Abstract:

The impact of technology in education is tremendous, offering new ways of teaching and learning that vary in different countries and universities but converge in the effort of merging soft skills development in the learning process. Despite the continuous effort, skill gaps and skill shortages are steadily reported together with a fundamental controversy between the relation of traditional higher education and the rapidly changing needs for professional skill sets in the marketplace, together with the practical implementation of merging soft skills development with educational process. As a result, the present study aims to examine the role and effect of mobile learning on the development of specific soft skills, in a sample of 60 undergraduate university students 18-22 years old, that are important not only for improving overall academic achievement but also for adjusting to the current labor market's demands. Thus the purpose of the research was to examine whether the score for each of the six soft skills examined (critical thinking, flexibility, organization, communication, time management and emotional intelligence) is different for the participants who received intervention through mobile learning methods and those who did not. These soft skills were assessed through two commonly used tools well known for their credibility and validity. It appears that well-designed mobile learning approaches that leverage the advancement of micro-learning for bite-sized content may enable individuals to evaluate soft skills’ acquisition anytime and anywhere, accommodating diverse learning theories and making the acquisition of soft skills more engaging. Such practices offer immediate feedback on assessments and learning activities and provide cost-effective solutions for educational institutions as well as for organizations. The findings could hold a significant role in the analytical programs of university faculties, as they have a major impact on the teaching and learning process, providing ways of enhancing students' soft skills in conjunction with the labor markets' demands. Moreover, they could be expanded in vocational education and training systems.

Keywords:

Mobile learning, soft skills, skills in demand, education, vocational education and training, labor markets.