Abstract
<jats:p>The article is devoted to the study of the problem of soft skills development in future IT specialists as a scientific phenomenon and pedagogical category. The relevance of the study is determined by the growing role of soft skills in the professional activities of IT specialists who work in conditions of rapid technological evolution, team interaction and global competition. It is argued that the formation of soft skills in the IT education system is not only a practical task but also a scientific problem that requires theoretical understanding, the definition of pedagogical conditions and the development of effective methodological approaches. The paper analyses the key contradictions between the requirements of the modern labour market and the real possibilities of higher education institutions to develop soft skills in IT students. A review of modern pedagogical approaches, models and technologies for the formation of soft skills is carried out, among which the following are highlighted: competence-based, communicative-activity-based, project-oriented, integration-based and personality-development-based. It is argued that their comprehensive implementation contributes to the development of communication, critical thinking, creativity, emotional intelligence and adaptability – skills that determine the competitiveness of future IT specialists. The direction of further scientific research has been determined, in particular the creation of a comprehensive pedagogical model for integrating soft skills into the content of professional training, the development of mechanisms for assessing their formation, and the improvement of the system of methodological support for professional training. The direction of further scientific research has been determined, in particular, the creation of a comprehensive pedagogical model for integrating soft skills into the content of professional training, the development of mechanisms for assessing their formation, and the improvement of the system of methodological support for the professional training of students in technical specialities.</jats:p>