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Soft skills: from university to the work environment. Analysis of a Survey of Graduates in Portugal

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  • Orlando P. PEREIRA

Abstract

In knowledge based economy, soft skills format pro-active and entrepreneurial behaviors. Once they provide answers to complex company questions, the academic curriculum should highlight a diversity of skills in graduates to build an open and flexible mind to uncertain and volatile market imperatives. In this article we compare graduates’ opinion on university acquired soft skills and those which are actually applied in organizational context. Results demonstrate a significant difference in perception, which might reveal a structural maladjustment in the interaction between universities and enterprises. A questionnaire was used, designed in a Likert scale, which was handed out to graduates of different universities and different areas of knowledge between March and April 2012.

Suggested Citation

  • Orlando P. PEREIRA, 2013. "Soft skills: from university to the work environment. Analysis of a Survey of Graduates in Portugal," Regional and Sectoral Economic Studies, Euro-American Association of Economic Development, vol. 13(1), pages 105-118.
    • Handle: RePEc:eaa:eerese:v:13:y2013:i:1_9
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jean Bonnet, 2012. "Entrepreneurship and Economic Development," Economics Working Paper Archive (University of Rennes 1 & University of Caen) 201204, Center for Research in Economics and Management (CREM), University of Rennes 1, University of Caen and CNRS.
    2. James H. Davis & F. David Schoorman & Roger C. Mayer & Hwee Hoon Tan, 2000. "The trusted general manager and business unit performance: empirical evidence of a competitive advantage," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 21(5), pages 563-576, May.
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    Cited by:

    1. Orlando Petiz Pereira & Carlos Alberto A.T. Costa, 2017. "The importance of soft skills in the university academic curriculum: The perceptions of the students in the new society of knowledge," International Journal of Business and Social Research, LAR Center Press, vol. 7(6), pages 1-12, June.
    2. Miloš Krstić & José António Filipe & José Chavaglia, 2020. "Higher Education as a Determinant of the Competitiveness and Sustainable Development of an Economy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(16), pages 1-22, August.
    3. Orlando Petiz Pereira & Carlos Alberto A.T. Costa, 2017. "The importance of soft skills in the university academic curriculum: The perceptions of the students in the new society of knowledge," International Journal of Business and Social Research, MIR Center for Socio-Economic Research, vol. 7(6), pages 1-12, June.
    4. Talal Ibrahim Almesad, 2021. "The Degree of Graduates Suitability of the Faculty and Institutes of the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training for the Requirements of Labor Market in Kuwait from Employers Perspectives," International Journal of Higher Education, Sciedu Press, vol. 10(6), pages 122-122, December.
    5. Arriaga Costa, Carlos & Petiz Pereira, Orlando, 2019. "Values and trust in human capital: University students’ perceptions, 2015-2017," Revista Galega de Economía, University of Santiago de Compostela. Faculty of Economics and Business., vol. 28(1), pages 102-116.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    education; entrepreneurship; knowledge; performance; productivity; skills; university;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • A23 - General Economics and Teaching - - Economic Education and Teaching of Economics - - - Graduate
    • M53 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Personnel Economics - - - Training
    • M54 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Personnel Economics - - - Labor Management
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration

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