FUTURISTIC SOFT SKILLS FOR JOB MARKET SUCCESS: A STUDY OF TEACHERS’ PERSPECTIVES ON ASSESSMENT TECHNIQUES IN HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS OF KARACHI

Authors

  • Syed Uzma Paiam Bukhari PhD Scholar, Department of Education, at Sindh Madressatul Islam University, Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. Author
  • Dr. Stephen John Professor, Department of Education, Sindh Madressatul Islam University (SMIU), Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. Author

Keywords:

Futuristic Soft Skills, Effective Communication, Emotional Intelligence, Higher Education, Assessment Strategies, Teachers

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the soft skills needed for the future labour market and to find out how teachers felt about the methods used to assess futuristic soft talents. To fully comprehend instructors' perspectives and experiences, a qualitative phenomenological study design was employed. While evaluation procedures were investigated using two focus groups with seven teachers chosen through purposive sample, the skills needed for the labour market were determined by analyzing prior research publications. Thematic analysis was used to examine the data. The results showed that the three main soft skills needed for future employability are emotional intelligence, teamwork, AI and digital readiness, and effective communication abilities. These abilities were thought to be crucial for empowering students to interact with others, use digital tools with assurance, communicate effectively, and adjust to the demands of a changing workplace. The results also demonstrated that standard written exams are insufficient for evaluating soft abilities. As a result, educators recommended project exhibitions, daily reflective journals, and regular rubric-based observation as efficient methods for evaluating futuristic soft skills. According to the study's findings, higher education institutions must incorporate future-focused soft skills into their teaching and learning strategies and evaluate them using performance-based, reflective, and authentic approaches.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Ahsan, S., Qureshi, N., & Rashid, A. (2025). Examining employability skills development in universities: Perspectives, challenges, and responsibilities. Qlantic Journal of Social Sciences, 6(1), 10–21.

Aibekkyzy, S. P., et al. (2025). Pedagogical approaches to teaching soft skills in higher education. Cogent Education, 12(1),. DOI: 10.1080/2331186X.2025.2571683

Alam, M. J., Noman, S., Mujib, M. N. I., & Khan, W. S. (2025). An assessment of graduates’ skills gap for sustainable employability during the 4IR in Bangladesh. Social Sciences & Humanities Open. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssaho.2025.101780

Becker, G. S. (1964). Human capital: A theoretical and empirical analysis, with special reference to education. University of Chicago Press.

Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77–101.

Chowdhury, S. A. (2025). Integrating an educational supply chain model in the higher education sector: Meeting the 21st century workforce demands in Bangladesh. Frontiers in Education. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2025.1521309

Đorđević, B., Milanović Zbiljić, S., & Radosavljević, M. (2025). Impact of the digital skills on employability: Cross-sectional analysis. Economies, 13(7), Article 196. https://doi.org/10.3390/economies13070196

Gerasimova, I., et al. (2025). Sustainable development of soft skills with the purpose of enhancing the employability of engineering students. Sustainability, 17(6), Article 2426. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17062426

Gulzar, S. (2025). Curriculum, skills, and employability: Reimagining higher education for Pakistan’s workforce. International Journal of Academic Research for Humanities, 5(3), 80–92.

Hu, A., Liu, Q., & Daniel, B. (2025). Digital technologies in authentic assessment in higher education: A systematic literature review and narrative synthesis. SAGE Open, 15(3).

Hussein, M. G. (2024). Exploring the significance of soft skills in enhancing employability. SAGE Open, 14(3).

Ishaq, S. (2025). Perceived work readiness among graduates: A case study from Pakistan. Empirical Economic Review.

Kholifah, N., Nurtanto, M., Sutrisno, V. L. P., Majid, N. W. A., Subakti, H., Daryono, R. W., & Achmadi, A. (2025). Unlocking workforce readiness through digital employability skills in vocational education graduates: A PLS-SEM analysis based on human capital theory. Social Sciences & Humanities Open. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssaho.2025.101625

Krueger, R. A., & Casey, M. A. (2015). Focus groups: A practical guide for applied research (5th ed.). SAGE Publications.

Mhaske, P., Bhattacharjee, B., Haldar, N., Upadhyay, P., & Mandal, A. (2025). Bridging digital skill gaps in the global workforce: A synthesis and conceptual framework building. Research in Globalization, 11, Article 100311. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resglo.2025.100311

Mohammed, F. S., et al. (2024). A systematic literature review of soft skills in information technology higher education. Behavioral Sciences, 14(10).

Morgan, D. L. (1997). Focus groups as qualitative research (2nd ed.). SAGE Publications.

Pérez Zúñiga, R., et al. (2025). Employability and its relationship with the competency-based approach, teaching methodologies, and assessment in higher education: A systematic review. Frontiers in Education. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2025.1703144

Riaz, N., Tarar, A. H., Tarar, M. A., & Arif, M. (2025). Examining the employability of university graduates in Pakistan: A study of skills and competencies. International Journal of Social Sciences Bulletin, 3(5), 93–113.

Rook, L., Dean, B. A., Tofa, M., Ellmers, G., et al. (2025). Student feedback for integrating reflection into the higher education curriculum: A cross-disciplinary study. Higher Education Research & Development.

Sánchez-García, R., et al. (2025). Enhancing project-based learning: A framework for optimizing structural design and implementation—A systematic review with a sustainable focus. Sustainability, 17(11).

Schultz, T. W. (1961). Investment in human capital. The American Economic Review, 51(1), 1–17.

Suhairom, N., Saipudin, N. A., Abu Bakar, Z., Ibrahim, H., Talib, R., & Haladin, N. A. B. (2024). Communication skills assessments and rubrics in the higher education: A meta-analysis. Sains Humanika, 16(3), 37–47. DOI: 10.11113/sh.v16n3.2159

Taylor, B. (2024). Rubrics in higher education: An exploration of students’ understanding and use of assessment criteria. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education.

Tee, P. K., Wong, L. C., Dada, M., Song, B. L., & Ng, C. P. (2024). Demand for digital skills, skill gaps and graduate employability: Evidence from employers in Malaysia. F1000Research, 13, Article 389. DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.148514.1

Van den Beuken, M., Loos, I., Maas, E., Stunt, J., & Kuijper, L. (2025). Experiences of soft skills development and assessment by health sciences students and teachers: A qualitative study. BMC Medical Education, 25, Article 724. DOI: 10.1186/s12909-025-07289-2

Vlachopoulos, D. (2026). Preparing university graduates for the labour market through employability skills development and university–industry collaboration: A systematic review. Education Sciences, 16(3), Article 426. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci16030426

World Economic Forum. (2025). The future of jobs report 2025. World Economic Forum.

Yulianti, K. (2024). Promoting students’ soft skills through project-based learning in Character Building Pancasila Course: A study in a higher education institution in Indonesia. In M. Shelley & O. T. Ozturk (Eds.), Proceedings of ICRES 2024—International Conference on Research in Education and Science. 1275–1282

Published

2026-03-31

How to Cite

Syed Uzma Paiam Bukhari, & Dr. Stephen John. (2026). FUTURISTIC SOFT SKILLS FOR JOB MARKET SUCCESS: A STUDY OF TEACHERS’ PERSPECTIVES ON ASSESSMENT TECHNIQUES IN HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS OF KARACHI. International Premier Journal of Languages & Literature, 4(3), 509-522. https://ipjll.com/ipjll/index.php/journal/article/view/549