Raising Evidence-based Policymaking and Internationalization of the Russian Higher Education System : Note 3 - Prepare Higher Education In Russia To Future Skills Needs

World Bank Group, 2021.

Koreshnikova Y., Pashchenko T., Hénard F., Kohler A., Zavalina P.

It follows from an analysis to identify trends in the labor market that the number of jobs calling for soft skills is growing. The need to develop soft skills is reflected in implemented government initiatives of 2013-2020 to boost competitiveness of Russian universities. This is an evidence of the country’s willingness to support initiatives designated to foster soft skills in university graduates. But in spite of this evidence, it is as yet not possible to assert that good practices of developing soft skills are mainstreamed everywhere in the Russian higher education sector. Research shows that the level of development of some soft skills in Russian students remains critically low.This note consists of three major sections. The first section describes the general skills mismatches and the current situation with the development soft skills in Russian universities. The second section includes an overview of international best practices of developing soft skills. The third section presents recommendations on how to create enabling environments for developing soft skills in Russian universities.

Keywords: assessment of learning outcomes in higher education, critical thinking skills, soft skills