Antecedents of Soft-Skills in Higher Education Institutions of Saudi Arabia Study under COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) play an important role in development of productive academic environment for university graduates. Similarly, soft skills are an essential requirement for fresh graduates to provide and prepare them for the convenient and suitable job market. In last few months, emerging situation of COVID-19 has affected the Saudi higher education sector at large scale from business perspective by diverting the regular studies to online classes. Online classes have made it more difficult for academic staff to cope up with this deteriorating situation. This study is planned to identify numerous soft-skills, which could be important to conduct academic activities under COVID-19 crisis. Study will make an analysis focusing on the importance of soft-skills in higher education institutions before and after the COVID-19 crisis. Study collected data from both public and private sector higher educational institutions located in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Study observed the key role and overall impact of soft-skills to enhance the learning aptitudes under uncertain COVID-19 situation. Study will also focus on the importance of soft-skills in job success in the Saudi job market for university graduates. Study will also focus on the importance of soft-skills integration in higher education curriculum. Study will help the decision makers to plan and prepare accordingly for developing academic environment to get better job opportunities in the competitive Saudi business organizations.