Socio-Pedagogical Necessity of Improving Soft Skills Components in the Professional Training of Economics Students

This study is aimed at providing a scientific justification for the socio-pedagogical necessity of improving soft skills components in the professional training of students majoring in Economics at higher education institutions. The globalization of the modern economic environment, the rapid development of digital technologies and artificial intelligence, as well as the increasing dominance of a competencybased approach in the labor market, impose new requirements on the system of training future economists. Today, an economist is expected not only to possess strong professional knowledge and technical skills, but also to demonstrate well-developed soft skills such as effective communication, critical and creative thinking, teamwork, leadership, adaptability, and responsible decision-making.
The main purpose of the research is to determine the role of soft skills components within the system of professional competencies based on the analysis of qualification requirements established for undergraduate students in Economics, and to substantiate their importance in the higher education process. The research objectives include identifying the significance of soft skills in the professional activities of economists, analyzing the qualification requirements for the 60410100 – Economics bachelor’s degree program approved by Order No. 218 of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation of the Republic of Uzbekistan dated June 25, 2024, and systematizing the competencies that implicitly reflect soft skills within this document. The main expected outcome is to clarify the content of the profile soft skills components for economists.
The study employed methods such as analysis of normative legal documents, comparison, systematic and logical analysis, and generalization. The results of the study indicate that professional competencies defined for Economics students include essential soft skills components such as creative thinking, communication culture, teamwork, leadership, and decision-making, which directly influence professional effectiveness. In conclusion, the systematic and purposeful integration of soft skills into the content of higher education is a key socio-pedagogical condition for developing competitive, adaptable, and socially responsible economists.