Explaining the necessity of designing a life skills curriculum in Iranian higher education centers

Introduction: Life skills are essential and integral methods and skills for a stable and healthy life. Higher education has a vital opportunity to influence the future by significantly improving citizens' life skills. The aim of this study was to determine the need to design a life skills curriculum model for undergraduate students in Iranian higher education centers. Methods: This study was conducted with a qualitative approach and content analysis method. Participants included 15 experts in life skills and 15 written documents. Purposeful sampling method was used to select individuals. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews up to saturation stage and analyzed by MAXQDA software. Results: Findings included 149 primary codes which were finally extracted by merging the initial codes, 52 codes, 7 subcategories and 3 categories; Achieving self-fulfillment category "includes sub-categories: achieving personal and educational goals and increasing physical and mental health (mental well-being)", social welfare category "includes sub-categories: meeting the needs of society, promoting psychosocial abilities, prevention and reduction of injuries Individual and social and strengthening social relations "and the category of helping to solve life problems" included the following categories: prevention and solving life challenges, preparing students for work and marriage and financial management. Conclusion: The findings showed that designing a life skills curriculum is essential for students in higher education centers and causes them to achieve self-fulfillment and helps to increase social well-being and solve life problems.