Digital transformation and students’ skill development: forging the balance of hard and soft skills

The rapid development of technology has changed the rules of interaction, requiring the development of both soft skills such as critical thinking and communication, and hard skills such as digital literacy. This study presents results that reflect the agreement of teachers and students on the importance of skill development. Most of them recognize the essential role of these skills in the formation of comprehensively developed personalities prepared for the future. It also reveals a dual perspective: some teachers and students declare the need to pay more attention to the formation of skills. Given the ongoing digitalization and re-evaluation of the workforce, this study highlights the need for closer interaction between skill formation and digital mastery. The acquisition of these skills is becoming a strategic necessity to ensure competitiveness in the labor market. This study highlights the importance of aligning educational strategies with the demands of dynamic, technology-driven world, ensuring that students not only navigate the digital age confidently, but also become worthy competitors in an ever-evolving job market, which is a key aspect of successfully preparing students for the future.