Strategically Addressing the Soft Skills Gap Among STEM Undergraduates

Employers are seeking candidates with uniquely human, or “soft” skills to survive and thrive in their future careers. This article aims illuminate the soft gap of STEM undergraduate students by understanding that will be needed work currently missing. These include teamwork, collaboration, leadership, problem-solving, critical thinking, ethic, persistence, emotional intelligence, organizational skills, creativity, interpersonal communication, conflict resolution. To address this gap, paper also explores various collaboration strategies between employers academic institutions, such as working jointly on curriculum, raising awareness, establishing leadership support, building communities success. can implemented enhance capabilities entering workforce. qualitative research examined employers’ perceptions most essential missing among recently hired undergraduates. Findings identified top ten in-demand for next five years human-connection list. Furthermore, result inquiry indicates skill current undergraduates is not only evident, but it steadily increasing. problem, suggests an ongoing synergy Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) guide developing acquiring these skills. effort hopefully improve student employability, increase employer outcomes, ultimately reduce nationwide gap. Also, provides insights into organizations HEIs should invest ahead.