SoSTeM Model Development for Application of Soft Skills to Engineering Students at Malaysian Polytechnics

Abstract

Soft skills are some of the skills needed to ensure that graduates fulfill the needs of the job market. Until 2010, almost 30% of unemployed graduates in Malaysia are technical graduates and one third comes are graduates from polytechnic. Most engineering graduates are proficient in technical skills but lack in soft skills. The lack of relevant knowledge among lecturers in order to identify appropriate ways and methods in the process of teaching and learning is one of the causes of lack in soft skills application. This study aims to identify the suitable teaching methods for the application of soft skills in the engineering programs for engineering students in Malaysian polytechnics. 488 students and 332 lecturers in engineering courses at the polytechnic had been questioned using questionnaires and interviews. The results showed that there is a relationship between the level of application of soft skills element with the teaching & learning methods used by lecturers. Based on these relationships, researchers had produced SoSTeM model as the model of application of soft skills for engineering students. Researchers also discovered that the use of teaching & learning methods for applying soft skills in engineering programs vary according to the elements of soft skills.

Study on problem-based learning towards improving soft skills of students in effective communication class

“…There have always been placed expectations and demands upon graduates due to the increasing globalisation of professional careers in order to excel academically and as well as to create and enhance their soft skills (Selvadurai et al, 2012). Soft skill is the skills needed by employers for the graduates to be effective and efficient as a preparation to join the working environment apart from technical skills (Esa et al, 2015;Robles, 2012). Many of these soft skills are an essential part of the lifelong learning process and some even consider and place them more valuable than the subject matter.…”

“…The curriculum must provide multiple opportunities to help the students proceed along their pathways to expert performance in order to practice their skills on authentic tasks requiring the integrated application of various knowledge and skills (Abdul Kadir, 2013). Apart from technical skills, employers need the soft skills for the graduates to be effective and efficient at joining the working environment (Esa et al, 2015;Robles, 2012). It is pertinent to mention that the terminology used referring to the generic skill or a soft skill or varies from one country to another.…”

Implementation of Cooperative Experimental Learning Model in Improving Competence (Hard Skills and Soft Skills) for Trainees

“…Therefore, in the learning process, the informants' skin beauty course uses lecture methods, brainstorming with trainees. The use of learning methods in line with opinion [5] related to the improvement of soft skills, there are several methods; practice methods, lectures, demonstration methods and interactive methods.…”

“…"Emphasis and effort in applying soft skills in teaching & learning should be stressed out by educational institutions to produce graduates who are not only successful in academics, but also able to master other skills required as well" [5]. The needs of the workforce are more focused on soft skills than hard skills given that hard skills have become the basic requirements for employment.…”

The Life Story of a Resilient Underprivileged Youth: Motivation to Learn Soft Skills

“…According to the 2015 Graduate Tracer Study Report Ministry of Higher Education, 2016, 42% of unemployed recent graduates were from families earning a monthly household income of RM1,000 and below, followed by 34.8% from families with a monthly income of between RM1,001 and RM2,000, and 27.1% from families with a monthly income of between RM2,001 and RM3,000. As for the soft skills of graduates, the literature suggests that Malaysian tertiary education institutions should play a role in developing them, as these institutions provide the final level of formal education before graduates enter the workplace (Abdul Karim et al, 2012;Esa, Padil, Selamat, & Idris, 2015;Idrus, Dahan, & Abdullah, 2009& 2014Musa, Mufti, Latiff, & Amin, 2012;Nikitina & Furuoka, 2012).…”