UDC 61:378:061.22-057.87

This study explores additional opportunities for the formation and improvement of hard skills and soft skills in medical students through their participation in student scientific societies. Given that the specifics of a doctor's work involve performing a range of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures while also requiring communication with patients and medical colleagues to make optimal decisions, the skill set used by physicians in their professional duties can be divided into hard skills—specialized (theoretical and practical) competencies—and soft skills, which include social and communicative abilities.
Today, higher medical educational institutions prioritize the development of strong professional knowledge and skills among their graduates but often do not place enough emphasis on the formation of flexible socio-communicative competencies. Therefore, extracurricular engagement in student scientific societies during university studiesserves as a universal opportunity for improving hard skills and developing soft skills such as communication, creativity,
teamwork, the ability to formulate hypotheses and draw conclusions, active listening, scientific discussion, quick decision-making, risk assessment, and prevention strategies.
The development of hard skills and soft skills is an essential component of the educational process in higher medical institutions. Exploring the opportunities and conditions for developing these skills among medical students, while integrating a broad range of methods into their training, will significantly enhance the competitiveness of future medical professionals and ensure their successful self-realization.