professional activities; higher education institution.