Technologically Supported Infusion of 21st century Skills Development within 21 Days

Abstract

The article aims to study the mechanisms of formation and development of soft skills, taking into account top technology trends and the digitalization of higher education. Based on the analysis of best world practices in soft skills development, the article’s authors conclude that transferable skills are fundamental to the formation of professional competencies. This conclusion has become possible based on a thorough theoretical review and self-report questionnaire findings. The article describes implementing a 21-day-skill-acquisition teaching technique to form and develop students’ hard and soft skills. The intervention conducted at the Department of Germanic Philology, Faculty of Foreign Philology and Social Communications, Sumy State University, targeted the 1st-year BA and 1st-year MA Translation Studies students who created their content using modern video blogging technology. The research findings make it possible to conclude that the development of soft skills significantly determines students’ personal trajectory of learning and acquiring professional competencies.