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Leading towards the students’ career development and career intentions through using multidimensional soft skills in the digital age

Naimatullah Shah (College of Business Administration, Al Yamamah University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia)
Safia Bano (Institute of Management Sciences, University of Balochistan, Quetta, Pakistan)
Ummi Naiemah Saraih (Faculty of Business and Communication, Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP), Kangar, Malaysia) (Centre of Excellence for Social Innovation and Sustainability, Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP), Kangar, Malaysia) (Department of Business Administration, Daffodil International University, Dhaka, Bangladesh)
Nadia A. Abdelmegeed Abdelwahed (Department of Business Administration, College of Business Management, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia)
Bahadur Ali Soomro (Centre of Excellence for Social Innovation and Sustainability, Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP), Kangar, Malaysia)

Education + Training

ISSN: 0040-0912

Article publication date: 17 April 2023

Issue publication date: 14 November 2023

561

Abstract

Purpose

In the digital age, the development of students’ career intentions requires serious concentration since these are associated with the students’ future employment and, ultimately, their survival. This study attempted to demonstrate in Pakistan’s Higher Educational Institutes (HEIs) the role of soft skills towards the students' career development (CD) and their future career intentions (CI).

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, the researchers used a quantitative approach and a questionnaire to collect the data from the surveyed participants. Finally, the researchers based this study’s findings on 392 useable samples.

Findings

By employing the structural equation model (SEM), this study’s findings show that soft skills, such as Creative Self-Efficacy (CSE), Problem-Solving Confidence (PSC) and Teamwork (TW) have a positive and significant effect on CD and CI. However, while Critical thinking and Creativity (CRC) has a positive and significant effect on CD, it has no effect on CI. In addition, this study’s findings confirm, also, that CD has a positive and significant effect on CI.

Practical implications

This study’s findings assist policymakers and university administrators to understand the importance of soft skills in creating CD and CI. These promote the development of employability skills and fulfill its part in preparing graduates for the unpredictable job market. This study’s findings help, also, to develop logical reasoning in making decisions and in dealing with complex organizational issues.

Originality/value

In a practical way, in Pakistan, this study’s findings confirm the role of soft skills towards students' CD and CI.

Keywords

Citation

Shah, N., Bano, S., Saraih, U.N., Abdelwahed, N.A.A. and Soomro, B.A. (2023), "Leading towards the students’ career development and career intentions through using multidimensional soft skills in the digital age", Education + Training, Vol. 65 No. 6/7, pp. 848-870. https://doi.org/10.1108/ET-12-2022-0470

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2023, Emerald Publishing Limited

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