What skills do students need to succeed in the workplace? This question is fundamental to the mission of higher education. But with growing doubts over the value of a college degree, institutions are reevaluating whether they are doing enough to prepare students for the next chapter of their lives.
One area in which many schools are falling short is in helping students develop crucial soft skills, such as communication, critical thinking and collaboration. In fact, nearly three-quarters of employers struggle to find graduates with the soft skills their organizations need.
If schools don’t course-correct and identify new ways to integrate soft skills into academic programs, they run the risk of becoming increasingly irrelevant to potential students and their future employers. Even worse, institutions will fail at setting students up for success in their professional and personal lives.
Soft skills matter in today’s workforce. Why don’t schools prioritize them?
How important are soft skills in the modern workplace? Nine out of 10 employers consider soft skills more crucial than technical abilities, with employers citing skills like dependability, teamwork and collaboration, flexibility and problem-solving as the top traits they look for in employees.
Soft skills don’t simply help students land jobs post-graduation, they also lead to better economic outcomes long term, including career advancement, salary increases and higher annual incomes.
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The emergence of AI, automation and other technology advancements have only increased the value of soft skills. As organizations rely more heavily on technology to manage repetitive, data-intensive tasks, they require humans to handle complex, creative and interpersonal tasks that can’t be performed by machines.
Yet despite their growing importance, higher education has lagged in supporting and developing soft skills: A majority of employers say education systems have done little or nothing to address the soft skills shortage. It’s up to institutions to change that perception.
How higher education can do better
The success of an institution hinges on its ability to meet the evolving needs of today’s workforce. Schools need to offer clear, tangible value—and many may need to reassess their academic programs to better support soft skills.
- Prioritize continuous development of soft skills
From recruitment and admissions to coursework and curriculum, there are opportunities to integrate soft skills into the student experience at every point of an academic career. Many institutions are shifting toward holistic admissions processes that take into account an applicant’s broader life experiences—including soft skills like humanism, empathy, compassion, communication, ethics, resilience and teamwork — in a more standardized way.
But admissions is only the first step of the student journey. Support the active cultivation of soft skills by integrating learning and development into course design, teaching methods, internships or project work and even entire programs. For instance, a degree program can include course requirements that focus on leadership or critical thinking, while grading rubrics for group projects can include peer-to-peer assessment of skills that touch on teamwork and communication as well as other grading considerations.
2. Offer ongoing education and support for faculty
Many educators enter their roles with a deep knowledge of their subject matter but lack training on how to cultivate collaborative, active learning modalities that support essential soft skills. You need to make a concerted effort to provide ongoing education and support to faculty as they revamp and refine courses.
Structured training and resources can equip faculty with the strategies and tools to better integrate these practices into the curriculum. Moreover, professional development programs empower faculty to be creative and effective in fostering these skills in their classrooms, preventing burnout and boosting engagement as faculty adjust their teaching practices.
3. Stay focused on the mission of your institution
As you navigate broad public skepticism about higher education, remember to stay committed and focused on your mission. Don’t be generic. Design your program to support your mission—and don’t hesitate to communicate that vision clearly and demonstrate it often. The true value of higher education extends beyond academics; it also encompasses supporting the holistic success of learners and equipping them with durable skills for life after graduation.
Preparing students to become more thoughtful, creative and empathetic individuals will not only set them apart in a rapidly evolving job market but also enable them to thrive in their personal lives. Emphasizing soft skills as integral to the learning process—and connecting them to your core mission—ensures that your institution remains relevant and impactful.
Redefining the value of higher education
Higher education is entering a transformative era, poised to redefine its value and impact. Cultivating soft skills is not merely an adaptation to changing market demands, it’s an important investment in the enduring value of academic programs and the future viability of institutions.
This evolution, which places equal importance on soft skills alongside technical proficiency and other knowledge, is essential for producing graduates who are prepared for the complex, rapidly changing world that awaits them.
And that’s a special type of value that can’t be replaced.
