Development of digital competences in university students as a necessary condition for their professional training

Abstract

The digitalisation of social processes determines the requirements for the competence of a modern specialist, the rapid development of information and communication technologies, and the active dynamics of the labour market. The formation of professional competence is currently focused on three main areas: hard skills, soft skills, and digital skills. This article aims to analyse the potential for developing digital competences among students of higher education institutions as a component of professional training. The primary digital skills necessary for the successful and prospective professional realisation of higher education students in today's labour market conditions have been investigated. The theoretical and methodological foundations for forming digital skills among higher education students have been systematised. The dynamics of digital skills by type among the adult population during 2019–2023 and the level of utilisation of information systems in the national higher education space during this period have been analysed. The potential of modern professional training methods in developing digital competences among university students has been examined. The vital pedagogical technologies for developing digital skills for professional competence in the modern specialist have been identified, including social media, data analysis, immersive technologies, and others. It has been substantiated that integrating innovative pedagogical solutions into the higher education environment increases student motivation, stimulates the development of critical thinking, adaptability, and the ability for self-education, and intensifies responsibility and self-organisation. It has been proven that the active use of information and communication technologies in the educational process influences the formation of students' digital skills – mobility, the ability to find necessary information quickly, and competences in the use of digital tools and services for professional and personal development. The effectiveness of this process is determined by the success of the adopted pedagogical methodologies, the readiness of the teaching and administrative staff in higher education for the dynamics and significant changes in the educational process, and the presence of state-level support.