What does the paper cover?


In a fast-evolving 21st century, it is becoming increasingly important for students to develop their soft skill competencies alongside the technical skills required for their career. As more and more employers are seeking to employ graduates with a wide soft skills portfolio, it is crucial that educators integrate the teaching of these soft skills into their courses.

This paper reviews the findings from a survey of Australian higher education students on which soft skills they believe to be the most important for future career success. It also consults eight academic experts on:

  What these soft skills are

  Why they are important

  How universities can integrate the most needed soft skills into their teaching

  How these soft skills can be put into practice.

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The experts consulted for this paper:

PROFESSOR MATTHEW ALLEN

Adjunct Professor in the Institute for Social Change at the University of Tasmania.

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR JUDITH DINHAM

Director of Learning and Teaching in the School of Education at Curtin University.

PROFESSOR AMANDA HENDERSON

Nursing Director at Metro South Health, Queensland and Professor at Central Queensland University and University of Queensland.

MARY KAVANAGH

Classroom teacher with extensive experience inducting and leading early career teachers.

DR MICHAEL KAVANAGH

Academic adviser to the Internship Program of the Master of Teaching Degree (Primary and Secondary), at Deakin University.

EMERITUS PROFESSOR COLIN MACDOUGALL

Emeritus Professor of Public Health at Flinders University.

DR ALEXIA MADDOX

Lecturer in Communication at Deakin University.

DR MICHELLE SANSON

Human Rights Law Teacher and Adjunct Fellow at Western Sydney University.