THE CONCEPT AND CONTENT OF PROFESSIONAL (HARD SKILLS) COMPETENCIES OF CIVIL SERVANTS

Abstract

This article examines the essence and content of the professional competence of civil servants, its structural composition, and the functional interrelationship of its principal components. The study analyzes contemporary requirements for civil servants’ professional competence in the context of increasingly complex public functions, digital transformation, continuous legislative updates, and growing societal expectations regarding the quality and effectiveness of public administration. Based on an analysis of scholarly approaches to professional competence, the article identifies two major perspectives: interpreting competence as a system of professional knowledge, skills and abilities, and understanding it as a combination of behavioral characteristics, capabilities and personal qualities that ensure effective professional performance. It is substantiated that professional competence should not be regarded as a mere sum of knowledge, skills, abilities and personal qualities, but rather as an integrated capacity to apply these components effectively in specific professional situations and achieve meaningful professional outcomes. The functional relationship between professional knowledge, skills and abilities is described through the logical sequence of “knowing – being able to apply – being able to apply effectively.” Professional knowledge of civil servants is systematized into five major blocks: legal, sector-specific, position-functional, organizational-managerial, and contemporary professional knowledge. The study argues that the consistent development and integration of these components constitute an essential condition for the formation of genuine professional competence, improvement of civil servants’ performance, and development of human-resource capacity within the modern civil service. The findings may serve as a theoretical and practical basis for improving mechanisms for assessing and continuously developing the professional competence of civil servants