PROJECT INTERACTION BETWEEN HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES AS A FACTOR IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF SOFT SKILLS IN FUTURE PROFESSIONALS

The article is devoted to researching the potential of project interaction between higher education institutions and local communities as an environment for the formation of soft skills of future specialists in the context of modern social transformations. It is argued that growing uncertainty, the dynamic nature of socio-economic processes, and the need for increased social responsibility among specialists necessitate a rethinking of the content of professional training in higher education. It is emphasized that, along with professional knowledge and technical skills, communication skills, teamwork, critical thinking, leadership, adaptability, and responsibility are of key importance. The authors highlight the contradiction between the growing demand from society and employers for a high level of soft skills and the insufficient use of the potential of partnership between universities and communities as an integrated environment for their development. Based on an analysis of the official websites of ten higher education institutions in different regions of Ukraine, the authors examined the regulatory framework for soft skills development policies, the content of educational programs, and the nature of the activities presented in news sections. It was found that only a few higher education institutions have systematic regulatory support for this area, while in most cases the development of soft skills is integrated in a fragmented manner. It is emphasized that, along with internal measures, external and partnership initiatives play a significant role, which indicates the openness of universities to cooperation with stakeholders, business, and international programs. The expediency of strengthening institutional, organizational, and methodological support for project interaction with local communities as a mechanism for integrating theoretical knowledge with real social challenges, especially in the context of Ukraine's post-war reconstruction, is justified. The priority areas for the development of partnership and project activities as a factor in the systematic formation of socially significant competencies of modern youth are identified. The article was prepared within the framework of the project “Institutionalization of interaction between higher education institutions and territorial communities as a factor in the restoration and preservation of human capital in conditions of martial law and post-war reconstruction of the country”.