The importance of soft skills in the 21st century – mapping the background of student group work based on the results of primary research

The dynamically changing world of the 21st century has fundamentally reshaped the skills required in the workplace and educational environment, with a particular focus on teamwork and team play. The rise of the digital world has pushed some of the traditional skills to the background, and brought to the fore the soft skills that are essential for effective collaboration. The umbrella term of soft skills is mostly used to refer to communication, problem solving, adaptability and emotional intelligence, all of which are key to successful teamwork. Employers are increasingly recognising that developing team player attitudes and collaboration skills is essential for organisational effectiveness and competitiveness. While the development of soft skills often remains the responsibility of the individual, organisational culture, leadership and communication styles, and social and cultural context have a significant influence on how these skills are displayed and developed. In terms of teamwork, emotional intelligence plays a key role, supporting team members in adapting to change, managing conflict and achieving common goals, especially when using agile methodologies. There is also an increasing emphasis on team project work in education, which provides students with the opportunity to practice the soft skills needed for teamwork. The aim of our study is to explore the underlying dimensions of teamwork, which in many cases remain hidden. The aim of the study is to show how ready students in higher education are for team tasks across different levels and types of education. Particular attention will be paid to identifying the most striking differences and correlations between teamwork and team play in order to provide a developmental orientation for improving higher education to bring it closer to the labour market requirements of the 21st century.